Note: The author is in 4B and has been coaching others on interview and resume skills for years. There is an interview skills workshop tonight (Feb. 1) @ 5:30 in CPH 3607
So you have an Interview…
General Preparation
Google techniques like “PAWS” and “STAR”, or use the “5W’s” when answering situational type questions. CECS provides a list of commonly asked questions—practice with yourself, friends, family, anyone who will listen. Google yourself to see what first impressions employers might have and make sure you reflect on your strengths, weaknesses, and interests. Remember that you are the one choosing the job, and not always about them choosing you—if you genuinely know what you want, don’t be afraid to let your passions shine through. Whenever you learn something insightful or do something impressive, write it down to keep a log of anecdotes about yourself. Think of stories that you are proud of, or demonstrate particular skills that can be applied to the job in question.
Before the Interview
Congratulations! It’s okay to be a little excited, but make sure you channel that excitement into preparation. Before you even go to the interview, you should do a little research on the company, the job and yourself. Yes yourself—think about how your skills and experience match up with the job. While you should leave yourself room to be spontaneous and flexible, you should have prepared answers to some questions like “why do you want this job” and “what makes you the most qualified candidate for this job”, as well as some (non-obvious) questions about the company and the position. Dress to impress and when in doubt, over- rather than under-dress. Be punctual and start with a firm handshake.
Speaking Tips
The most important rule of speaking is to use pauses. Taking a few seconds to reflect and answer confidently is a sign of strength, not weakness. Stumbling, “umming” and “awwing” just looks unprofessional. Don’t be afraid to ask questions if you don’t fully understand the question. In the real world, people who are assertive and inquisitive get ahead and interviews are no exception. Try to keep eye contact, and flip between multiple interviewers where applicable. Keep your tone professional, but don’t be afraid to have “real” conversations—they are looking for a colleague, not a robot. If they are looking for a robot-do you really want to work there? Don’t freak out about little mistakes, but stay on message.
Try to “road-map” (introduce what you are going to talk about) and summarize (eg. “and that is how I demonstrated…”) for every question. It’s nice if you can analyze the “point” of the question, but you can rarely go wrong assuming there are no tricks and simply answering as cleanly and as straightforward as possible. If you are making an assumption about the question, state it clearly. Drawing on personal experiences, like clubs and pet projects can actually be more relevant in an interview than academic credentials (remember that everyone in your class has the same academic history). If there is something you really wanted to share that didn’t come up, use the time at the end to share it. Finally, practice, practice, practice. Like any other skills, good interviewing skills take time to develop.
Leave a Reply