Five Tips to Ace an Interview
College is a point in life where many students are looking for an internship or a post-grad job. Wherever you may be in your job hunt, you will need to stand out in your interview to secure a job. You only get one first impression to woo over your potential future boss, so it’s crucial to know how to prepare yourself and rock that interview. Here are five ways to ace your interview:
Research.
Research everything you can about the company you are interviewing with. Read through every page on their website, articles they are featured in, know who their clients are, and know what their work looks like. By the time you step foot in your interview, you should already know a stalker-ish amount of information about the company. For instance, what their message is, what charities they donate to, and what their pet’s names are (okay that may be too far). The point is, you want to show your interviewer that you care about the position and that you have done your homework. This will make you stand out against the other interviewees.Practice.
Grab your roommate, best friend, parent, or your dog, and practice some interview questions ahead of time. Be able to explain why you are the best fit for the position, why you want to work for that company, and why you are qualified. This does not mean you need to have all your answers scripted and memorized, but this is to make you feel more comfortable answering them in a formal setting. Remember to take your time listening and answering the questions. It’s okay to pause and think about what you want to say before answering. That shows thoughtfulness and that you think before you act.Ask Multiple Questions.
You’ve probably heard this one before, but seriously ask your interviewer a question. Be ready with at least five questions so that even if they answer a few of the ones you prepared, you still have a question or two to ask them at the end. Ask about your interviewer’s journey to their current position, what their favorite thing about working for the company is, or what kind of communication platform/software they use. There is always something you can ask about. You should never leave an interview without asking a question. Not asking questions makes it seem like you already know everything and do not want to take the time to learn more. Make time to write down multiple questions to ask and have them with you during your interview.Be Confident.
Everyone gets nervous before an interview, it’s natural. Take a deep breath and remember that you are more prepared than you think you are. Dress in what makes you feel most comfortable, but is also professional. If you act confident, your interviewer will believe it. Nothing is more impressive than when someone walks into an interview with an attitude like they already belong there.Reflect.
After the interview, write down every question that you remember being asked. Did one of the questions throw you off guard? Do you wish you had responded differently? Write it down. This is the perfect way to learn from your experience and prepare yourself for the next interview. Whether you think you aced the interview or tanked it, this will be useful in the future.
Interviews can be intimidating and not every one will be a showstopper, but the important thing is to learn from every experience. If you keep these five tips in mind for your next interview, you are sure to walk out confident and you might just get that job.
About Delaney
Delaney MacKenzie is a junior at GVSU majoring in Advertising and Public Relations with an emphasis in Advertising and minoring in Digital Studies. This year, Delaney is serving GrandPR’s E-Board as the Vice President of Operations. In addition to her work for GrandPR, Delaney is a Marketing Intern for TEAM Schostak Family Restaurants and is a member of PRSSA and Advertising Club. When she’s not studying, you can find Delaney painting, watching Netflix, or searching for classic rock vinyls to add to her collection.