Turn Stress Into Confidence & Rock That Job Interview
The hardest part of getting a job is landing the interviews - at least, that is my experience. Even if you feel completely comfortable with the position’s requirements, being asked questions on the spot about your work experience is daunting.
Have an interview coming up, or just thinking about upcoming job searching? Don’t fret - here are eight ways to ensure your job interview goes off without a hitch!
Research the Company
This can’t be stressed enough! The interviewer may ask what interests you about the organization, industry, etc. If they don’t, you will still want to have a great idea of what you are getting yourself into. Company culture is a large factor in what makes or breaks a job sometimes,so do research on Google, LinkedIn, or face-to-face with someone you know who works there. Also, knowing what you can offer to the company in specific ways can give the interviewer a positive vision for having you on the team.
Learn About the Open Position, and the Interviewer Themself
Read the posting thoroughly, looking over all requirements and tasks you can expect to be given. Most of the time, it will be fairly straightforward, but Ad/PR or Marketing roles often involve wearing many hats, so have questions prepared based on what you have already read. Likewise, looking over the interviewer’s profile on LinkedIn or the company website is not a bad idea. Knowing their role and point of view can help you frame your thoughts and become more comfortable with the interaction before it even happens.
Know Why You’re Interested and How You Are Going to Pitch It
We all know it’s important to have a job or internship for experience and financial obligations. However, why is THIS role calling to you specifically? Is it the company culture, the location, the requirements of the role, or maybe the industry? Some interviewers want to know what your intentions are, and it’s a good idea to know for yourself, too.
Research Pay
For internships in college, this might not be as negotiable (especially if it’s unpaid altogether). But for salaried jobs, knowing what pay you deserve could make all the difference - sometimes thousands of dollars worth! Advocate for yourself respectfully when asked what type of pay you expect and have sources to back you up. Many interviewers expect negotiation and won’t offer their highest available amount immediately.
Practice Your Response to Common Questions
Don’t rehearse and write down exact lines, though. The interviewer will be able to tell, especially since this is supposed to be a conversation. Plus, they likely will not ask you exactly what you’re expecting. The best thing to do is research commonly asked questions and think about answers that are relevant to you, including possible anecdotes and examples from your resume. Keep in mind that your body language might say more than your actual words here, so utilize things like your university’s career center for interview prep, or just ask a friend or family member to test you!
Make a List
I know I just said NOT to write everything down word for word (still don’t!) but having a cheat sheet of questions to ask the interviewer and little things to remember about the company is a great way to stay on track and come prepared. The interviewer should make time at the end for you to bring these up, so make sure you show that you prepared a bit ahead of time.
Dress to Impress
While researching the company, you should get a peek at what the office/floor environment is like. Is it corporate attire, business casual, or something else? This is something that you can usually guess, but when in doubt, go a step above what you think. Business attire is always a safe bet. Do your best to make sure all of that pet hair is off of you, too (guilty).
This will hopefully boost your confidence day-of, which does wonders for your first impression. Even if you have no idea what to say, appearing clean and confident will help!
Test Your Tech - and Chill!
If you have a virtual interview, ensure you have all the necessary equipment and it’s working properly. For an in-person interview, get parking information ahead of time and arrive at least 10 minutes early in case of delays.
Finally, don’t spend too much time winding yourself up for an interview that you aren’t asked to prepare materials for. Building confidence is good, but stress is not. Take some time for yourself and get a good night’s sleep. I like to take my anxiety and convince myself that it’s really just excitement. You would be surprised at how easy it is to convince yourself that you’re more confident than you are!
Good luck everyone!
Katie Lindow is a senior pursuing a BS in Advertising and Public Relations with a minor in Psychology. This is her first year with GrandPR as an Account Associate and second in PRSSA. Katie is a Marketing Intern for DeWys Manufacturing as well as a Social Media Marketing Manager for Haus Social. She is also continuing her role as a Digital Skills Consultant for GVSU Libraries. After graduation, she hopes to use her creative skills as part of a new team or even eventually start her own business.