Whether it is for a scholarship, admissions, or a job, you are going to have to interview a lot in your academic and professional career. But, it can be a very daunting experience. What do you wear? What kind of questions will they ask? How do you prepare?
That’s where I come in. Based on my experience, I have created a list of some tips that helped me through the interview processes for university and otherwise.
Tip 1: Dress for success
It is always better to be overdressed than underdressed. Avoid jeans, t-shirts (or t-shirt material articles of clothing), spaghetti straps, and sandals. Blazers are a great way to dress-up any interview outfit—whether it is a dress or a dress shirt, your outfit is instantly made more professional by a nice, dry-cleaned blazer.
Tip 2: If you’re early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late…
A couple of days before your interview figure out exactly where your interview will take place, plan your commute, and aim to arrive 30 minutes early. You wouldn’t want to go into the office/store until 10-15 minutes before your scheduled interview, but arriving earlier than that will put your mind at ease. It is always better to arrive early and take a couple of walks around the block, rather than have your first impression be one of a “the late applicant.”
Tip 3: Research your interviewer
Oh, the Internet—so handy. Do some research on the person interviewing you and find something interesting you can talk about during the interview. At the end of the interview when they ask, “Do you have any questions for me?” you can mention something your saw on their LinkedIn profile or in a newspaper article. This will show your interest in them and their field of work and end the interview on a high note.
Tip 4: Think about what YOU want to say
Your MVP award, your work experience, your volunteer time, whatever! Before you go into the interview, think of the things that you want the interviewer to know about you and look for opportunities to bring it into the conversation. When PR pros train their clients for interviews with the media they say, “Answer the questions you want to answer.” That means that, regardless of what they ask, you make sure they know the information that you want them to walk away with.
~ Kinsey Powell
