Interview top tips:
Interviews can be anxiety-provoking. It’s tempting to try to follow every single piece of advice floating around out there, but it’s also impossible. Instead, take on a manageable set of things and really focus on them:
- Be specific. Tell stories that use “I” language and have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Relate these stories to the job description and any questions you think they are likely to ask. And don’t forget the end of the story!
- Avoid extraneous details. It’s tempting to explain the whole situation, but you really don’t need to. Focus on what’s pertinent to your story and the question and skip the rest.
- Be enthusiastic. Even if the role isn’t something you’re truly excited about, find an aspect of it that you can genuinely express interest in. Think about things like the employer’s mission statement, tasks in the job description, software you would use, etc.
- Know your skills and accomplishments. Be ready to discuss these, and again, focus on using “I” language. If you’re uncomfortable talking about your successes, you can frame them as feedback you’ve gotten: “I’ve been told that I’m an excellent communicator.”
- Take your time. It often feels like we’re expected to jump in with an answer to an interview question right away, but some questions need some thought before you can answer them. Take that time. You might assess why they’re asking you that, for instance, or take a moment to come up with a story to tell about a similar experience.
- Breathe and smile. It’s okay to be nervous, but you can also ground yourself by taking nice deep, slow breaths and smiling at your interviewers.
