Tips to Ace your Interview

Interviews can be overwhelming events in a person’s life. Be it a job at your dream company or an interview with a college admissions officer from your top-choice college, you don’t want to make a bad impression on your interviewer! Keeping all these things in mind, it becomes tough to go into the interview with a clear head. However, here are a few tips that can work their magic and help you make a stellar first impression on your interviewer:

• Do your research. Whatever role you’re applying for, make sure you know your key responsibilities so that you can showcase that you’re ready for the role. Moreover, research about the institution you are applying to in depth. For example, in a job interview, familiarize yourself with the company’s vision and the kind of work they do because this shows that you are actually interested in working for them. In an admissions interview, research about the department you’re applying to. You can then talk about professors you want to work with, initiatives you wish to contribute to, and other specific details pertaining to the college.

• Carry your resume. It’s always good to have this on hand because you or your interviewer can refer to it when talking about your past experiences, especially in an in-person interview.

• Be honest. If you are having trouble with a certain question, say it. Don’t try to portray yourself as all-knowing because doing so can work against you. Interviewers are looking for someone who is honest, accepts their mistakes, and has a willingness to learn.

• Take a moment if you need it. Say you are asked a case-based question, it is okay to tell the interviewer that you need a minute to think before you answer.

• Use the STAR method. It stands for Situation (the challenge you had to deal with), Task (what you were supposed to do), Action (what you did), and Result (what happened as a result of your actions). Using this method when giving examples (say from your previous jobs, volunteering experiences, etc.) will help you structure your answer and keep it concise.

• Be punctual. It does not bode well when you reach 15 minutes late to the venue of the interview or join the Zoom meeting late. In case of a real emergency, make sure to contact the interviewer to let them know of the delay.

• Ask questions. An interview is not just about you answering questions; it can be a wonderful opportunity to ask your interviewer about the organization and their experience. Moreover, asking questions shows that you’re enthusiastic about the position. Plus, people generally like talking about themselves.

• Thank your interviewer. Be it in person or online, it is important for you to express your thanks to your interviewer for taking the time to have a conversation with you. In case you forget to say thanks, make sure to send an email to them within 24 hours of your interview.

With all these tips in mind, here is a resource for you to go through some common interview questions and think about how you would answer them: https://www.coursera.org/articles/common-interview-questions

It’s always a good idea to practice with someone beforehand (say, a family member or a close friend) who will give you honest feedback. Good luck!