How to Prepare for Real World Interviews

I must admit, interviewing is still something I get nervous about. Luckily for me, I have been on dozens of interviews these last few months and now feel like an expert on them. If you are the kind of person with interpersonal skills infused in your personality, then awesome! You may not need my help. For others, keep reading and learn with me.

What happens first?

So you have already put in some applications and have received some interview offers. If you haven’t yet, don’t worry. Surprisingly, I have been called to interview 2 months after submitting my resume. Also, most internships will call you before summer starts. Just prepare yourselves. You’ll need to know what goes into interviewing for a position. The first thing that I always do is research the company. Your interviewer is going to want to know that you know who they are and you know what the position is about. So find their ABOUT page and study it. Research the position you are interviewing for. There are many YouTube videos that follow a day in the life of various careers. Take advantage of that. Now, ask yourself how you can 1) Fit into this company and 2) Bring something new to benefit the company.

What Are Some Questions I need To Know?

It is very hard to anticipate what kinds of questions you will be asked. Honestly, I like to go to the company’s page on Glassdoor.com. Many people that have already interviewed for the positions have summarized their interview experience. I, myself have entered my own experiences to this website. So hopefully this will bring your nerves down. I have also prepared some questions that I have heard the most from my interviewers.

1)   Can you tell me a little bit about yourself?

2)   What are your biggest strengths?

3)   What are your biggest weaknesses?

4)   Why did you decide to apply for this position?

5)   Why do you want to work for our company?

6)   Can you explain to me the gaps in your employment?

7)   Name three things that motivate you to get up in the morning?

8)   Do you have any experience in leadership?

These are just a few that come up often. Sometimes I can get a little thrown off if my interviewer asks questions that I have never heard before. I have a little trick I use so that I look like I am more prepared for what they are throwing at me. After I answer my interviewer’s question, I’ll just slip in those that I have practiced. It usually works for me because the interviewer begins to roll off of what I just presented him/her with. The last question you will most likely hear is:

9)   Do you have any questions for me? UH OH!

Prepare some interview questions for your interviewer

You always want to have questions ready for your interviewer. Even if you think you already know the answer, you just might be surprised. Whether you would like to know more about your position or your managers, these can all lead to the information you need to know to determine if this is the job for you. For me, I like to catch my interviewer off guard like they do me. I want to show them that I am also quick on my feet. So, I might ask them what kinds of projects are involved in the position. This one tells me what I can expect daily in that position. There are also questions like:

1)   Who will I be reporting to?

2)   Is there an area of your team that needs work?

3)   What are the characteristics a person should possess to work in this position?

4)   What qualities do your most valuable employees have?

5)   Do you believe that I possess any of the skills you need to benefit you and the company?

Of course you can make these questions your own. I definitely want you to dress them up and feel like you just got all of the information you need. That is what is most important.

Dress the part

I have talked about this a little bit in my post about professionalism and I thought I should touch on it again. I am still shocked that some people do not know how to dress for an interview. Though, if this is your first interview, I can understand that. Just know that if you walk into your interview with jeans on or a club dress, your interviewer may know right off that you are not right for the position. Therefore, your outfit can make or break your chances on getting that job. So why not learn the rules before you get there? No matter where I am interviewing- whether it is at a gym, recreational park, corporate, or news station, I will always dress business formal. I believe that it is better to show up too formal than too casual. You can always take your blazer off when you get there, but you can't run home and change. Here is an illustration to show you what the difference in dress is.

Provided by Tarleton.edu

Provided by Tarleton.edu

Follow up on your interview

I don’t think that many people bother to follow up with their interviewer after the interview. I actually love to send thank you letters to my interviewer. I believe that this shows them that I am truly interested in that particular position. I don’t send them to everyone. Sometimes I may leave an interview and know immediately that this is not the job I want to dedicate my life to. So only the jobs that I see best fit me. I believe that a good follow up can help your chances of getting the job. So be prompt! Try to send out an email or letter within 48 hours. Here is an example of an email follow up:

Provided by BusinessNewsDaily.com

You can use this as your guide. You can also recreate a letter and tailor it to your own style. But remember, you want to be brief and not too eager. One email or letter will do. I hope that this information helps you get your dream job or internship. Don't forget to be yourself! And have fun out there! If you don't get the job, take notes on how you can be better... Hey! That might even be an awesome interview question!

Yours truly,

      Michaela