Hamid
How does one master an interview?
I am a junior in high school. I am looking to apply to colleges next summer and just wanted to get a heads up to see what I was aiming for because some of the schools I want to apply for like doing interviews? #interviews #job-application
3 answers
Agata Halford
Agata’s Answer
The simple answer is: practice makes perfect. The more you do it the better you become at it. Know your subject, know yourself, your skills and what you are good at. Be able to explain it and provide specific examples to support those claims. Think of specific situations that you can talk about when asked about your strengths and weaknesses, how did you handle the situation, what did you do, what was the outcome etc. And try to be yourself, practice how to stay calm under pressure and control your nerves. You can stand in front of the mirror and practice. Or use your phone and record yourself speaking, you will see where you need to improve and control your body language as well.
It's all about preparation and some confidence. Remember, we are all our own worse critics. So the more you practice, and you know you did practice, it will give you the peace of mind and confidence you need. You will feel ready.
Good luck!
Thanks for the advice!
Hamid
Mary Tyrrell
Mary’s Answer
A lot of companies build their interviews about Behavioral based interview style. What is a Behavioral Job Interview?
Behavioral based interviewing is interviewing based on discovering how the interviewee acted in specific employment-related situations. The logic is that how you behaved in the past will predict how you will behave in the future, i.e., past behavior predicts future performance. Below are some tips on getting ready for the interview.
Behavioral Interview Tips
Study the job description.
Review major projects you've worked on.
Revisit previous job performance reviews.
Make a list of your professional accomplishments.
Use the STAR method to structure your response.
Be open and honest in your answer.
Practice your interview responses aloud.
Tina Miller
Tina’s Answer
Great advice from Agata to be yourself. The worst approach is to memorize and try to think of what an interviewer WANTS to hear from you. Trust me, they have heard everything and can tell a fake reply from one that is spoken from the heart. It definitely helps to go through some common questions and think about how you would answer. There is a website " collegeapp.about.com" that list 15-20 of the more common possible questions you might be asked. Don't think you have to make some profound statements, sometimes speaking simply, prepared but not like you wrote a speech and memorized it, can open the door to some great interaction with your interviewer.
Try to relax and look your interviewer in the eye. Be respectful, don't be afraid to use some humor, just don't turn into a comic or use a lot of slang expressions. Don't come off as bragging, even if your accomplishments are outstanding, simply state what you have done with tempered pride. Question about your personal attributes can be unnerving, but be truthful. And don't try to take a positive and make it a negative like "Oh, people tell me I'm just too friendly". That never goes over well.
All interviewers, whether for college or in the working world, appreciate honesty and being spoken to as if in conversation, not rehearsed responses. So practice and remember to SMILE.