7 answers
Desirae
Student
Sevierville, Tennessee
1
Question
Asked
1247 views
what are the best ways to prepare for an interview?
I am getting ready to be going into my senior year of high school and just moved to a different state. I have experience in babysitting.
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7 answers
Patrick Meyer
Executive - Data Analytics and AI
750
Answers
Naperville, Illinois
Updated
Patrick’s Answer
As you approach your final year of high school and start exploring the job market, it's vital to understand the importance of preparing for interviews. This preparation is key to showcasing your best self and improving your chances of landing the job. Your babysitting experience has already equipped you with useful skills like responsibility, communication, and problem-solving. These skills can be beneficial in your job hunt. Here are some practical steps to help you effectively prepare for your interviews:
• Before the interview, it's important to conduct a thorough research on the company you're applying to. This involves understanding the company's mission, values, products/services, and recent accomplishments. A deep knowledge of the company's background shows your interest and enthusiasm, and helps you align your responses during the interview with the company's objectives and culture.
• You should get acquainted with common interview questions and prepare thoughtful answers beforehand. These questions might revolve around your experience, strengths and weaknesses, career aspirations, and reasons for your interest in the position. Practicing your answers out loud or with someone can help you feel more self-assured and articulate during the interview.
• Even though your experience is mainly in babysitting, you've likely developed skills that can be applied to a variety of roles. Skills like multitasking, effective communication, and handling tough situations can be beneficial in many job environments. During the interview, it's important to emphasize these skills and provide specific instances where you've demonstrated them in your past experiences.
• First impressions are crucial, so it's important to dress appropriately for the interview. The dress code might differ based on the industry and company culture, but it's generally advisable to choose professional attire. This usually means wearing clean, conservative clothes suitable for a formal or business casual setting.
• Near the end of the interview, you'll probably get the chance to ask questions about the position or the company. You should prepare a list of insightful questions beforehand to show your interest and involvement. These questions can be about the company's culture, opportunities for growth, training programs, or expectations for the role.
• Lastly, you should maintain good manners throughout the interview process. This involves arriving on time, maintaining eye contact, offering a firm handshake, and expressing gratitude for the interview opportunity. Additionally, you should send a thank-you email or handwritten note after the interview to reiterate your interest in the position and show appreciation for the interviewer's time.
By adhering to these tips and dedicating time to thorough preparation, you can face your interviews with confidence and enhance your chances of success as you start your professional journey.
• Before the interview, it's important to conduct a thorough research on the company you're applying to. This involves understanding the company's mission, values, products/services, and recent accomplishments. A deep knowledge of the company's background shows your interest and enthusiasm, and helps you align your responses during the interview with the company's objectives and culture.
• You should get acquainted with common interview questions and prepare thoughtful answers beforehand. These questions might revolve around your experience, strengths and weaknesses, career aspirations, and reasons for your interest in the position. Practicing your answers out loud or with someone can help you feel more self-assured and articulate during the interview.
• Even though your experience is mainly in babysitting, you've likely developed skills that can be applied to a variety of roles. Skills like multitasking, effective communication, and handling tough situations can be beneficial in many job environments. During the interview, it's important to emphasize these skills and provide specific instances where you've demonstrated them in your past experiences.
• First impressions are crucial, so it's important to dress appropriately for the interview. The dress code might differ based on the industry and company culture, but it's generally advisable to choose professional attire. This usually means wearing clean, conservative clothes suitable for a formal or business casual setting.
• Near the end of the interview, you'll probably get the chance to ask questions about the position or the company. You should prepare a list of insightful questions beforehand to show your interest and involvement. These questions can be about the company's culture, opportunities for growth, training programs, or expectations for the role.
• Lastly, you should maintain good manners throughout the interview process. This involves arriving on time, maintaining eye contact, offering a firm handshake, and expressing gratitude for the interview opportunity. Additionally, you should send a thank-you email or handwritten note after the interview to reiterate your interest in the position and show appreciation for the interviewer's time.
By adhering to these tips and dedicating time to thorough preparation, you can face your interviews with confidence and enhance your chances of success as you start your professional journey.
Sam Anzai, ISA
IT Auditor
2
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Sam’s Answer
There's a lot of great recommendations above. Here are some additional things to consider:
1a) Prepare using your past experiences with STAR method: Think about the practical hard/soft skills you've learned from your experiences with babysitting and any other extracurriculars you've participated in (no harm in Googling it either for additional ideas). Additionally, think about scenarios you encountered from these experiences.
1b) I like to pull together a word doc of common interview questions and think through responses for each one. This includes but is not limited to drafting out responses using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Results) method. In your STAR-formatted responses, drafting these ahead of time, making sure each component is addressed, and practicing them out loud(!) allows you to be less likely to be caught off guard when asked during your interview.
2) Realistic responses: If you get asked a question that DOES catch you a bit off guard, it's okay to take a step back and pause. My favorite filler response to buy myself some time to think: "That's a great question. Well, ...". I also recommend not to be too hard on yourself if you stutter or stumble a bit. No one, not even seasoned professionals, is perfect and going to be articulate without mistakes.
3) Questions at the end: Prepare some good questions to ask at the end of the interview. They can vary in purpose, such as learning more about how the job would fit you (e.g., asking the interviewer what they like most about working there), or demonstrating your interest and knowledge of the company (e.g., bringing up a news article you found on the company and asking the interviewer for their opinions).
Don't be afraid to use Google - there are so many resources already available!
1a) Prepare using your past experiences with STAR method: Think about the practical hard/soft skills you've learned from your experiences with babysitting and any other extracurriculars you've participated in (no harm in Googling it either for additional ideas). Additionally, think about scenarios you encountered from these experiences.
1b) I like to pull together a word doc of common interview questions and think through responses for each one. This includes but is not limited to drafting out responses using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, and Results) method. In your STAR-formatted responses, drafting these ahead of time, making sure each component is addressed, and practicing them out loud(!) allows you to be less likely to be caught off guard when asked during your interview.
2) Realistic responses: If you get asked a question that DOES catch you a bit off guard, it's okay to take a step back and pause. My favorite filler response to buy myself some time to think: "That's a great question. Well, ...". I also recommend not to be too hard on yourself if you stutter or stumble a bit. No one, not even seasoned professionals, is perfect and going to be articulate without mistakes.
3) Questions at the end: Prepare some good questions to ask at the end of the interview. They can vary in purpose, such as learning more about how the job would fit you (e.g., asking the interviewer what they like most about working there), or demonstrating your interest and knowledge of the company (e.g., bringing up a news article you found on the company and asking the interviewer for their opinions).
Don't be afraid to use Google - there are so many resources already available!
Martha Kramer
Corporate Training, Communications
335
Answers
Stamford, Connecticut
Updated
Martha’s Answer
This is an excellent question, Desirae. Preparing for an interview will vary between types of jobs (personal, like babysitting, and for full-time jobs) and well as whether you have interviewed for that opportunity before. For all job interviews, be prepared to discuss your qualifications and why you want that job (besides making money). Also, think about questions they may ask you and how you would answer (writing down the question and answer will help you remember).
You mentioned babysitting. They may ask how long you have babysat, if you have taken a babysitting course, what experience you have preparing food, and what ages you have worked with. Even if you are from another state, they may ask for a reference. They may also ask how you have dealt/or might deal with typical situations, such as a child who gets hurt or doesn't want to go to sleep. Be prepared for those. If the parents are interested, they may introduce you to the children to see how you interact with them and whether they are comfortable with you.
For other jobs, you may be expected to have a resume, more references, and have examples of what you obstacles you may have faced on the job and accomplished in each role. You may have interviews with multiple people for a job. If that is the case, you may want to have multiple examples of a particular trait, such as attention to detail, tenacity, etc. so you don't keep reusing the same one.
The work you do for one interview can help you with others since certain examples repeat themselves. For example, in interviews for full-time jobs, they often ask about how you cope with incomplete information or too little time to complete a project. Or they may ask how you are in a team. Once you have clear examples of how you succeeded, you could reuse them.
Good luck!
Look at indeed.com interview tips - https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/interviewing/how-to-prepare-for-an-interview
You mentioned babysitting. They may ask how long you have babysat, if you have taken a babysitting course, what experience you have preparing food, and what ages you have worked with. Even if you are from another state, they may ask for a reference. They may also ask how you have dealt/or might deal with typical situations, such as a child who gets hurt or doesn't want to go to sleep. Be prepared for those. If the parents are interested, they may introduce you to the children to see how you interact with them and whether they are comfortable with you.
For other jobs, you may be expected to have a resume, more references, and have examples of what you obstacles you may have faced on the job and accomplished in each role. You may have interviews with multiple people for a job. If that is the case, you may want to have multiple examples of a particular trait, such as attention to detail, tenacity, etc. so you don't keep reusing the same one.
The work you do for one interview can help you with others since certain examples repeat themselves. For example, in interviews for full-time jobs, they often ask about how you cope with incomplete information or too little time to complete a project. Or they may ask how you are in a team. Once you have clear examples of how you succeeded, you could reuse them.
Good luck!
Martha recommends the following next steps:
Lars M.
Talent Acquisition Content Specialist
8
Answers
Madison, Wisconsin
Updated
Lars’s Answer
Think of interviews as a way to interview THEM.
You'll be spending your time doing whatever the job is, what do YOU want to know? Think about what's important to you (hours, who you'll work with and how often, perks, opportunities to grow) then do as much research as you can ahead of time to answer those questions (visit their website, Glassdoor, social media, etc.). Whatever you still want to know more about, ask it during the interview. Make sure you let them know at the start of the interview that you did research ahead of time and would like time for questions. It'll be a win-win because they'll be impressed based on your ability to come prepared AND you'll get a better idea on if the job is the best fit for you!
Some other ways to prepare:
- Map out how to get to the interview ahead of time and where to park (it's ok to get there early even if it means sitting in the car for bit)
- Know who to ask for when you walk in
- Bring water (but go to the bathroom shortly before you arrive)
- Remember the interview starts the minute you walk into the doors, not when the first question is asked so have good posture, smile, and don't be afraid to make small talk when you have the chance!
You'll be spending your time doing whatever the job is, what do YOU want to know? Think about what's important to you (hours, who you'll work with and how often, perks, opportunities to grow) then do as much research as you can ahead of time to answer those questions (visit their website, Glassdoor, social media, etc.). Whatever you still want to know more about, ask it during the interview. Make sure you let them know at the start of the interview that you did research ahead of time and would like time for questions. It'll be a win-win because they'll be impressed based on your ability to come prepared AND you'll get a better idea on if the job is the best fit for you!
Some other ways to prepare:
- Map out how to get to the interview ahead of time and where to park (it's ok to get there early even if it means sitting in the car for bit)
- Know who to ask for when you walk in
- Bring water (but go to the bathroom shortly before you arrive)
- Remember the interview starts the minute you walk into the doors, not when the first question is asked so have good posture, smile, and don't be afraid to make small talk when you have the chance!
Jim Otto
Healthcare Sales
3
Answers
Akron, Ohio
Updated
Jim’s Answer
Excellent question!
A valuable tip I've learned is to prepare narratives in advance for interviews. It can be challenging to come up with relevant experiences on the spot when asked questions. Therefore, planning ahead for various situations can be beneficial.
Considering your babysitting experience, jot down incidents that occurred while you were babysitting, which you can discuss during the interview. For instance, you might have resolved a dispute between siblings, or you went beyond your duties to assist parents by tidying up the house. Other examples could be arriving 10 minutes early, showing preparedness, or bringing your own games for the children, demonstrating foresight.
During an interview, you'll encounter unique questions, and it's always advantageous to have stories prepared. Unsure about typical interview questions? Utilize Google to research and ponder how you can connect these questions to your experiences. The questions are not just about your responses, but about how you present yourself and think on your feet.
A common method to respond to questions is the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Actions, Results). This means you should structure your answer by describing a situation you faced while babysitting, the task that arose, the actions you took, and the resulting outcome. For example, in response to "Tell me about a time you made a mistake", you could say, "That's an interesting question. A few weeks ago, while babysitting my nephews, I was supposed to assist them with their history report. However, I mistakenly noted down the wrong subject in my calendar and brought my math books instead. Upon realizing my error, I reviewed their assignment, quickly researched the history topic online with my nephews, and found the necessary information. We then worked together on the report, and thanks to the wealth of information we discovered, they were able to write a comprehensive report and earned an A- grade."
Always aim to narrate a story and promote your skills with each question. I hope this advice is helpful. Best of luck!
Google "Common Interview Questions"
Research STAR questions & answers
Write down 10 situations from work experience to pull from
Condence your answers to bullet points to jog your memory and keep those in your note pad that you'll bring to the interview
Practice your answer out loud enough times to where you are comfortable with them and commited to memory
A valuable tip I've learned is to prepare narratives in advance for interviews. It can be challenging to come up with relevant experiences on the spot when asked questions. Therefore, planning ahead for various situations can be beneficial.
Considering your babysitting experience, jot down incidents that occurred while you were babysitting, which you can discuss during the interview. For instance, you might have resolved a dispute between siblings, or you went beyond your duties to assist parents by tidying up the house. Other examples could be arriving 10 minutes early, showing preparedness, or bringing your own games for the children, demonstrating foresight.
During an interview, you'll encounter unique questions, and it's always advantageous to have stories prepared. Unsure about typical interview questions? Utilize Google to research and ponder how you can connect these questions to your experiences. The questions are not just about your responses, but about how you present yourself and think on your feet.
A common method to respond to questions is the STAR technique (Situation, Task, Actions, Results). This means you should structure your answer by describing a situation you faced while babysitting, the task that arose, the actions you took, and the resulting outcome. For example, in response to "Tell me about a time you made a mistake", you could say, "That's an interesting question. A few weeks ago, while babysitting my nephews, I was supposed to assist them with their history report. However, I mistakenly noted down the wrong subject in my calendar and brought my math books instead. Upon realizing my error, I reviewed their assignment, quickly researched the history topic online with my nephews, and found the necessary information. We then worked together on the report, and thanks to the wealth of information we discovered, they were able to write a comprehensive report and earned an A- grade."
Always aim to narrate a story and promote your skills with each question. I hope this advice is helpful. Best of luck!
Jim recommends the following next steps:
Phillip Melton
Sony
2
Answers
Anchorage, Alaska
Updated
Phillip’s Answer
These are a few of my top interviewing suggestions:
1) Assemble your materials. Learn about the employer by performing some preliminary investigation. Visit their website, familiarize yourself with their goal statement, and see how they do business. You might also check out what employees have to say about the position at. Additionally, be aware of the talents listed in the job posting, and throughout your interview, make sure to emphasize how you meet those requirements.
2) Strive to project confidence and ease (or fake it until you make it). Make all the preparations necessary before the interview to psych yourself out because the last thing you want to appear uneasy or insecure. This will be easier if you are more prepared.
3) Express yourself clearly. That likely has something to do with confidence, but it also has to do with practicing beforehand. However, don't practice too much too soon—you don't want every response to seem prepared. However, have a broad idea of your responses to some of the most frequently asked interview questions. Once more geometry dash world, make careful to express how your abilities complement those that the business is seeking.
4) Making eye contact is crucial. Throughout the interview, try not to find yourself staring at the floor or away from the person too frequently.
5) View YouTube videos that demonstrate effective responses to some of the most typical interview questions. I did this, and it gave me some inspiration for possible interview responses to these questions.
6) While responding to your inquiries, follow the STAR approach. Situation, Task, Action, and Results is what STAR stands for, and there are many articles on it. This will guarantee that your remarks have an impact and assist to organize your responses.
1) Assemble your materials. Learn about the employer by performing some preliminary investigation. Visit their website, familiarize yourself with their goal statement, and see how they do business. You might also check out what employees have to say about the position at. Additionally, be aware of the talents listed in the job posting, and throughout your interview, make sure to emphasize how you meet those requirements.
2) Strive to project confidence and ease (or fake it until you make it). Make all the preparations necessary before the interview to psych yourself out because the last thing you want to appear uneasy or insecure. This will be easier if you are more prepared.
3) Express yourself clearly. That likely has something to do with confidence, but it also has to do with practicing beforehand. However, don't practice too much too soon—you don't want every response to seem prepared. However, have a broad idea of your responses to some of the most frequently asked interview questions. Once more geometry dash world, make careful to express how your abilities complement those that the business is seeking.
4) Making eye contact is crucial. Throughout the interview, try not to find yourself staring at the floor or away from the person too frequently.
5) View YouTube videos that demonstrate effective responses to some of the most typical interview questions. I did this, and it gave me some inspiration for possible interview responses to these questions.
6) While responding to your inquiries, follow the STAR approach. Situation, Task, Action, and Results is what STAR stands for, and there are many articles on it. This will guarantee that your remarks have an impact and assist to organize your responses.
Andrea Rollin
1
Answer
Updated
Andrea’s Answer
Hello! Here are 5 tips to help you prepare for an interview.
1) Research your interviewer/company/school
2) Decide on your clothing and appearance prior to the interview (Dress for Success!)
3) Practice answering typical interview questions (Ask someone to role play with you! )
4) In addition to babysitting; have you done any volunteering or other events that could highlight transferrable skills like organization; work ethic, dependability etc. These may be great to add to your resume.
5) Be yourself! You got this!
1) Research your interviewer/company/school
2) Decide on your clothing and appearance prior to the interview (Dress for Success!)
3) Practice answering typical interview questions (Ask someone to role play with you! )
4) In addition to babysitting; have you done any volunteering or other events that could highlight transferrable skills like organization; work ethic, dependability etc. These may be great to add to your resume.
5) Be yourself! You got this!