Interns- Interviewing with Confidence

From Help Wiki

Goals:

  • Know critical steps in preparing for an interview
  • Know which questions to be prepared for
  • Understand strategies for offering complete responses
  • Know which loose ends to keep in mind
Our culture rewards self-deprecation, not talking about oneself positively. This can be really hard habit to break in interviews.

What activities do you do when?

  • Research the Organization
  • Google General Interview Questions
  • Practice Answering Questions for the Interviewer(s)
  • Prepare Location and Confirm Transportations
  • Choose Clothes and Outfit
  • Personal Grooming and Hygiene
It doesn’t matter the order you do these, as long as you do all of them

Preparation Tips:

Research
  • Website (Mission, Values)
  • Social Media (this gives you a current look at what they are doing)
Clothes
  • Feel Professional? You’re good.
  • Being overdressed isn’t an issue but being under is
Google & Practice
  • Work place or project stories for examples
  • Go through the job description
Prepare Questions
  • You’re interviewing them too!
  • Prepare thoughtful questions with answers you couldn’t find elsewhere
  • Focus on things you can’t find in the job description or the website
  • The goal is to stump them
Tips for Practice
  • Record yourself—watch out for verbal fillers (like, um, and stuff)
  • Write out responses
  • Practice responses in the mirror
  • Schedule a Mock Interview
Don’t forget the details…
  • Map the location
  • Have a spare resume in a folder

I’m Here…Now What?

Tell me about yourself? The hardest easy question in the game
What I think they mean:
  • Where I’m from/my childhood
  • How old I am
  • My hobbies (could maybe include work related hobbies)
They really mean:
  • What you studied
  • Why you applied and what gets you excited about the position
  • Skillsets you can apply to the position (Why this is the right job for you now)

What are your strengths/weaknesses:

Strengths:
  • Focus on good experiences
  • Things you did well
  • Things your proud of
  • Don’t self-deprecate
Weaknesses:
  • Make sure your weakness is not a core function of the job
  • Spin as a work in progress
  • Have tangible improvement strategies

Tell Me About a Time When…

  • Conflict with a colleague
  • Multiple projects, too little time
  • Worked as part of a team to achieve a goal

Use the STAR method:

Focus on yourself, what you did, your role…
  • S: Explain the Situation
  • T: Describe your role or Task
  • A: The Action you took
  • R: The Results of your action
Think about accountability and be very thoughtful about how you talk about colleagues and supervisors.

How to Show Up

  • Bring yourself to the interview
  • They’ll notice if you’re anyone else
  • Be early and keep your phone out of sight
  • Make them laugh, have a conversation
  • Have a ritual that will help you relax