By: S. Spells
Preparing for an interview involves a lot more than Googling a list of popular interview questions. You need to make a fantastic first impression (don't arrive in wrinkled clothes or late! ), be knowledgeable about the business, its offerings, and its mission, and of course, clearly articulate why you'd be a wonderful hire for this position. If you are a college student getting ready to face the real world after graduation (just like I am), check your school resources. Majority, if not all schools over some guidance on career development. If you attend Winston-Salem State University they do offer mock interviews to help you prepare yourself but if your school does not here are a few tips.
Research the company
Learn everything you can about the open position
Try out the company’s product or service (if you can).
Identify your selling points for this job.
Be ready to tell the interviewer about yourself.
Know why you’re interested in this position at this company.
Do some salary research.
Prepare your stories.
Jot down important numbers and details.
Brush up on your interview skills.
Practice—but don’t memorize—your answers to common interview questions.
Think about body language.
Try some mock interviews.
Write down questions you’ll ask them.
Plan for what you’ll do if you’re caught off guard.
Prepare for technical interviews or skill tests.
Figure out what to wear while looking appropriate and professional.
Print out copies of your resume.
Prepare a reference list.
Test any needed tech.
Pack your bag ahead of time.
Figure out where you’re going and how you’re getting there.
Prepare your environment (if needed).
Fill in an interview cheat sheet.
Get a good night’s sleep.
Calm your nerves and/or get psyched.
Familiarize yourself with the STAR method.
Make sure the story is well-structured and has a clear takeaway whenever you use it to respond to interview questions. The aim should be to answer the question succinctly and clearly while yet providing the interviewer with all the background information they require to comprehend what transpired. The STAR technique is one approach to accomplish this. STAR is an acronym for:
Situation: Briefly describe the situation while including just enough details for the interviewer to comprehend the stakes and your entire response.
Task: Describe how you contributed to the issue at hand.
Action: Describe what you did and your reasoning.
Result: Inform your interviewer of the results and what you discovered.
Take note that you might wish to make a small adjustment to this framework for some queries. Consider clarifying what leadership means to you before describing a situation where you showed leadership qualities, for instance. However, using the STAR approach will guarantee that every one of your stories has a start, middle, and end.
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