Tips on Having a Better Interview

STUDY STUDY STUDY. Always study for your interviews. Even if you think you’re great at speaking, it’s still good to refresh yourself on the job description and the different experiences that make you qualified for that position.

Study up on the company. Go to their company website. Read their mission, vision, and goals. Read on the services and products that they provide.

Study up on yourself! The interview will be about you and your accomplishments and experience. You’d think you know your own experience, but nerves can get to ya when you’re doing an interview. Look up practice questions and think of ways in how you might answer them. This is especially good if you tend to be shy and reserved.

 

Phone interviews: Practice these questions

Tell me about yourself

Why do you want to work here at [company]?

Are you currently working and why do you want to leave?

What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Tell me about a time you took the lead on a project.

 

STAR Method: Situation, Task, Action, Result

Some companies are now adopting what is the STAR method of interviewing. They will ask situational and behavioral questions and will look for an answer that shows details of how you would approach that specific situation and the result that comes out of it.

Example: Tell me about a time you faced a challenge with your teammates in your project and how you were able to overcome that challenge.

First explain the situation. Was it in a class, a club project, or at work? 

Second, explain the task. What were you working on? What was the goal of the project? What was the challenge? 

Third, explain the actions you took. Did you have to go back to the drawing board? Was there a specific program you used to help you over the challenge? If the challenge had to do with your teammates, how did you communicate with them? 

Lastly, explain the result. Were you able to complete the project? Did you get a good score on the project/did you win a competition/what did your boss think of your completed project? Most importantly, what did you learn from the experience. With challenges come a lesson learned at the end. Let the employer know that you learn from your mistakes.

Ask questions at the end

At the end of the interview, when the interviewer asks, "Do you have any questions for us?", your answer must always be yes! Why? Because it shows that you take initiative and that you want to know more about the company or position.

Interviews are not only for the employer to get to know you, but also for you to get to know the employer.