Interviews can be the most stressful part of any job or admissions process, but they don’t necessarily have to be. If you follow, a few key tips can help you make any interview a success. Here are six of them:
1. Be relevant in every interview
Most interviews start with the basic statement, “tell me about yourself”. The best way to answer this is to mention your interests and experiences that relate to the job or academic program to which you applied. For example, if you’re applying for an English Literature academic program, you can say something like, “I’m an avid reader and it was because of the time I spent with my neighborhood’s book club that I became drawn towards Victorian literature.”
Be careful not to narrate your CV or resume! Your answer should show your personality by using personal values, interests, or experiences.
2. When asked “why are you applying to …”, consider both sides
A common question that helps interviewers understand your reasons (read: commitment) for applying is, “why are you applying to this job/program”. Remember that this is a chance for you to share your skills, experiences, and accomplishments that can help the interviewer see you as a qualified and committed candidate.
That’s one side of the coin. The other side has to do with the company or school to which you’re applying. In your interview, say a line or two about what drew you to applying where you did; highlight some positive things about that organization. It can be a variety of things such as their work culture, community impact, and strong faculty.
3. Know the basics
In any interview, always expect a basic question about the academics of what you’re applying to. If you’re applying to a finance-related job or master’s program, go over some basics such as the definition of risk and how it’s measured. If your application is related to another field, the same tip still holds.
4. Keep up with the news
Reading news and opinion articles related to your field can expand your ability to apply your knowledge. Let’s say the interviewer presents a scenario related to teamwork and asks what action you would take. If you’ve kept up your reading on news, columns, or journal articles about team management and leadership, you’ll be able to answer with confidence. It doesn’t matter whether you give the “right” answer. However, it does matter that you’re able to think practically on the spot and back up your answers with examples.
5. Stay true in all interviews
You don’t have to invent stories or interests that you think would fool the interviewer and land you the job (they’ll see right through you anyway). When preparing for interviews, think about your values, personal and professional experiences, accomplishments, favorite subjects, and so forth. You may surprise yourself by how much you can find that would bolster your confidence and lead you to a successful interview.
6. Practice
Practice makes progress. The more you rehearse your answers to possible interview questions, the more you’ll learn about yourself and gain confidence. You’ll also refine your way of sharing your experiences and accomplishments through the feedback you receive. That would increasingly improve how you position yourself as a strong candidate in interviews.
To sum it up, to ace any interview keep it real and relevant. Learn from your mistakes and keep practicing. That’s the way to succeed in anything, including interviews.
