5 Tips for Acing Interviews
It seems like most of my clients are headed on interviews- interviews for jobs, interviews for graduate schools, interviews for residency programs, they are all happening soon. While I’m so glad that they are getting interviews, most of them are terrified now that the moment is almost here. So I’m doing what any good counselor would do… I’m blogging about it!
Over the years, I’ve learned a few things about interviewing, from personal experience, from professional experience and also from others in the HR field. And now I’m here to share everything I’ve learned and gleaned from others with you!
These are the 5 best tips for acing your interview!
Do Research
Every time you go on an interview, you can expect to be asked to name a reason that is specific to that orgainization that you are interested in working there, attending there, etc. And, frankly, don’t be surprised if you are asked more than one organization specific question. Since you know you will be asked, it’s vital that you do your research ahead of time. Be able to list at least one reason why you are interested in the organization and be able to expand on that.
As someone who has sat across from applicants applying for jobs and applicants applying to college programs, it is disheartening when a candidate can’t name anything specific. You don’t want to be that person.
Write Down Answers
Everyone already knows that practice makes perfect, so my advice isn’t to practice your answers over and over and over again (though you probably should have some stock answers in your arsenal). This is my hands-down, best advice for interviewing:
Buy yourself a professional looking portfolio with a notepad inside. Write down common interview questions and then how you would answer them. Review these answers until you feel comfortable saying them without looking at the paper. If you get to the interview and are terrified or nervous, this will save you, because you will also have your portfolio with you and you can sneak a peek at it before you go in for the interview.
This portfolio is also a convenient place to stash extra copies of your resume and to write down questions that you want to ask at the end of your interview.
Target Your Audience
When you are formulating your answers, relate them back to the position to which you applied or the company with whom you applied. This is important for everyone, and especially important for anyone who is new to their career field or is a career changer.
For example, if you are a high school counselor who is applying to a school counseling position in a middle school and you are asked “what is your experience with advising students on academic matters?” Don’t just recite what you’ve done at your previous positions, relate it to what you will be doing in this new role. You could say something along the lines of “Academic advising is a large part of my role as a high school counselor. I create academic plans with all of my students and meet with each student on my caseload at least once a year to review their plan, provide guidance, and make changes as necessary. I know that there is also a prevalent focus on academic plans at the middle school level and I know that I can take the skills and processes I’ve developed and refined during my time as a high school counselor and apply them here as well. For instance, I use Calendly for students to sign up with me to review their academic plans during the month of February, so that they can see my availability and I don’t get double booked. I also have created a form that I fill out with students so we each have a copy of their academic plan and they can take their copy home to discuss with their parents. I’d be happy to share those with the counselors here as well.”
Know Your Value
This is applicable for many reasons, but specifically in the interview process you need to know your value so that you can be confident going in and throughout the interview. Confidence speaks volumes in the interview process. If you aren’t comfortable talking about yourself, more often than not, it comes across as disinterest, apathy, or lack of experience/education that you need to do the role. None of those are good.
On the other hand, you don’t want to come across as arrogant in the interview process. This can be a fine and challenging line to walk. Arrogance is also viewed negatively in the interview process and may be off-putting to a future supervisor.
Close Strong
If you do everything else wrong in the interview, close strong and make their last impression of you a positive one. There are some simple ways to do this.
Smile throughout the interview
Ask strong questions at the end
Be attentive while they are answering your questions and talking about next steps (nod your head!!!)
Thank them for their time
Send thank you emails
You’d be surprised at how often you can save an interview in the final moments… well, in the final few questions and in how you present yourself at the end.
If you know me, then you know that almost no blog post would be complete without an infographic!
I hope you’ve found this helpful and I wish you the best of luck on your interviews. If you are looking for more information, please visit my website- Higher & Hire. If I can be of assistance to you, please reach out to me here.
Many Thanks!
Valerie Palmer - Career and College Admissions Expert
