The opinions expressed in this article are the writer’s own and do not reflect the views of Her Campus.
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Purdue chapter.
As a college student, there is a high probability you either have already or will have to take part in an interview. While they can be very stressful, I have a few tips and tricks to share to help ease those nerves and to do well in that interview! Please note that these are my personal opinions and are not guaranteed to score you a position!
- Go in confident. This interview is to highlight your skills and to prove why you should get the position. The interviewer is not looking for reasons to get rid of you but to find reasons why they should pick you. By going with confidence, you are showing them that you think that you should get the position which in turn will show them that you think you are worthy. If you don’t go with confidence, they will think that maybe you don’t think you should get the position and that that sends the wrong message.
- Dress the part. If you look professional, the interviewer will be better able to think of you in a professional light. It sounds bad, but people innately judge others by their appearance. Don’t give the interviewer a reason to think poorly of you based on how you dress.
- Prepare to talk about your accomplishments beforehand. In almost every interview I have taken part in, the interviewer has asked me to highlight an accomplishment of mine. Before the interview, I will think about my accomplishments and why they highlight my professional qualities. By thinking about these things beforehand, I am able to compose my thoughts and be prepared for this question. I then am less likely to stumble on my words and sound like a more professional and competent person.
- On the other side of that argument, think about some of your struggles/failures. It is best to think of some ideas beforehand since this is a tougher topic. You want to talk about a failure but not something that makes you look undesirable. It is best to talk about a failure/struggle that helped you grow and improve as a leader or a candidate.
- Be yourself. Do not try to be someone you are not. Interviewers can tell most of the time if you are being disingenuous or fake. They are looking for candidates that are real and honest people that are suited to the position. Be yourself and put your best foot forward.
I hope these tips helped you and that you found a new tactic to apply to your next interview! Good luck out there in this competitive interview-based world!