Interviews can be nerve-wracking, especially if you’re unprepared. Luckily for you, I’ve put together 4 Tips to Ace your Her Campus Interview.
Appearance
First impressions are everything! Before you even open your mouth to speak, people are taking in your appearance. Therefore, it is imperative to make sure that you look the part. Make sure that your hair is put together and your nails are neatly groomed. This doesn’t mean that your nails should be polished, just make sure that your nails aren’t chipped or unkempt. Little details like this can be noticeable.
Your clothing choices speak volumes! How do you want to be perceived? Confident? Bold? Whatever you choose, make sure that your look represents a piece of who you are. Just keep it classy!
Body Language
It may sound cliche, but confidence is key, especially when it comes to body language. The days of a firm handshake may be over, for now, considering Covid 19, but this doesn’t mean that you can’t express your confidence in other ways. One big way to still exude confidence is eye contact. Now I know that eye contact can be highly uncomfortable, but it’s a great way to show that you’re attentive in an interview.
Pro-tip, if eye contact makes you nervous, look between their eyes and while you answer questions, talk with your hands. It always seems to help me communicate when I’m nervous. Furthermore, keep your posture straight, ears open and don’t forget to smile!
Research The Company
You should be knowledgeable about the company before the interview. You should also be familiar before the application process. As an editor at Her Campus, I’d say the most important part of your research would be reading the articles. Not only should you read the articles published by your campus, but you should also read articles published by other universities as well. You want to familiarize yourself with the writing style so that you will be ready for the writing portion of the application process.
Practice Interview Questions
This tip may be the most useful, but the most overlooked. If you’re great at talking and are quick with your words, this tip may not be helpful to you, but if you’re like some of us, you may need a dress rehearsal or two. Practicing what you’re going to say in the interview will help you out in the long run. Now granted, you can’t see the future, and you won’t know the questions until the interview. But most questions are roughly the same. “Tell me about yourself?” This question can be answered with a brief summary of your school and work experience. “Why did you choose Her Campus?”. This is when those research skills come into play. The best way to answer this question is to just be honest. Do you have a deep passion for writing? Are you looking for a creative outlet to express yourself? Whatever the reason, just be honest.