Graduation may still be a few years away, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t start practicing good job interview skills early on. These days, the majority of students hold down part time jobs while also taking a full load of classes to help pay everyday living expenses.
Whether you are looking to land an internship, a work-study position or a job at your campus recreation center, there are a few universal tips to follow to help you stand out in a job interview.
Practice – Nearly every interview will begin with a few softball questions – Why are you a good fit for this job? Why do you want to work here? Tell me about yourself? By practicing answers in advance to these questions you will be able to deliver a brief, meaningful statement about yourself and your goals. You will also keep yourself from rambling on and on about yourself because you are nervous. One question that an interviewer almost always asks is about your weaknesses. Practice your answer to this question and come up with examples of situations in past jobs where you were able to successfully problem solve.
Channel your inner Sherlock – Companies like it when you know things about them. In this day in age where nearly every company has a website, Facebook page or Twitter feed, it’s considered poor form (and often a reason to not hire you) if you haven’t done your research on the company prior to an interview. Not only will it help you ask intelligent questions concerning the position, it also shows you would be up to speed on day one.
Ask – Don’t be afraid to ask questions about the role you are interviewing for. Although you are the one being interviewed, you are also trying to feel out if the job is a good fit for you. Will they allow you to work part time? Will they be flexible with your school and study schedule? These are all important things to get on the table up front in your interview.
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