5 Quick Tips on Acing Your Interview

September 31, 2018 - Cheyene Shuart


Interviews, am I right? Fear not! Our professional Career Advisors and Peer Career Advisors have some quick tips to share - and more where that came from!


Interviews are the worst. You can be an interview veteran, like our Career Advisors, and still feel ill equipped to face an interviewer.  

This is why it is important to prepare for your interviews ahead of time. With special circumstances like Ignite happening now and seasonal hiring on the horizon, we know that you scarcely have time to get ready.  

An interview doesn’t have to end in a sweat-stained blouse and knocking knees, because our job at Career Development and Experiential Learning is to guide you in your preparation for interviews (and more). Nothing will prove more helpful than attending one of our Interview Prep appointments, our Interview Skills workshops, and then a Mock Interview appointment with our very capable Career Advising staff. 

Without further ado, here are some quick tips we think every student should know before stepping into the interview room: 

Tip #1: Make sure you are researching the company so that you understand what they do, who they do it for, and how you can add value to their team. Employers have told us that the most frustrating situations arise when interviewees know nothing about the company they are applying to work for. Your interviewer wants to know that you care enough to do your homework we can help you understand what kind of homework you have to do. 

Tip #2: Prepare for the questions ahead of time. When an interviewer asks you to tell them about yourself, you might be surprised to learn that there is a strategy that can help you answer this question the right way. There are certain kinds of questions, such as behavioral or unconventional questions, that can easily trip you up. No worries though, as we can share our knowledge of how to answer these questions so that you can apply your skills to impress your potential employer!  

Tip #3: Don’t focus on what they can do for you. While you may think it’s nice of you to comment on how happy this job would make you, employers are more interested in your potential contribution. Instead, focus on what you can do for them! What skills do you have that they will benefit from? How will you contribute to their work environment? Need a hand? Come chat with us! 

Tip #4: Assume that your interviewer is expecting you to be dressed like you are interviewing for a Wall Street position. When trying to decide what to wear and how to present yourself, always assume that the more professional you look, the better. Getting a professional second opinion on your wardrobe choice isn’t as silly as it seems – you can never look too professional. We can provide more guidance on this at our Peer Advising drop-in hours between 10-4 during the week. 

Tip #5: Be excited! Show your potential employer how enthusiastic you are about the role by being around 10-15 minutes early and giving a confident handshake. If you want the job, make the job want you! Show your interviewers that you are interested in the company by asking questions about the company itself (and not about the wage!). 

This is only the tip of the iceberg; at CDEL, our Peer Advisors can give you a stronger foundation to get you started, but our one-on-one appointments with our Career Advisors and Interview Skills workshops can help give you the tools you need to succeed in your interview. Don’t be shy, stop on by (the Joyce Entrepreneurship Center across from Odette)!