Have that scary interview coming up for your dream job or internship? Read on for some tips to get you prepared, confident, and (somewhat) reassured.
Employers look at a resume for an average of 5-20 seconds. Make that time count by conveying traits and skills in a clean format.
By Elizabeth Vogel, Staff Writer -- vogel11@up.edu
With nerves already tingling madly, interviews are a fright-fest for many students. Luckily, there are ways to tone down the clammy hands and anxious fidgeting.
According to Max Kalchthaler, Assistant Director of Employer Relations and Internship Coordinator at the Office of Career Services, the best way to avoid this feeling is preparation.
"Have five success stories and one failure ready to go in the pipe," Kalchthaler said.
The Office of Career Services recommends following the P.A.R. (Problem, Action, Result) format of stories: name a problem, show the action that you used to fix it, and explain what happened as a result.
"More and more, employers are switching to behavioral questions," Kalchthaler said. "Rather than just knowing your skills, employers want to see how you deal with situations."
This includes dealing with your own imperfections. Kalchthaler cautions against using the "strength disguised as a weakness" approach to the notorious question, "what are your weaknesses?" It is better to admit a true weak spot in yourself, and then to talk about steps you've taken to combat your flaw.
Junior Jessie Hethcoat recently got an internship blogging for an author. Before the interview, she made sure that she was prepared for the questions.
"I thought of a bunch of attributes that would be useful (for that position)," Hethcoat said. She also remembered to keep her wardrobe professional.
"I dressed up, and I made sure that I wore modest clothing," Hethcoat said.
Kalchthaler also recommended professional attire, but cautioned about interpreting the words ‘dressing up.'
"There's a difference between dressing up to go out and dressing up for church," Kalchthaler said, "think grandparents or Easter with the family."
According to Kalchthaler, the way that you dress is your introduction to an employer so it is important to present yourself well. This means avoiding loud jewelry and pungent perfumes.
"You want employers to see you as neutral," Kalchthaler said. Rather than noticing your ensemble, "they should be looking at your strengths as an employee."
The Office of Career Services also recommends following up after the interview. Get contact information after the interview is over, and write a thank you note one to two days after your interview. If you haven't heard back from the employer in several weeks, give them a polite call to inquire about the position.
In the midst of the job race, Kalchthaler also recommends investigating whether you really want to work for that employer.
"It is about determining a match between you as a person and the company," Kalchthaler said. "Ask yourself if this is a place you want to stay."
