Everyone remembers their first real job Interview. Between deciding what to wear, brainstorming answers to possible interview questions, and trying to come off as professional as you can for a twenty year old college student, there’s a lot on your mind. Here are a few tips I have to help set you up for success!

1.       Know the company

-Understanding what the company does, its mission, and knowing specifics about it like who their clients are is key to sparking an interviewer’s interest. If you can relate a question back to their company specifically, then you are on the right track!

2.       Find Connections

-Before your interview, try to figure out if you have any Mutual connections. If there is a mutual person connecting you to the interviewer or company, vocalize it during your interview. You will be much more memorable than the average person and who knows… maybe the mutual connection could even put in a good word for you.  

3.       Practice

-Go over some basic questions a few times beforehand. You don’t need to have the responses memorized perfectly, but just a basic idea of what you might say. For example, go into every interview with an idea of your strengths as a person, what classes you took that could help you in this internship, and how your past jobs (yes, even your nanny job) could be helpful to you today.

4.       Dress the Part

-When it comes to an interview, overdressing doesn’t exist. Even if you show up and the entire office is in jeans, don’t feel like you overdressed. Remember that you are trying to impress them and come off as professional as possible. And when you look good, you feel good!

5.       Questions

-People forget this one a lot… REMEMBER TO HAVE QUESTIONS PREPARED. At the end of your interview, chances are the interviewer is going to give you an opportunity to ask them some questions. (You can even type them out if you are scared you will forget.) Saying, “No I don’t have any questions,” just isn’t going to cut it in today’s competitive job search. Go in there with specific questions and you will come off as someone who truly values the job, wants to learn, and is taking the interview seriously.  

6.       Be Confident

-If the company gave you an interview, there was something about you that interested them. Use your resume as your clutch and show them how much you can bring to the table. Everyone has their own unique talents, accomplishments, and strengths, - express them!