Interviews are high-stress environments for many students. When we are interviewing for a full-time job, it is usually towards the end of our academic career that may cause stress or anxiety about what is next for life outside of campus. However, it is important to take a few deep breaths and take a moment to reflect on your accomplishments. Also to be kind to ourselves during this process by embracing positive self-talk.
Here are some tips to do before an interview and to develop your professional development skills.
- Clarify your goal. Why are you seeking out this internship or job?
- Determine which organizations you are interested in and research more about them. Look into their company’s mission. Does their mission align with your career purpose?
- If the interview is in-person, have enough copies of your resume, ideally two per organization.
- Prepare a “tell me about yourself” pitch and have generic questions that can be asked to all employees. Such as, “What is the most challenging part of working for your organization? What are the learning and growth opportunities available for early professionals such as me in your organization/this role?”
- Update your professional social media profiles, such as Handshake and LinkedIn. This will allow employers to see the most up-to-date information about you, and it is a great way to connect with employers after the interview.
- Ensure that you are dressed professionally. Professional dress is usually a suit, blazer with slacks, or blazer and appropriate length skirt. Professional dress can be pricey, check out the Buckeye Career Closet to find free, gently used, professional clothing, shoes, and accessories.
During the Interview:
- Take employer business cards and on the back of the card jot down something that you connected with them on. This will help make your follow-up for a thank you more personal.
- Bring a notebook to take notes on the available positions and answers to questions.
Resources:
Buckeye Career Closet: https://careers.osu.edu/events-and-programs/career-closet
Career Fairs and Preparations: https://careers.osu.edu/events-and-programs/career-fairs-and-preparation
Shruti Asodaria, Graduate Student Assistant