SkillGlow

Interview

Your interview skills will improve significantly with these tips!

About Interviews

The interview process can vary from company to company, but there are several ways you can prepare to ensure that you give every opportunity your best effort. These preparation methods hold true regardless of the level of position you are seeking or your quest for a leadership role, acceptance into a select group, scholarship, or admittance to graduate or professional school.

Interview Photo

Things to Consider

  1. Understand your Audience
    Interviews is a competitive process yet a very great chance for you to showcase yourself and tell your stories, so you must come prepared to articulate your academic background, life, and work experiences that have prepared you for the role. Consider not only why you are qualified, but what makes you a unique candidate to match the qualifications outlined for the opportunity.
  2. Do your Research
    Each company, program, or group conducting interviews has a distinct purpose. The more you can understand about that opportunity in terms of the organization’s goals, expectations, and vision, the easier it will be to relay information about you and your background to the interviewer.
    Look at the organization’s website, network with current or former employees of the organization, and identify recent events that demonstrate vision as well as successes or failures. This information not only helps you target your conversations, it also helps you understand the organization’s values as well as opportunities you may have to advance and grow beyond the original position you are seeking,/li>.
  3. Make the Great First Impression
    Each interview is an opportunity to introduce you to new contacts within the organization. Looking your best beginning with great personal hygiene, appropriate attire for the occasion and industry, and wearing your biggest smile will show that you are enthusiastic and ready to learn more about the opportunity. Going into an interview prepared speaks volumes and will help you will drastically shape your confidence and ability to sell your experiences for the opportunity before you.
  4. Understand your Worth
    If you received an interview, please recognize that your experience is valued, and that you meet the minimum qualifications for consideration. Take confidence in knowing that the interviewer wants to hear more about you and understand how your background and experience can add value to their team. They are also rooting for your success!
Photo of Interveiw Preparation Photo of Interveiw Preparation

Interview Delivery

Having all the required skills and experience is good but knowing how to delivery it during the interview to increase your value to the team and the company will raise your chance.

Interview Dress

Answering Methods: S-T-A-R Technique

The STAR technique provides a framework for your stories and shows a prospective employer or selection committee how you have handled different situations in the past as a predictor of how you may handle experiences in the future.

  1. S- Situation:What was the situation you were facing?
  2. T – Task:What task were you given?
  3. A – Action:How did you act or respond in the respective situation or to the task you were given?
  4. R – Result: What was the result, or outcome, of the experience?

» Hint: Everyone loves happy endings that make you feel warm and fuzzy, but you can still show that you are able to overcome adversity with what you learned or took away from a challenging experience!

STAR Technique