You got that long-awaited email from a recruiter inviting you for a job interview. It’s been quite the journey for your as a student researching for jobs and filling out applications (read more about building a career in marketing management). Now that you have a chance to meet with a potential employer, you feel like you can’t mess it up. You worked too hard for it. So, how to best prepare for a job interview? How to manage the nervousness? What tips should you follow?
We spoke with Tej Dhillon, Vice-training of Training and Development at Sheridan’s Human Resources Student Association (HRSA), to get a few tips about how to handle job interviews. Throughout his time at Sheridan, Tej has organized several workshops to advise students about the job searching journey.
“I often tell students to treat interviews as a conversation. Recruiters and hiring managers are people just like us. Relax and remember that isn’t the only opportunity out there,” said Tej.
3 Do’s at a Job Interview
1. Do your research
How much do you want to work at that company? Show them that you took your time to research about them and learn about the role you’re interviewing for. Researching will also help you come up with questions and show you’re really interested.
2. Smile and keep an open body language
Getting nervous at a job interview is normal, but you can counteract that by simply smiling. Remember to keep eye contact with the interview (or interviewers), and even do affirmative movements such as nodding your head. These actions indicate confidence and help build rapport.
3. Treat the interview like a conversation not a script
It’s important to be yourself at an interview, and let potential employers see traits of your personality. As they are trying to evaluate whether you’re a good fit for the company, show them how you can add value to their team.
3 Don’ts at a Job Interview
1. Don’t answer a question you don’t know the answer to
You should avoid falling into the temptation of trying to enhance facts or lie in order to answer a question you’re not sure about. It is okay to tell the interview the truth and say you’ll get back with them later, if that’s the case. Employers appreciate honesty and humility.
2. Don’t speed it up
When we get nervous, we tend to talk more quickly. So, remember to slow down, and avoid closed body language signs such as crossing your arms and looking away.
3. Don’t leave without asking questions
This is a crucial point at interviews that many people tend to disregard. Asking questions shows employers you’re serious and interested about the opportunity. Perhaps, the interviewee answers all the questions you have throughout the interview, but that doesn’t mean you should leave without asking at least one or two questions. Think of questions ahead of time and prepare general ones that are usually not addressed. A couple of examples are “What does a typical day in this role look like?”, “What are the growth prospects in the company?” and “Could you share about your career journey in the company?”
By Tatiana Almeida
