Lauren Weber

Interviewing can make anyone nervous, especially when the job you’re interviewing for is something you desperately want. We want the recruiter to like us and to prove we’re the right person for the job, but what about when the nerves just won’t stop? How should you prepare yourself for the interview? Interviewing can be stressful, especially for college students looking to start their careers after graduation. Below are some tips from Indeed’s career website to ensure success in your next interview. You can also use resources on and off campus to help you out.

How you can prepare

1. Research
   1. If you’re nervous before an interview it’s helpful to do some research into the company this way you can familiarize yourself with the company and the services or products they provide, according to Indeed. You can also tailor your questions based on your findings this way the recruiter can see how you align with the company’s mission and this can be a great way to showcase your knowledge of the company.
2. Practice your answers in the mirror
   1. This is a common method many people use to prepare for a speech or when speaking in front of a large group. I used this method often when I had to interview for internships and I found it helped me a lot. Now, you shouldn’t try and memorize your entire answer but just the key points you want to get across to the interviewer. Be sure to prepare for the two most common questions such as, Why do you want to work here and Tell me about yourself. I also find it helpful to write down your answers just to give you an idea of what to say.
3. Be sure to look at the job description
   1. Look through the skills needed for the role and try to come up with examples from your past that are relevant to the role and the skills needed.
   2. Reviewing the job description can help you come up with examples from past experience and how these experiences align with what the employer is looking for.
4. Make an appointment with CPD
   1. You can always schedule an appointment with CPD and they will be more than happy to help prepare you for your interview.

What does CPD say?

I had the pleasure of attending a CPD event, Waffles and Wisdom. This event covered how students can best prepare themselves for interviews. While students can learn tips and tricks, they can enjoy a delicious waffle. CPD recommended researching the company to understand what it does and the products/services it offers. Students can also set up an appointment with CPD to do a mock interview and receive feedback and advice to answer interview questions from career counselors or peer advisers. While answering interview questions, students should use the STARR method, according to CPD. 

The STARR method stands for: 

• Situation
  • What was the task?
• Task
  • What were you trying to accomplish?
• Action
  • What did you do?
• Result
  • What was the outcome?
• Reflection
  • What did you learn?

This method is a good way for students to organize their thoughts and display specific examples relevant to the role. Students should also prepare questions at the end of the interview to show interest in the company. Meredith Tardini, an academic and career success coach at CPD, stated, “Our goal is to make sure you are knowledgeable, prepared, and confident going into the interview.” By utilizing these methods students can expect success in their interviews.

Utilizing social media and online resources

In addition to CPD, Social media can also be a useful tool when preparing for interviews. Creators, Advice with Erin and Sho Dewan (Workhap) posts common interview questions and walks you through how to answer them. Don’t forget to use IndeedCareerGuide to learn how to answer the most common interview questions.

These tips are just suggestions, so it’s important to do some experimenting. Good luck with your interview. You got this!