11 Tips for interviewing

With Graduation approaching and summer months coming up, interviews are begining already!

Interviewing for a new position can be extremely intimidating. However I have come up with 11 things that may help you prepare.

First and foremost, when going into a job interview, be yourself. If they aren't interested in you (the real you), then it is not the right job.

Be prepared. Know as much as you possibly can about the company or employee that you are interviewing with. Know details they wouldn't expect you to know, for example: what charities they support, or what events they have attended in the past.

Dress to impress. If you are applying to work in an office, a suit or business dress is a safe bet, unless they say, "dress casually". Then a nice pair of pants (not jeans) and a collared shirt will do fine.

Don't be shy to talk about yourself and your accomplishments. I know it’s rare for someone to ask you to gloat about yourself, but this is one opportunity where you shouldn't be shy to let him or her know what’s awesome about you. 

Don't make things up. If you don't know, tell them you don't know, but will follow up with them once you have thought about it or done some research. 

Ask questions. Asking questions not only proves that you're interested but shows confidence. You are interviewing them too! You are considering putting your career into their business, so asking questions will help you make your decision, and ensure that the opportunity is the right fit. Also, be sure to ask the interviewer about their career path and education; people love speaking about themselves and it shows your interest. 

Refer to your resume. Talk casually about your experiences and hobbies, and have your resume intron of you, as well as in front of them. Always bring extra copies. 

Make as much eye contact as possible. If they look away don't stare at their face, but make sure that when they are looking at your eyes, you are meeting them, and holding. If you are slightly introverted or try to avoid eye contact often this may feel uncomfortable, but it helps them get to know you, and visa versa. 

Be courteous with a follow up thank you email. Regardless of how it went, their time is valuable, and recognizing the time they took to meet with you, goes a long way. 

Talk about past work experiences vividly. Be sure to elaborate in areas where you succeeded. When speaking about failures or disappointments, refer back to what you learned from the experience. 

Take your time when answering questions that stump you. Asking them to hold on a moment while you think proves that you are putting thought into your answers. Sometimes they ask you things you haven't that about in a while, or have never considered, for example: "if you could pick one defining moment in your life what would it be?"