1. Identify what you have to sell
What are some of your top three skills or experiences that you have over the competition? What gives you the competitive advantage over other applicants? After all, this is what makes you unique or special (in a good way) in landing your first entry-level position.
2. Prepare examples
At this point, think about certain scenarios such as: What have you done to go above and beyond? How have you handled pressure in certain situations? How have you dealt with members of your group or colleagues? Having these statements prepared will show confidence and shows that you are ready for the interview and the position.
3. Have questions at the end of the interview
People have made the mistake of not having questions ready for when the employer asks “Do you have any questions?” This shows that you have zero interest in the organization and this will get you eliminated from consideration. It is important to have at least 3-5 questions to ask at the end of the interview. Questions such as “What career path will this position lead towards?” or “How will my performance be evaluated?” or “What are the day to day duties of a typical person in this position?” These are all great questions to ask at the end of the interview. It shows that you care and are interested in the position. It also gives them the sense you are interested in the long-term.
4. Practice
Even the pros practice! You should schedule a mock interview with one of your Career Counselors. This way you can practice the timing of certain questions and certain responses and get critical feedback!
5. Be prepared for surprises
The surprises can mean lunch or any pre-employment exams such as Excel, Word or PowerPoint. Try to pre-determine these things by doing some research before scheduling the interview. This way you can prepare by taking tutorials in all three programs, for example.
6. Know where you are going
Make sure you have the correct address. You can also confirm the address with your Career Counselor. It’s smart to do a dry run the day before the interview so you will be familiar with the location of the interview. Ensure you GPS does not malfunction and also print the direction if the GPS fails. Be sure to leave with enough time to anticipate for any traffic. DON’T BE LATE!!
7. Bring several copies of your resume
Make sure you have copies of your resume. Even if the recruiter has a copy, it is always good to have several in case there is more than one manager or an immediate second interview. A portfolio also comes in handy because they may ask for references or even a writing sample from you. (It depends on the position.) For more details on the contents of the portfolio, please see your Career Counselor.
Written by Jairo Borja
