The Art of Interviewing
Although some of us may dread the very existence of interviews, it is an experience that almost every person must conquer at some point in their life. If we were to flip the script on this anxiety-inducing event and instead view it as an opportunity to showcase our talents and tenacity for the position, we could improve the effectiveness of our interview performance. This entry will discuss the realistic steps a college student should take before, during, and after an interview in order to perform their very best.
Some of the most intrinsically frustrating yet vastly influential experiences I have encountered involves being rejected from a position after finishing an interview that I thought went well. Questions such as “Where did I go wrong?”, “What did I say?”, “What should I have said?”, and countless others have floated through my mind. Although equally painful and disappointing, bombing interviews have made me a much more prepared and tactful interviewee. We will discuss the helpful tips for the three stages of interviews, but first: a case study on my very first tanked interview.
As a biology major, the idea of interning at the San Diego Zoo in any capacity would have been a dream come true. This distant dream turned into a possibility when San Diego Zoo recruiters came to my college and were looking for science majors to fill their Animal Care Internship positions. I swiftly logged on to the application portal and submitted my application the same day. To my dismay, I didn’t get offered an interview.
However, this didn’t stop me from applying the next year, and to my sheer amazement I was offered the opportunity to interview that year! I showed up to the interview with a peacock-printed button up, blue slacks, and my nose piercing begrudgingly removed (the San Diego Zoo does not allow facial piercings). I was nervous but confident. Without diving into the nitty gritty of every question I was asked, the summary of this interview was subpar as exemplified when asked “Why am I interested in animal husbandry?” and my reply was “What is animal husbandry?”. Still, I had thought that I was the type of person they wanted for the position. Two weeks later I received the utterly disappointing news that I was not chosen for the internship. After the shock and disappointment wore off, I started to critically dissect my interview performance and realized that there were many things I could have done differently. Below we will be going over suggested actions for before, during, and after your interview as well as my own personal insights on how to do your best in an interview!
Before the interview:
Research the company/institution/corporation you are applying for as well as the job specifications
Create a mental list of possible experiences to draw upon
Prepare questions to ask the interviewer about the job and company
Practice answering interview questions with the help of friends, family, or good old video recording
Unlike how I prepared for the San Diego Zoo interview, it is imperative that you have researched the position and company offering the position before you arrive. This shows that you have critically analyzed the job qualifications and believe you fit the bill in terms of the desired applicant. Analyzing the company’s mission statement or overarching values also allows you to hone in on relevant experiences that can connect to possible questions. Preparing questions to ask the interviewer(s) shows that you have conducted some research into the job and are a competent, critically thinking individual. Lastly, it is highly recommended that you practice answering interview questions with the help of others to serve as your supportive critics. This allows you to practice appropriate eye contact, pauses in your speech, and offers the chance for feedback on the impact of your statements.
During the interview:
Answer the questions fully by utilizing the STAR method
Greet your interviewer and maintain friendly posture and facial expressions
Allow yourself time to think critically about the questions
Remind yourself that you were picked to interview because you are qualified on paper!
The most effective and systematic way to answer experience-based interview questions (such as “When was a time you dealt with a stressful situation and how did you overcome it?”) is by utilizing the STAR Interview Response Technique. In short, this response tactic allows you to describe the situation, express the actions you needed to take, what you actually did, and MOST IMPORTANTLY what you learned from the experience. This is a failsafe way to ensure that you adequately describe the experience you wish to recount and reminds you to share how this experience taught you something that the company would deem valuable. The hyperlink goes into great detail on how to best utilize the STAR method! Additionally, maintaining a friendly demeanor and positive body language leaves a wonderful first impression.
After the interview:
Reflect on your interview performance
Reach out to your interviewer or organization to thank them for taking the time to interview you
Ask for feedback on your performance
Although the period after your interview seems unimportant, this time is utterly valuable in terms of continuing to show interest in the position as well as the opportunity to assess how well you were able to present yourself. I would highly recommend that you reach out to the organization or person who interviewed you and thank them for their time! My current boss informed me that those who do this leave a lasting good impression on her and in some cases helps her to make the final decision on who gets the job offer. It is also equally important that you ask for feedback from your interviewer if you were not chosen for the position. This provides you with insights that would otherwise be impossible to glean from yourself!
Overall, it is imperative to remember that being asked to interview for a position means your credentials fit the bill on paper. Be sure to capitalize on this opportunity by thoroughly preparing for the interview as well as following up after the interview. Good luck and happy interviewing!
