Interviews
The purpose of an interview is to demonstrate why you are the best candidate for the position. It is also a way for you and your employer to get to know each other. Interview questions are designed to either showcase your past performance or to predict how you would react in a given situation at work. The objective is to try to paint a picture of you and your past experience to predict how well you would perform in the position as well as within the company.
Interviews work both ways! Aside from letting the employer know more about you, your personality, and whether you will be a good fit for the organization, it is also a chance for you to find out whether you would like this new environment and the people you're going to be working with.
Explore the tabs below to access useful tips on how to make the most out of your interview preparation.
Before the Interview
Review what the job application is looking for, really highlight the key points that align with your personal strengths. From there try to think of questions you want to ask the interviewer after. If there is enough time, book a 1-on-1 session with us to review your interview skills!
1) Do Your Research
- Research the field, organization, and position. Use the company's website, social media, and press releases to learn about its mission and values.
- See what you can learn about the people who will be interviewing you.
- Review your resume and the job posting to understand the employer's stated and unstated needs. Answer the question: what problem will you solve for them?
- Confirm the date, time, and location of the interview to give yourself plenty of time to get there.
- Determine if the interview will be one-on-one, a group-based interview, or a panel-based interview.
Interview Skills
2) Practice
- Anticipate interview questions and prepare answers using past successes to illustrate your skills.
- Practice in front of a mirror, practice with a friend, and do mock interviews with a Career Advisor.
Tip
Review what the job application is looking for, really highlight the key points that align with your personal strengths. From there try to think of questions you want to ask the interviewer after. If there is enough time, book a 1-on-1 session with us to review your interview skills!
3) Consider the opportunity
Does this job have benefits? Paid Time Off? Opportunity to grow within the company?