Do these 3 Things to Have a Successful Interview
Posted on Tuesday, March 28th, 2017
You’ve put out your resume. You’ve cleaned up your online presence. You’ve even built yourself a professional website. Now, it’s time for you to interview for your dream placement.
If you find the prospect of being interviewed for a job stressful, you’re not alone. But by being prepared and doing your homework before an interview, you’ll feel confident and ready to secure yourself a job.
Algonquin College co-op students: there is tons of valuable information available in Coop 1000 on Blackboard, in Module 3. Be sure to read your modules to be prepared for the co-op interview process!
Do Your Homework
The steps to acing an interview start at home, well before the date of your interview. You need to prepare.
Interviews are beneficial both for the employer and for you. Employers want to learn about your qualifications, observe your behaviour in a professional setting, and see how you present yourself. You, on the other hand, get to learn about company culture and determine if the organization is a place that you’d like to work.
Start by researching the company. Read articles about them, read their website, see what people are saying on social media.
As you’re doing so, think of three strong questions you could ask your interviewer. Questions about projects they’re working on, their vision for the future, or what kind of work you’d be doing are all good. Don’t ask about money—as a co-op student, this isn’t an appropriate question.
Practice, Practice, Practice
The best way to feel confident in your interview is to practice your answers ahead of time. Most job interviews have some pretty standard questions, and you can prepare for these in advance.
For Algonquin College co-op students, we’ve posted sample questions on Blackboard in Module 3, so check those out. You can also find plenty of samples online.
STAR
When you answer interview questions, it’s always best practice to use an example to back up your point. Instead of saying, “I’m really good at communication,” provide an example to the interviewer of a time when your communication skills were put to the test.
A good way of formulating these kinds of answers is the STAR method. STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, and Result.
When you answer interview questions with an example, using the STAR method really brings your message together. Here are the steps:
- Describe the circumstances (or Situation) of your example
- Describe what you needed to do (the Task) in your example
- Describe what you did (your Action) to complete the task
- Describe what happened (the Result) in the end
Using this method shows that you understand what role your behaviour played in the situation, and shows your interviewer that you’re able to learn from past experiences.
Mock Interviews
Of course, the best way of practicing an interview is to actually do an interview. Make a list of questions and have someone read them in random order, so you can practice answering them without your notes.
If you’re an Algonquin College co-op student, get in touch with your co-op consultant to book a mock interview. These are really fantastic, because your consultant will help you word your answers in the best way, and provide you with feedback afterwards. It’s the best way to prepare.
Present Yourself
If you’ve done all the above, you’re already in great shape for your interview. But there are some key things to bear in mind during your interview.
One of them is that first impressions matter. First impressions are made in seconds, and you want to make sure that the employer’s first impression of you is perfect.
To make a stellar first impression, make sure you dress with clean, professional clothing. Shake hands with the employer and maintain eye contact. Sit up straight and smile. Be confident and remember, the employer wants to like you.
For your interview, bring along a few copies of your resume, your references, and a pen and paper to make notes. Ensure your phone is on silent. Answer their questions the way you practiced, and you’ll do just fine.
Are you a student in need of some interview guidance? An employer interested in the Algonquin College co-op program? Please contact your co-op consultant, visit our website at https://www.algonquincollege.com/coop/, connect with us at coop@algonquincollege.com or call us at 613-727-4723 Ext.7623.
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