3 steps to a successful interview

Written by Erinne Ng, AWE Communications and Program Support Intern

Talking about yourself can be really difficult, and doing it under pressure can often make it even harder! Unfortunately, this is what’s required for the most important step in the job search process… the interview.

As Arts students, we often find it difficult to explain the skills that we have, and how our education is relevant. While we know that we have valuable skills and experience to offer employers, I personally have a tough time articulating them. I clam up, get nervous, and don’t even get me started on the rambling! That said, through every interview I have had, I have picked up some interview strategies that will hopefully help you before, during, and after your next interview!

Before: Prepare a skills inventory!

Something that I always do before going to an interview is to prepare a skills inventory. I like to create a different skills inventory for every position that I interview for. I do so by taking a look at the job posting, noting which skills are mentioned, and then thinking of an example of a time that I’ve successfully used each of those skills. Doing this can help you pinpoint how you’ve demonstrated these transferable skills and give you confidence that you have tangible experience and skills listed in the job posting.

Creating skills inventories has also helped me prepare for different types of interview questions! When I’m given a behavioural question, I can easily provide an example of a situation I’ve been in and I can effectively demonstrate that I have the skills I used in that situation as a result of creating a skills inventory. If they throw me a traditional interview question like “tell me about yourself”, I have a nice overview of all of my experiences and skills required for the job already prepared. For me, the most beneficial part of creating a skills inventory has been that it gets me into an interview mindset. I’ve found that going through my skills and cataloguing them in this way has helped me attach examples to my skills, and formulate my answers in a way that best showcases my abilities.

Check out this cool “Making the Match” the Career Centre has created to help you with your interview prep!

During: Be your *best* self

When I complain to my friends or family members about being nervous about interviews, the most common (and annoying) thing that I hear is to “just be myself” or to “think of it as a conversation”. This is true, but ultimately, a job interview is to assess your ability to fit in with the organization and gauge whether you’re the best candidate. While I’m not denying that it is important to be genuine and true to your personality, I think it’s more important to be the best version of yourself and create an excellent first impression.

So how do I make sure I’m being my best self? I come prepared, dressed professionally, and I make sure that I am courteous to everyone I interact with. Your interview starts the minute that you walk into the building as you never know who has a say in you getting the job! During an interview, I also try to notice when my nerves get the best of me. As an example, I know that I tend to ramble and get off topic when I’m nervous. So, it’s important that I notice this and try to reign that in because even though we all have nervous ticks and quirks, nobody wants to hear my lame puns or plant anecdotes during an interview. Something that has always worked really well for me is to take a deep breath and just pause for a moment before answering a tricky question. This helps me focus on the question that I’m answering, and also gives me a moment to gather my thoughts.

Remember that interviews are just as much about the organization as they are about you. So when the employer asks if you have any questions, make sure you have some! I always make sure to ask a question about the day-to-day responsibilities in the role. I also like to ask about the expectations for someone stepping into the role. For me, these are important questions to ask so that I can get a clearer picture of the position and expectations for the role, beyond what’s listed in the job posting. Keep in mind that because the question period usually comes at the end of an interview, it’s essential to leave the employers with a good impression. Once the interview is complete, always remember to thank them for their time.

After: Reflect, reflect, reflect!

I had the experience last year of not getting a position that I was interviewed for. I had really set my heart on getting the position, and I had spent a lot of time preparing for the interview. Personally, it can be really hard to separate my ego from not getting a job. Though I knew walking out of the room that it wasn’t my best interview ever, I couldn’t help but feel rejected, disappointed, and like a bit of a failure when I wasn’t offered the position. However, since then, I’ve learned the importance of reflecting after an interview and reframing the way I think about rejection.

It’s important to view an interview as a chance for growth, and a learning opportunity to further develop your interview skills. Not doing well in an interview does not mean that you are a failure. It means that you have a chance to improve your answers and gain more interview experience. Now that I’m nearly finished with this year long internship, I can definitely say that this job was the better fit for me than the job I didn’t get. Not being the preferred candidate for the other position gave me one of the most valuable things-- a chance to further practice my interview skills before getting this job!

So, even though interviews can be nerve wracking, you have all of the skills and knowledge that you need to be successful! Remember that interviews are about learning more about you as a candidate. If you prepare, practice, and show up with your best self, you’re on the right track to having a successful interview!