1. Research the company. You need to show strong interest in working at this company. Impress the interviewer by knowing your facts. Go to their website and read up on their About Me section. Furthermore, read through their media kits, press releases, testimonials, FAQs and the latest news by searching the company on Google. This will give you an understanding of their goals, successes and corporate culture. If you want to take it a step further, you can follow their social media outlets or look up their corporate annual reports for more information.
2. Familiarize yourself with the job by re-reading the job description and responsibilities. Think about how you are the best fit for this position based on your experiences. Why do you like it? How can you be an asset? How can you apply your internship experience to this job? Consider all of these questions while reading through the description again.
3. Practice answering questions. Think about the questions you might be asked like - How will you excel in this position? What makes you the best candidate? Why are you interested in our company? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Also, prepare for the anticipated first open-ended question, "Tell us about yourself". Review the above materials and be true to yourself and you will be fine!
4. Select your interview outfit the night before. No matter how lax a company may be, you need to dress to impress. Many companies will expect you to look like the professional standard. That being said, I suggest you wear a blazer (neutral color), a blouse, black slacks and either heels or flats. Make sure you match and everything is appropriate (don't show too much cleavage and make sure the clothes aren't too tight). As for makeup, go natural. Don't over do it. Tone down the amount of jewelry and only wear a little perfume.
5. Refresh your memory by reviewing your resume. Trust me, this is so important. The interviewer is definitely likely to ask about your past experiences. Be able to recall all the significant tasks during your previous internships or jobs to communicate to the interviewer. You don't want to have to look at your resume during the interview.
6. Print the directions or your planned way of transportation beforehand. Make sure you give yourself enough time to arrive earlier. You should arrive at least 15 minutes earlier to relax and use the bathroom, if needed. However, I recommend planning to get there a half hour before in case there is traffic or another minor setback.
7. Practice your handshake. You will have to shake at least one person's hand. Make sure your handshake is firm. This is an important nonverbal communication factor.
8. Print about 5 copies of your resume and bring your portfolio or work samples. Always have extra resumes. If you are applying to a PR job, have a sample press release. If you are applying to a social media job, print out various social media posts you created.
9. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer upon concluding the interview. Some sample questions include: When will a decision be made? How would you describe the corporate culture? How often would I need to collaborate with other departments? What do you (the interviewer) love the most about this company or job? Can you tell me more about the day-to-day responsibilities of this job? What are the next steps in the interview process?
I wish you the absolute best of luck on your interviews! Comment below if you have any questions. I appreciate any and all feedback.
