MISA Senior Insight: Interview
Job hunting can be stressful and difficult, and everyone has unique strategies when it comes to preparing for interviews. After successfully submitting a resume, the hardest challenge arises. In the interview, many people struggle with communication, especially when it comes to talking with strangers. This stress is heightened when the stranger you are talking to determines whether or not you get the job you want. Everyone experiences anxiety, nervousness, and clammy palms, and the cure to these symptoms are to draw upon others’ experience in preparing for interviews.
MISA Senior Aneet Jandir says: Practice, Practice, Practice. Practice will always pay off. Practice interviewing with anyone who is willing to give you feedback.
“Practice, Practice, Practice.” — Aneet Jandir
Soon-to-be grad Kush Patel shares: Look up common interview questions and think about how you would answer them. Add a personal touch, but keep your answers concise and to the point. If you don’t understand a question, ask for clarification, but make sure you don’t say, “I don’t understand.” State your understanding of the question and tell yourself, “I am on the right track.”
“I am on the right track.” — Kush Patel
MISA’s VP of Membership Neda Amin’s best interview strategy is: Be yourself! Make sure you do your research on the company you’re applying to. It’s not only about if you’re the right fit for the company, but it is also important to determine if the company is the right fit for you. Show the recruiter that you went out of your way trying to learn more about the company, and make sure you have good questions to ask them at the end. The way I prepare for an interview is by pulling up the job description and my resume. Then I highlight which part of my resume fits the job description. I also think of examples that I can share for each of the listed skills.
“Be yourself!” — Neda Amin
The answer is simple: we tend to overcomplicate things and end up taking extra, unnecessary steps to find success. The path to becoming better at interviewing is to come prepared, practice common interview questions, and tailor your resume to the job you’re applying for. Many interviewees have the mentality of just winging it and hoping for the best. However, the best course of action is to practice with others, get their feedback, review your resume, and study the company and position you are applying for. Good luck with the job hunt!
