• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to site footer
College Magazine logo

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
    • Find Your College
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
Home » Latest Posts » Top 3 Employer-Approved Secrets to Rock Your Interview
Career Interview

Top 3 Employer-Approved Secrets to Rock Your Interview

Facebook Tweet
interview
Keristen Lucero   November 14, 2017

Have you ever thought of interviews from the POV of the interviewer? While interviewing via Skype a prospective intern from the University of Arizona, Burns Entertainment operations manager Janell Santiago heard a party song. “I finally said something because it was so distracting, and he said he was hoping I couldn’t hear it.” She cut the interview short. In the past, Santiago has had people interview in rooms that were a mess, or while dressed in pajamas. “I am fairly easygoing and want students to feel comfortable,” Santiago said. “Some people equate that with being too comfortable and the level of professionalism goes out the door.” Yikes.

Ready to rock that internship interview? You’ll want to avoid these mistakes.

Read over your documents

resume
pexels.com

Impressions start before the interview. Students often overlook small details when applying for an internship. You need to double-check company requirements during the application process. For instance, according to Santiago, Burns Entertainment requires a cover letter, which students often ignore. In fact, she said that when they do receive cover letters, they are addressed to a different company entirely. “There is never an excuse for this, even though some students try,” she said.

The name of a resume file or cover letter matters. Avoid general file names. Instead, include your name in the title. “It can be frustrating to receive a resume file that’s named Resume Final 2, especially since we get a lot of resumes each day,” Shannen Olan, community manager for Dormify, said. “It’s a tiny detail that doesn’t go unnoticed.”

Customize the application materials, said Sid Holt, chief executive of American Society of Magazine Editors. “That goes for letters of recommendation too,” Holt said. “Generic letters tell me the recommendation can’t be relied on.”

Don’t overlook company background

unsplash.com

Research the company before you go to the interview. Jennifer Neef, associate director of the Career Center of the University of Illinois, suggests starting with the company website. After that, Neef said students shouldn’t undervalue personal connections they have with the company. Talk to past interns and graduates now working for the company through LinkedIn. “It is not enough to just know the company,” Neef said. “You must be able to articulate that to the employers.”

Know the company’s mission, values, history, departments and products or services, said Andrea White, assistant director of student services at Indiana University. She recommends staying up to date through news and press releases on the company’s social media pages like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.


trending

305

10 Student Organizations Breaking the Mold at Berkeley

231

The Teacher I Hated Changed my College Journey

168

Top 10 Spots Around Emerson College to Get Inspired


And what if you didn’t do your research? According to Santiago, her biggest issue is when interviewees give excuses for not knowing what they have applied for. Interviewers can spot lies in the same way your sixth sense tells your roommate has stolen your last slice of pizza.

Finally, Olan she finds it impressive when an intern has an idea or concept they think the company should work into their strategy. Hey, your ultimate goal revolves around contributing to the company. Why not go that extra mile and show your enthusiasm?

Don’t say too little

shy
giphy.com

Not only does body language and professionalism matter during an interview, but the interactions are just as important. Interviews are a two-way evaluation and assessment, Neef said. Olan agreed that asking questions during the interview is super important. “When someone doesn’t have any questions to ask us it can come off as though they aren’t interested in hearing more about the position,” she said.

White suggests asking these five questions: What do you hope a person in this role will have accomplished in a year from now? What are the first projects I would take on when getting this role? What are some challenges to success in this role? How do you see me contributing to the overall goals of the company? Can you tell me more about the culture and community of the company?

A common mistake? Not fully answering questions or giving short responses, Olan said. Think about it—if you were the interviewer and your interviewee gave you half-baked answers, would you hire them? “Responses to my questions can be indicative of their personality, meaning how well they handle criticism, workloads and pressures,” Santiago said. “I feel like I have to pull teeth to find out more.”

To avoid this mistake, students should anticipate questions, Neef said. For instance, as she said, you could engage in mock interviews with friends is a good way to practice.

According to White, you should read the job posting and look for the skills and requirements listed when it comes to anticipating questions. She also suggests having answers prepared for at least these five questions: tell me about yourself, what are your biggest strengths, what do you believe will be your biggest challenge to success, why are you interested in this organization specifically and tell me about a time you had to work with a team.

With these in mind, go forth and conquer that interview. You got this.

Looking for more tips on landing your dream internship?

The Ultimate Resume Guide

resume
unsplash.com

“Pro tip: List only the most impressive and relevant points in reverse chronological order, including the location and the time period you worked there. While looking at a stack of resumes, your potential employer’s short attention span needs a reason to keep reading. If you’re applying for a marketing position, don’t bother including high school goalie, but make sure to list last year’s business internship. Don’t forget to write out a job description and acquired skills for each position to show how your previous experience will translate at the job you’re about to land.”

How to Rock These 10 #Basic Internship Interview Questions

interview
pexels.com

“The employer wants to make sure that you’re not there just for a paycheck, so don’t answer, ‘Because I need a job.’ They’re looking for someone who can grow as a person and an employee. Tell them things you like about the company and how your strengths align with the job, like the company dynamics or the ability to grow with the opportunities they have. This will make you a better candidate than the competition.”

About Keristen Lucero

Keristen is a junior studying Journalism and French at Indiana University. She enjoys writing, yoga and coffee.

10 Things You Can Gain From an Internship

Concrete Activism: How to Become a Labor Organizer

CM’s Guide to the Los Angeles Times Summer Internship

Top 10 Networking Opportunities at William & Mary

10 Ways to Dip Your Toe in the Professional World

Does My Professor Really Make That Much?

Student Leaders: Q&A with University of Northern Iowa Class President Leila Masinovic

5 Do’s and Don’ts That Will Sharpen Your Internship Applications

Top 10 Things to Know About Self-Publishing a Book

Previous Post:The Misadventures of an Insecure and Socially Awkward College Student
Next Post:10 Tips to Find the Best New Ride on Campus

colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS Feed
  • Twitter
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

College Magazine logo

Copyright © 2023 Powered by BizBudding