When you are a student, your dreams are unlimited. You dream to become a successful professional and live a life without worries. You also dream to be appreciated in your workplace and evolve as much as possible. It doesn’t matter how big your dreams are. You need to take things gradually and start with a few internships where you will discover more about yourself and what you like the most.
And, here comes the biggest challenge. The first interview is always more than a one-to-one discussion with the interviewer. When you are a student, your interviews will be like a performance, where you need to show that you are the best option for that company. But, how do you impress in your first interviews? What should a student know before he goes to one of the first interviews in his life?
5 Tips You Need to Know to Stand Out in an Interview as a Student
- Never go unprepared to an interview
This is a general rule that applies even though you are a student or a professional. However, when you are a student and you lack the interviewing experience, then you need to do a deep research. There are three areas about which you need to find more. You should know what the company is doing, who is a person with whom you are going to talk, and what are the requirements for the position you applied to.
How do you do that? There’s nothing complicated in doing a bit of research. You are, by definition, a big fan and user of social media. So, voila, you found your biggest source of information. Go on the company’s official page, read the reviews, analyze their post, discover their culture and mission, and check their fans comments. This is how you will get a clear view on what to expect if you are accepted. Apart from social media, the company’s website and industry forums are other sources where you can find tons of information about the working environment and your future colleagues.
- Show your enthusiasm and optimism
You are young and you have a lot of ideas going through your mind. This is exactly what the interviewers want from the person standing in front of them. Corporations, in general, consider enthusiasm and optimism as some of the biggest qualities a candidate should have. Maybe you don’t have the biggest experience ever. However, if you have the will and ambition to learn, then you will win the role.
When you show your enthusiasm, you practically tell your interviewer how grateful you are to meet him and how excited you are about your new role. Therefore, when you go to the interview, you should pay attention to your body language and facial expression. Try to smile as much as you can, even though you may not have the answers to all the questions the interviewer asks you. What is more, when you walk into the room, show your confidence and positivism.
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
During a job interview, the person who is going to ask most of the questions is the interviewer. You will answer a lot of questions regarding your experience, studies, hobbies, and many more. However, this doesn’t mean that you are not allowed to ask your own questions. At the end of the interview, the interviewer will typically offer you 5 to 10 minutes to ask questions. You should always answer “yes” to this question. What is more, as this is a common practice in most of the interviews, you can prepare in advance and note down some questions you would like to ask.
Asking questions will show your interviewer that you are really interested in the job you applied for. For example, you can ask what should be the top attributes of the person who will occupy that position. Furthermore, you can ask about the biggest challenges you might have in that role. These are some of the questions you can prepare from home. They will help you stand out during the interview and show your future employer that you can become a committed employee, who will do his best to exceed expectations.
- Be genuine
Usually, when people go to an interview, they try to be someone else. It is perfectly normal to impress your interviewer, but you cannot do it if you lie. Furthermore, you should always remember that, even though you may fool your interviewer, you cannot dissimulate that you are perfect for a very long time. You will show your real personality at one moment. So, why do it in the beginning? Isn’t it better to be genuine from the first moments?
What is more, you should never underestimate your interviewer. You should think that your interviewer has talked with thousands of people before you. Therefore, he will immediately notice if you are telling the truth or not. Furthermore, interviewers are in general very friendly which should help you relax and unleash the real you.
- Prepare your “tell me about yourself” answer
When you are a student, you don’t have too much work experience. Therefore, you cannot stand out with your achievements at your previous jobs. However, this doesn’t mean that you lost the battle. One of the first questions you will receive will be to talk about yourself. This is the moment when you can shine and tell your interviewer that you are the one. You should talk about your personality, the things you like the most, and what you wouldn’t like to do.
You should also tell your interviewer about your future plans and how you think you could contribute to the team’s success. In addition, you should stay concise and structured, showing your interviewer that you know exactly what you are talking about. If you impress your interviewer on this first part, then you could consider that you have won the job.
If you don’t hear back from your interviewer, you shouldn’t be disappointed. You can apply the tips above to all your next interviews. A negative answer is not the end of the world. It is just another chance to find the perfect match for your abilities and potential.
Author’s bio. Daniela McVicker is a freelance writer, blogger, and editor at Top Writers Review. She graduated from Durham University and has an MA in psychological science. Her passion is travel and finding ways to enrich students’ learning experience.