Interview Tips

 

(Image Description: Two people are engaging in an interview with one another. The interviewee is speaking to the interview with his hand out, while the interviewer is taking notes on her computer.)

Interview Tips

As the YLC reviews applications over the next few weeks, we are excited to ultimately invite a group of applicants to the interview round! The purpose of these interviews is to get to know applicants better and gauge the impact they are making back home.

While some of you may be daunted by the YLC interview (or any upcoming interview you may have), don't fret! Rather, treat it as an opportunity to learn more about the organization you're interviewing for and show them what you can bring to the table. Organizations such as the YLC are looking for individuals who are in particular passionate, reliable, and kind, so try to market that part of yourself to your interviewer! Above all, treat the interview like a conversation with a friend while also remaining professional and respectful.

With that being said, I'd like to provide eight specific tips I have for any interview you may have. As an incoming college student who has done several different modes of interviews for different organizations, I hope that my experiences can help you feel comfortable and prepared for your upcoming interview!

1. Arrive 5-10 minutes before your interview begins. Not only does this give you more time to ensure you're fully connected to Zoom and settled in, but it shows the interviewer that you are on the ball and reliable when it comes to being on-time.

2. Prepare a brief speech about yourself and your background. Oftentimes, organizations will ask the question, "Tell us a little bit more about yourself." This allows the interviewer(s) to understand your experience and personality in a concise manner. To prepare for the interview, come up with a one-minute speech including (but totally up to you): who you are, your interests, and what you're hoping to gain from the specific organization!

3. For in-person interviews, maintain eye contact with the interviewer. For virtual interviews that allow the usage of camera, look directly at the camera while speaking. This technique will allow you to build a more genuine connection with the interviewer and make them feel that you are listening to their questions and feedback.

4. Aim to have your response for each question be between 1-3 minutes long. While you want to make sure you are fully answering the question to the best of your ability, it's also important to avoid rambling and answer precisely. Also, the interviewer may have multiple questions prepared or have another interviewee shortly after you, so it's crucial to respect their time.

5. Practice, practice, practice! The best way you can feel ready for an interview is to have a family member or friend ask you some test questions before your scheduled time. This personally helped me before my YLC interview last year; I had my sister ask me mock questions and I would have to answer them on the spot. You can also Google interview guides or "Frequently Asked Interview Questions" and quiz yourself to get a better idea of what you might be asked!

6. Do your research. I would highly encourage you to check out the organization's website before your interview so that you have an in-depth understanding of what your role would entail. Oftentimes the interviewer will ask you a question along the lines of "Why do you want to work here?" This question is meant to test your knowledge on the organization itself, so make sure you have a few points or areas of interest on the organization that you can share!

7. Thank the interviewer for their time and opportunity. After your interview is over, I would strongly recommend to send a brief follow up email to the interviewer. This email should include an expression of gratitude for the opportunity to interview, reiteration of your interest in working for the organization, and a sentence telling the interviewer they can call/email you should they need any additional information. By doing this, the interviewer is more actively willing to advocate for you when the overarching committee ultimately decides who to admit!

8. Take deep breaths. Remember that the interview is a regular person just like you, and treat your interview like a casual chat. One psychological strategy I use before a big event like an interview is to "Power Pose." Essentially, you stand in front of a mirror in a superhero pose (hands on the hips, chest arched out) and state positive thoughts and affirmations out loud. You got this!

Wishing everyone a smooth and successful interview experience! Feel free to comment below one strategy you use to ace your interviews. :)

In friendship,

Nathan Moldavsky

YLC Member, Wisconsin