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Common
mistakes hinder new graduates
By
Kyle Cavaness
Online Forty-Niner
Contributing Writer
Going through an interview can be nerve-wracking. The spotlight is shining
down, the person on the other side of the desk is frowning, and you are wondering
if your Volcom T-shirt was the best thing to wear.
However, getting good jobs
and internships is difficult enough with students’ schedules, and nailing
an interview is often the hardest part of the search. Students have to know
what mistakes to avoid during the interview process and what to do in order
to give a good interview.
The most important part of the interview is communication. The business obviously
thinks enough of your application and resume to schedule an interview, so now
is not the time to let them down. Don’t give one-word answers, but don’t
overstate answers to questions.
According to CareerBuilder.com, interviewees
who lean too far toward saying too much or not enough will not make a good
impression. Also, don’t tell the interviewer you are just looking for
a steady paycheck or a resume builder. Interest in the company goes a long
way toward getting the position you want.
Knowing the company you are interviewing for is an essential aspect of any
interview. Marie Burks, a staff member at the Cal State Long Beach Career Development
Center, said knowing about the company you are applying for is key, both for
job interviews and internships.
Employers are not looking for applicants who
put down their name and resume just because a position is available or a student
is trying to fill a requirement for graduation. A few minutes learning about
the company and position will make the interview run more smoothly and may
even help enlighten you on whether or not this position is something you are
looking for.
Because the interview is the first time the employer meets you in person, be
sure to dress for success.
A survey of recruiters at UC Berkeley said, “Everything — your
appearance, your tone of voice, your conduct — contributes to the impression
[positive or negative] that you make.”
Also, looking respectable for an interview shows the employer you are serious
about that job or internship, and may set you apart from the other applicants.
Finally, ask questions. Knowing about the company is usually not enough; have
some questions prepared for the interviewer that will show you are interested
and keep them interested in you.
Laura Gassner Otting, president of the Nonprofit Professionals Advisory Group,
said even the most promising candidate for a position can lose an employer’s
interest if they do not ask questions about the job or internship. However,
make sure not to ask about hours or pay on the first interview — save
those questions for when an offer is secured.
Ultimately, the best advice for an interview is to be yourself — the
best version of yourself you can be. Know what you are doing, why you are doing
it, and tell the employer why you are the best person for the job. With these
tips in mind, the spotlight of the interview is much easier to bear.
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