By the end of this meeting, the student will be able to explain what makes an interview effective and identify strategies for effective interviewing.
Possible Pre-work
This time can be focused on what to expect in an interview.
To prepare, think of an interview you had and write down what it was like (such as questions asked).
If you haven't interviewed before, write down how you think you'd feel in an interview, and what questions you foresee being asked during an interview.
Introduction
- Share your list of interview questions and what you鈥檙e most concerned about during interviews.
- Discuss the process of making this list. Why would someone ask the questions you wrote down in an interview? Are some questions harder to answer than others?
Discussion
Discuss a few things that make a difference in an interview:
- Body language聽(make eye contact, no slouching, etc.)
- Preparation聽(researching company/industry, bringing a resume, etc.)
- Confident speaking聽(slow vs fast speaking, eliminating 鈥榰m鈥檚鈥� and 鈥榰h鈥檚鈥�, knowing in advance what you want to say, etc.)
- Tips to make you stand out聽(sending thank you notes, recognizing people on the team before coming in for a meeting)
- Active listening聽(interviewing is a two-way street. You come to learn about them just as much as they come to learn about you, so that you can determine how you can help them)
Possible Activity: Interviewing Role Play
Now it鈥檚 time to practice!
- Choose your roles: who will be the interviewer? The interviewee?
- Role-play an interview with common questions asked in a field of your interest. Please see resources at the bottom for some industry-related questions and some more general questions.
- Be sure to practice your response for questions you might receive but not know the answer to. These situations can feel intimidating, but when you practice your response it can get easier over time. Remember: when you don't know, express curiosity and a commitment to seeking answers!
- Switch roles!
- Practice as many times as needed.
Reflection
What are the takeaways?
- What do you feel better about now than when you started?
- What pieces of the interview process do you want to work on between now and your next interview?
- Summarize how interviewing effectively can make a difference in the internship/job search.