This week, I have an interview for a college scholarship. As a quiet introvert, interviews are far outside my comfort zone. I have to put a lot of time into preparing myself not only with answers, but with confidence and energy.
I had my first two interviews last semester for an internship with CLT. Those were online, which meant it was easier to go in with notes and materials to be prepared. However, my interview this weekend is in-person, so I will need to pull all my material from my head.
Usually, I’m pretty good at memorizing, but when I’m under pressure and put on the spot, information, especially about myself, can flee my head (and it won’t be much help to remember Newton’s three laws of motion if I can’t the name of the major I want to study).
To prepare, I have spent the last two weeks or so thinking of possible questions, memorizing my stories, and finding the right clothing. In this post, I’ll share some of what I have found to be helpful in my preparation.
Videos
Most of the videos I have been watching for advice, tips, and tricks have come from Erin McGoff’s Youtube channel. She has a lot of encouraging ideas and advice for a variety of things, but my favorites are her videos about interviews and how to come across as more confident. I really enjoy them and have definitely learned some helpful tips from her.
Disclaimer: most of her interview videos are fine, but I have heard one or two curse words in them. I also have not watched most of her other videos, so I cannot testify to how clean they are, so just use guidance and caution when watching her content, especially as a teen!
Interview Questions
Some of the more common interview questions I have been preparing for include:
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Tell me about yourself
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What are your strengths?
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What is your greatest weakness?
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Why would you choose this college (or why do you want to work here)?
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Where do you see yourself in five years?
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Tell me about a time you failed
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Tell me about a time you demonstrated leadership
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How do you deal with conflict?
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Tell me about a time you worked with others
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Why should you be awarded this scholarship (or why should you get this job)?
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Do you have any questions for us?
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And a bonus that I was asked in my CLT interview: What is your favorite book and why?
Most of what I have heard and seen say that “Tell me about yourself” and “do you have any questions for us?” are possibly the most important questions of the interview. For tell me about yourself, you want to keep it pointed and prevent yourself from rambling. The template I’ve been using says to talk about the past, then the present, then the future, and finish with a little personal add-on. For a job, try to keep the past, present, and future relevant to the job. For my college interview, it seems more like I should just tell about my life and who I am and what I want to do.
It’s always a good idea to go in with 3-5 questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview. It shows that you’re serious about the job or school and you have thought about the next steps after the interview. You don’t have to ask all of them if time is short, but if you have multiple prepared, there’s a higher chance they won’t all be answered during the rest of the interview.
Practice
Once you have thought about your answers to some possible questions (I wrote out an outlined response for each of the ones I mentioned) it’s time to start practicing. I practiced a couple of times by myself, using my notes, and making sure I have my stories in order. Then, I started practicing with my family. I’m trying to start answering questions without my notes while still remembering everything I want to touch on.
I’ve also heard that it’s a good idea to practice with a friend who is not afraid to make fun of you. I haven’t practiced with a friend for this interview yet, but it is always a good idea to find someone who will give you constructive criticism. And if you find someone who will insult you while you practice, it might even help because the interviewers will be nicer than that, so you’ll have nothing to worry about!
Confidence
The final thing I want to touch on is confidence. This is one of the hardest parts of the interview for me. I can practice as much as I want and be fully prepared, but I still struggle a little with speaking confidently with strangers. I’ve picked up a couple of tips regarding this that I want to share here.
First, pretend that anytime you walk into a room, everyone in there is talking about how excited they are to meet you. They know how awesome you are and they can’t wait for the opportunity to talk to you. It sounds a little strange, and I’m still practicing this technique but if you can convince yourself that people are speaking highly of you rather than being there to judge you, you’re likely to be much more confident.
Second, remember that the person who is interviewing you is a human too. She probably has a family that she wants to get home to. He’s just as afraid that you’ll hear his stomach growling as you are that he will hear yours. They are not some mechanic robot or perfect person (because no one is!). They are normal humans who are having a conversation with you about yourself.
Finally, do something to relieve your stress before the interview. Whether it’s a personal dance party, practicing an instrument, or reading a book, do something that will leave you feeling calmer. And remember that praying is always the best option. Philippians 4:6-7 says,
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
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