{"id":2981,"date":"2017-03-28T11:00:03","date_gmt":"2017-03-28T15:00:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comblog\/?p=2981"},"modified":"2017-03-28T00:30:06","modified_gmt":"2017-03-28T04:30:06","slug":"emma-interviewing-101","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bu.edu\/comblog\/2017\/03\/28\/emma-interviewing-101\/","title":{"rendered":"Emma: Interviewing 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

The summer internship madness is upon us here in COM, folks, and you know what that means! It\u2019s time time to start your research, booking slots with the CDC for resume and cover letter review, and to start prepping your interviews!<\/span><\/p>\n

Coming from someone who just completed this tiring process, I can tell you that nailing your interview is key. It\u2019s the best opportunity – whether in person, over the phone, or via Skype – for potential employers to gage how well you mesh with their culture and converse under pressure.<\/span><\/p>\n

It can seem like a daunting task at first, but the key is to prepare as much as possible, so try these tips below to get yourself confident for the big day!<\/p>\n

Come Prepared<\/span><\/p>\n

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This is key for all interviews. You should be walking into it with a deep understanding of the role you\u2019re applying for, what the company is all about, and even a fair amount about who you\u2019re interviewing with. Never hurts to do some digging on LinkedIn! For in-person interviews, be sure you have an extra copy of your resume, portfolio, or anything the interviewer asked you to bring. And for the love of all things good, make sure you know what time your interview is (and show up at least 15 minutes before).<\/span>
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Practice OUT LOUD<\/span><\/p>\n

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We all know practice makes perfect, but the best way to prepare for an interview is to be going over common questions out loud. I like to have the answers to common\/anticipated interview questions written down in bullets (\u201cTell me about yourself.\u201d \u201cHow did you choose this agency?\u201d \u201cWhat interests you about this role?\u201d) and then use that as a baseline to practice out loud. This allows you to know what actually sounds good out loud, and helps you configure your response into a conversation that doesn\u2019t sound scripted. Practice alone in your room, or grab a friend and make them listen to you for the full effect.<\/span><\/p>\n

Ask Smart Questions<\/span><\/p>\n

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Before my first interview, I went to my faculty advisor for advice, and the best nugget he passed on to me was the idea that you show people how smart and engaged you are by the types of questions you ask. In doing your research about the company, find things you\u2019re curious about (stray from the obvious) and ask your interviewer. I promise, they will be impressed that you cared enough to learn more.<\/span>
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Bonus Tips: Skype interview prep<\/span><\/p>\n

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