“Why do you want to work for us?” “Tell me something about yourself. " “What are your weaknesses?” “What are your biggest strengths?” “Tell me about a problem you recently had and how you solved it. "
“I’d love to work for the company because I share many of the same values like community service. " This shows them you’ve done your research on the company. When asked to tell about yourself, give useful information like, “I’m a junior and I’m in journalism. I love talking to people, so I thought the customer service aspect of this job would be a great fit. " If asked about weaknesses, never say you don’t have any! Admit to something, but explain that you’re working on it. For example, say, “My biggest weakness is that sometimes I have a hard time staying organized. To help me with this, I write lists and check things off as I go. " When explaining strengths, list things you’re proud of and tie them to the job position. Giving an anecdote about a problem is a chance for you to show that you’re able to think for yourself and get things done. You might share how a school project didn’t work out but you made adjustments and finished the assignment, for instance.
If you want to wear a skirt, pick one that’s at least knee-length. If you wear makeup, keep it light and natural. You don’t want your makeup to be too bold or flashy so it distracts from what you’re saying during the interview. Take out piercings if you think they’ll distract your interviewer, especially if you’ll have to remove the piercings while you’re working.
If you’re really nervous and don’t want to wait at the interview space, it’s totally fine to wait outside or in the car. Just don’t be late! Don’t forget to bring the application, your ID, the application, and maybe a notepad if you’d like to write things down.
For example, instead of thinking to yourself, “There’s no way I’ll get this job. There are so many other people applying,” tell yourself, “I’m qualified for the position and I’m prepared for this interview. "
If you frequently say, “um,” or “like,” try to cut them out. Instead, use full, thoughtful sentences to answer the questions.
It’s easy to be nervous in an interview, but don’t talk over the interviewer or you might look rude. Wait for them to finish speaking before you respond. Take your time when answering a question. Waiting to form an answer shows that you’re giving the question serious thought.
“What does a typical shift look like?” “What do you like about working here?” “How would you describe the company’s culture?”
The note or email can help you stand out in a crowd of applicants. Your note doesn’t have to be long—write a few lines reminding the person which job you applied for and thank them again for their time. Don’t be afraid to follow up in a week if you haven’t heard back from the company.
For example, if the job description says you should have communication skills, talk about how great you are with people during your interview. Do you have friends that work for the company? Ask them how they like working there and if they have interview suggestions.
Bring your resume to the interview even if the application doesn’t call for one. This sets you apart as being professional and will impress your interviewer. Don’t have a resume? Don’t worry! Ask a teacher or guidance counselor at your school to help out. They might even offer resume-writing workshops, which can help you with formatting and style issues.
Write clearly so the interviewer can easily read your application. Some companies might ask you to fill it out online and print it off. It’s a good idea to let your references know that you’ve listed them on a job application so they can be prepared to give a character reference.
