Congratulations to the local Greensboro college students who have made it to the interview process for the Opportunity Greensboro Summer Fellows Program! As you prepare for your interview, we’ve developed some tips and suggestions to help you do your best and impress.
- Research the company. Use LinkedIn, Google, and the company website – look at social media to see what stands out. Keep in mind the rule of 3: know the job description, know the company, and know yourself. An interviewer is going to ask, “Tell me what you know about XYZ company.” It only takes 30 seconds to show the interviewer you have done your research!
- Prepare an elevator speech.An elevator speech is a short (30-second) statement that encompasses who you are and what your goals are for this internship. Be ready to give this little speech on a moment’s notice.
- Be prepared to thoroughly answer WHY you want to intern with the organization. Show the interviewer(s) you have done your research and that you know yourself.
- Hangovers are NOT cute, and neither are puffy eyes from lack of sleep! This is essential. You don’t want to smell like booze or smoke in the interview. You also want to be on your game.
- Arrive 15 minutes early for the interview and make sure you know the names of the people you’re meeting with (if possible).
- Dress up in business attire. This is non-negotiable. Even if you are the only one wearing a suit, that’s OK. We created a Pinterest for style inspiration. Click here to check it out!
- Things to bring
- Padfolio/Resume Folder
- Pen
- Paper
- Extra résumés
- Simple business cards
- Sample of your portfolio (if applicable)
- Focus on your accomplishments.Do not just read your résumé to your interviewer. Market yourself, don’t brag. There’s a difference. Check out this article we found called, “11 Steps on how to brag without being arrogant.”
- Share what you learned from past internships or jobs.Focus on how you overcame challenges and never, ever, say bad things about your former employer. It makes you look bad.
- Be prepared to ask questions.Come prepared with a notebook to take notes, and have at least 5-10 questions written down to ask the interviewers. You will not have time to ask all 5-10 questions, but you will be able to pick out 2-3 from this list to ask at the conclusion of the interview.
- One question to be sure to ask: How is the internship supervised?Will you have one supervisor or many? The answer to this question may help you prioritize internships. Having this information may be crucial to knowing how much guidance you’ll get and, consequently, how much you’ll learn.
- Write down the names of your interviewers and send them each a handwritten thank-you note / Ask for business cards.It is best to drop the notes in the mail the same day as the interview; that way they arrive shortly after your interview. Sometimes decisions are made very quickly, so don’t skip this one. It is also helpful to follow-up with a thank-you email or paperless post, as this is an immediate way to keep your name fresh in the interviewer’s mind.
