First real job interview tomorrow. Tips?

Smile, firm handshake to everyone in the room with eye contact. That is how you enter a room during a professional interview.

If possible, I would do a practice interview with a friend or career counselor before your interview so you can practice your answer to the obvious questions. Make sure you know as much about the job and company that you can in advance. Most importantly, act very interested in the job without acting desperate or arrogant.

For the love of god and all that is holy, wear a goddamn tie.

Yes, suit up.

Act excited when giving your answers to questions.

Bring your own questions. Write them down on a piece of paper and pull it out of your pocket at the end. A guy did that in an interview I was giving once and it was awesome.

Pause and think before you answer a question. In internships they want someone will take their time and not F things up.

Be confident but it's ok to be nervous. Do not be over confident. No one likes a stuck up intern.

If you are a woman and fairly pretty, and you know the interviewer is a man... A little cleavage will get you the job EVERY TIME.

Trust me, I work in a personnel department.

If you are a guy, just relax, eye contact, pretend like you are interested in them, ask a few questions even if it is about something on their desk, a picture, etc. etc.

Nothing is more awkward than quiet between each question, do dee dumm....

Be ready to answer this question, 'So tell me something about yourself'?

I've seen so many people screw that up and start babbling about the job they are interviewing for, that isn't what they asked, tell em about yourself! Your likes, dreams, hobbies, whatever.

dress as if you had the job of your would be boss

eye contact always, always, always

cheerful confidence

have some questions carefully researched that shows you did some work beforehand

do not fidget - practice sittign in front of a mirror to see what you look like.

do not say anything negative about prior work experiences or teachers

find a way to ask for job, politely.

Turn off your phone. Do not take calls or return texts during the interview. Amazingly, some kids are doing this, according to HR reports.

A couple of other things.

Make small talk before and after the interview. They want to see who you really are outside of the robot interview questions.

Don't be afraid to make a joke. Just pray they laugh

be prepared to suck some sausage!

Do a little research about the company and show you know what they do and tell the interviewer why you particularly are interested in being an intern at this company and have a good reason based upon your research.

Ask about the responsibilities about the position and have prepared answers how you have some type of experience doing that type of thing. Example, if make copies is one responsibility...as club president of x I was responsible for making copies and distributing to the member of my club ect.

At the end of the interview, thank the person for his/her time and send a thank you for meeting with you email.

Show small little things that show you are more interested in this position more than the average dopey college student who is trying to get any position they can get.

RE: First real job interview tomorrow. Tips?

If you want "tips" then you might need to work harder?

Internship Seeker wrote:

Just looking for some thoughts from professionals here.

You should probably tell them about your best drinking performances, how girls need to change panties when you walk in the club, and that sleeping with a 200 LB girl ruined your waterbed. Don't be a gump, tell them what they want to hear.

If you are genuinely interested in the position and have character, it will show. If you are a spoiled brat like many young adults today, it will show. And of course you need to wear a suit, or at the minimum, shirt and tie. Don't give them a reason right off the bat to not take you seriously. Every interview I've been in, they will ask "so do you have any questions?". You better damn well have some questions to ask about the company/specific position. Even simple ones, like "can you walk me through the day-to-day of what I'll be doing?"

1) Dress a little better than you think you should

2) Polish your shoes

3) Be there 10 minutes early

4) Eye contact, firm handshake and a natural but confident greeting

5) Be prepared to draw examples from every little job, volunteer work, team project for school, etc. that might put your candidacy in a better light

6) Think of five top achievements/situations/developmental opportunities, etc. you have experienced that speak well about you and find a way to work these into the conversation

7) Emphasize your accomplishments in the context of a team environment

8) Being able to talk about your successes is nice, but being able to convey how you helped a team or other individual succeed is even better

9) Enthusiasm helps, but don't be ashamed to say that this is the job you really want (and be prepared to back it up in a couple of bullet points)

10) If some question catches you off guard don't get flustered or ramble hoping to say something positive. Keep your composure and be prepared to say something like "I haven't had an opportunity to be in that type of situation" or "I'm looking forward to that type of challenge" or "It didn't work out like I had hoped, but it was a learning experience" or something like that.

11) Do a lot of homework about the company. Read everything you can about them and be prepared to talk about their strategy, new products, competitors, challenges to the industry. There are very few things you can control, but you can always control how well prepared you are in this respect.

12) Have a couple of questions you want to ask about the company, department, role you are being considered for, etc. and if you can couch these in the context of some research you have done for #11, all the better

13) Be professional, friendly, composed and confident

14) Try to come across as someone who is always prepared and thinks well on his/her feet

15) End with the same firm handshake and friendly/confident manner that you start with and something like "I'm looking forward to this opportunity"

1) Dress a little better than you think you should

2) Polish your shoes

3) Be there 10 minutes early

4) Eye contact, firm handshake and a natural but confident greeting

5) Be prepared to draw examples from every little job, volunteer work, team project for school, etc. that might put your candidacy in a better light

6) Think of five top achievements/situations/developmental opportunities, etc. you have experienced that speak well about you and find a way to work these into the conversation

7) Emphasize your accomplishments in the context of a team environment

8) Being able to talk about your successes is nice, but being able to convey how you helped a team or other individual succeed is even better

9) Enthusiasm helps, but don't be ashamed to say that this is the job you really want (and be prepared to back it up in a couple of bullet points)

10) If some question catches you off guard don't get flustered or ramble hoping to say something positive. Keep your composure and be prepared to say something like "I haven't had an opportunity to be in that type of situation" or "I'm looking forward to that type of challenge" or "It didn't work out like I had hoped, but it was a learning experience" or something like that.

11) Do a lot of homework about the company. Read everything you can about them and be prepared to talk about their strategy, new products, competitors, challenges to the industry. There are very few things you can control, but you can always control how well prepared you are in this respect.

12) Have a couple of questions you want to ask about the company, department, role you are being considered for, etc. and if you can couch these in the context of some research you have done for #11, all the better

13) Be professional, friendly, composed and confident

14) Try to come across as someone who is always prepared and thinks well on his/her feet

15) End with the same firm handshake and friendly/confident manner that you start with and something like "I'm looking forward to this opportunity"