Interviewing well is a skill just like any other. The more you do it, the better and more comfortable you become. Before anything else, just remember that the interviewer wants to meet you. You just need to sell yourself. Look at it as a first date, but with a company. Keep these 7 tips in mind when going on that first date:

1. Prepare answers to expected questions
Interviewers tend to ask a lot of the same common questions, so you can practice your responses ahead of time. Review these questions before your next interview:

1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Tell me about your experience at [past job].
3. What are some of your strengths/weaknesses?
4. Tell me about a time when you showed initiative/leadership.
5. How do you keep yourself organized?
6. What interested you in [company/position]?

Always relate your answers back to your experiences. For example, when answering the “Tell me about your biggest weakness” question, it’s best to talk about something that you are improving upon. Here’s an example response:

“Last semester I had a lot of trouble in my writing class. I’ve never been the best at putting my thoughts on paper. Now I’m working with my university’s writing center on improving my writing skills so that I won’t have this problem in the future.”

In general, relate what you did in high school (if you’re a freshman) or college directly to the internship and company. Don’t be afraid to talk about your outside interests either; companies like hiring people who fit in with their culture (like Boundless’s 4 startup personality types!).

Depending on the field in which you’re interviewing, you may also be asked questions based on what your personal actions would be in a specific scenario.

2. Research your interviewer and the company
Most of the time, you’ll know exactly who you’ll be interviewing with beforehand. Research them so you know a bit about them and where they come from. Here’s what to do:

1. Look them up on LinkedIn.
2. Know about their background so you can ask them direct, relevant questions.
3. Bring up something you might have in common.

Always research the company where you are going in for an interview. You should know every aspect of what they do and what they are about before walking through their front door. As mentioned earlier, if they ask you specific questions on what you would do in a certain scenario, you should know what they offer their clients or consumers and be able to answer confidently.

3. Look good, feel good
Always look your best when going in for an interview.

1. Research the company’s culture to determine appropriate attire.
2. Give a firm handshake to everyone you meet.
3. Accept a glass of water if they offer one, you will talk a lot and water helps soothe your throat. Or, come prepared and bring your own reusable water bottle.
4. Be polite. Don’t sit down until your interviewer does and stand up when they go to leave as well. Give them another handshake when they leave.

4. Find a way to make past jobs relevant
Even if you have limited job experience, you can still find ways to make it count towards your interview. For example, if your only job thus far has been waitressing, in an interview you can spin that to show that you have great time management skills and are comfortable working in a fast-paced environment. No matter the job, find a way to make it work in your favor during the interview.

5. Ask the interviewer questions
When interviewers finish asking you questions, they usually say, “Do you have any questions for me?” Always ask them something. It can be as simple as, “What does your average day of work entail?” to something much more direct such as, “Is there any reason you would not hire me?” There are perks to both types of questions. After a few interviews you will realize what’s more comfortable for you to ask, whether it’s about the company or their own professional experience.

6. Follow-up
Always send a thank you e-mail or note to everyone you interviewed with the day after your interview. In your thank you note, mention something that you learned about the person or company to show them you took in what they said. Always put this as a concluding sentence: “Looking forward to hearing back from you regarding the [position] at [company].” Then of course, sign-off in a professional manner.

7. No response after two weeks? Call them
Follow up with your interviewer if you haven’t heard back within two weeks (or by an agreed-upon date). Chances are, they could be swamped with work. By checking in, you’ll show your interviewer that you’re still interested.

Everyone gets nervous during their first few interviews. Once you get the hang of it, going in for an interview can actually be fun. Just remember to be friendly, polite, and engaged. While you chat with the interviewer, get a good feel for the company and its cultural to make sure it’s the best fit for you.

photo credit: Thomas Hawk via photopin cc

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