Interview Articles

The first article that I chose to read to help me with my future interviews was "How to Deal With Interview Stress." I thought that this article would be really helpful for me, personally, because I worry and stress way too much about stuff. The article provided a few simple techniques that can help to calm the nerves before and during an interview. The author says that you should not arrive to an interview too early or too late. Arrive about ten minutes before an interview so that you don't have time to sit and worry, but you're not so late that you're racing in the door. The author says that another way to relieve stress is by visualizing yourself succeeding in your interview situation which will give you confidence for when you are in the real interview. It's also very important to stay relaxed while in an interview. To achieve relaxation you should breathe deeply and slowly, speak slowly and pause for breaths often, and remember to smile! Finally, if you find yourself in a panic during an interview, just pause for a second, take a deep breath, refocus, and remind yourself that you can do this.

The second article that I chose to read to help me with future interviews was "How to Answer the Toughest Interview Questions." The first tough interview question is "Where do you see yourself in five years?" The best way to answer this question is to talk about your values. Discuss things that are important to you professionally, but don't get too detailed about your specific career plan. Prepare in advance for the "salary question" and decide on a range before an interview. When an interviewer asks you why they should hire you, make sure that you are confident and honest about your abilities, but try not to come off as boastful. The author also says that you can prepare for this question by practicing in front of the mirror. If an interviewerer asks you the "seemingly silly question" like "If you could be a fruit, what kind would you be?", don't panic! Remember that there is no "right" answer to these types of questions. The author says that interviewers usually ask these questions simply to see how you react under pressure and handle the unexpected. It's not important what type of fruit you pick, just choose one that helps you to appear favorable.

I thought that both of these articles were very helpful and provided great advice for the interviewing process. I will definitely have to think back on this information before my mock interview!