So you’ve got your first job interview. Now what? Interviews can be scary, so here are a few small things you can do to make things easier on yourself.
- Bring a pen and small notebook
This is the easiest thing you can do to quickly impress your potential new employer: bring a pen and a notebook! You may use it. You may not. But it’s an easy way to show that you’re always prepared.
- How to dress
Here’s a quick rule of thumb for how you should dress for an interview: look at however the team dresses, and step it up a notch. Remember to dress for the job you want, not the job you have!
- Posture!
This one is a little surprising. Showing up with good posture makes you appear more confident and capable, even when you’re nervous for your first interview!
Here’s an easy way to think about your posture: pretend that there’s a string at the top of your head. Now imagine that string is getting pulled up. Pull your shoulders back, keep your feet flat on the floor, and you’re all set!
- Prep a few answers for standard questions
I don’t think I’ve ever had a job interview where I haven’t been asked these questions:
Tell me about yourself
Why do you want this job?
Tell me about a time when you ______.
Don’t psych yourself out! You don’t need to have your answers memorized, but you should have an idea of what you’re going to say for some standard interview questions. Here’s a good list if you want to prepare more.
The last question can be a little bit tricky though. If you can come up with a few stories in advance where you showed leadership, managed conflict or proved that you’re willing to step up and do hard work, you’ll ace it.
Don’t forget to prepare a few questions of your own as well! Remember that you’re trying to learn about the company just as much as they’re trying to learn about you!
- Firm handshake, eye contact.
Keep it simple. Don’t be afraid to ask somebody you trust to practice this with you!
- The thank you note
This is important! Whether you felt good about the job or not, you never know when you’re going to come across your interviewer again. Leave on a good note, and thank them for taking the time to get to know you a little bit more. This could be also be a time to tell them about something you might have forgotten to talk about in the interview that shows why you’re the best person for the job.
- RELAX!
That’s it! You’re ready to ace your first job interview. If you need any help, the Peerro team is here for you! We’ve got tons of entry-level jobs that can set you up for success (and for that first paycheck!).
Bonus: If this is your first job interview, you might not have a resume. But if you do, definitely bring a couple of copies along with you!
