Nail the Interview from Email to Meeting
No one truly prepares you for the interview process when you graduate college. You have general tips or tricks you remember and that works. Until you start going on multiple interviews. From the initial interview request in your inbox to the face to face conversation, I wanted to help. I’ve been there, to be honest, I’m still there. I’ve been through all the stages: The No’s, The Ghosted, and The Yes’s. You will be told no. You might not be taken seriously because you’re just out of college and in your 20’s. You may never get a response. Here’s my take away and I would like to think it holds some truth to it: if you don’t get something, there’s something even better. First, interviews. Check back on SS later for everything business etiquette and power looks for work.
Resume
Resumes and cover letters are overwhelming to say the least. Everyone seems to have a different opinion of what should be on it and what makes you catch someone’s eyes. Let me introduce you to Canva, the only place you need to go. The site is free and offers an extensive selection of templates. You can filter what you are looking for and the examples also help guide you with what you want to display. Very easy to customize and elevates your professional work instantly. When someone produces a clean and modern resume at an interview, it stands out immediately.
This is the primary way you connect with anyone in a professional capacity from the beginning to the end of a job. If you know how to communicate in a confident and effective manner, you can talk to anyone. It’s important to be articulate, confident, and polite no matter the message or who you are speaking with. A fail proof format that can be used time and time again is easier than you think. It can be outlined by using the person’s name at the top (always use Mr. or Ms. until you receive a response back from them where you can see how they sign their name), hitting enter twice, and then beginning your message with a formal greeting such as Good morning or Good afternoon. Proper grammar and complete sentences are a major pro for anybody looking at hiring you. Once the message is done, always thank someone for their time, consideration, or opportunity. You can hit enter twice and sign off with something like Best Regards and a comma following. Hit enter twice a final time and sign your full name.
Don’t be afraid to check in with someone you’re hoping to land an interview with if you haven’t received a status update in 2 weeks. Companies appreciate that you show you are interested and excited about working with them. After you have interviewed with a team member through any form (phone, in person, or video), sending a thank you the next day gives you the chance to reiterate why they should choose you and how much you enjoyed the conversation. Perfecting business emails is an underappreciated and vital skill to survive post-grad.
Power Look
First impressions matter. This can be effortless, promise. Everybody has a color palette where your closet falls in and you find yourself always going back to. The color palette works extremely well with your skin tone, hair color, eyes, and you feel confident no matter what the piece is. If you’re not sure what your color palette is, take a look and see what you have in your wardrobe. I always choose neutrals. Whites, navy, gray, etc are my go to’s. I know they will work every time. There are no right answers to what you should wear. It just needs to look polished, professional, and you. Next, you want to select a look that will not only make you feel confident but fits you well. The silhouette of any pieces you’re wearing like a suit, top, or ankle pants should be tailored rather than being too tight or loose. Anticipating any fashion malfunctions will keep you stress-free, ready to walk in your interview, and get the position.
Mindset Going Into the Interview
The hardest part when interviewing is your mindset. Everyone will say remain positive or don’t overthink things. It is almost near impossible to always be positive when you are very aware of the competition you graduated with. This is what I have to offer to combat that: your resume and profile was selected for a reason. The company sees that you potentially match what they are wanting. You have nothing to lose by going and this is why. If you go to the interview and it works out, you get the position. If it doesn’t, you’re now open to new opportunities. As long as you went out of your way to be kind during the process, you just gained a contact in the industry and potential person to reach out to in the future. Go in positive, excited, and confident in your abilities and skills. The qualities you have as a person and the work experience you are taking with you are equally important. No two resumes are the same. Do your research on the company, team, and anticipate questions they’ll ask. Have questions ready to ask them. Check these boxes and you’re set.