Career services 2- Interviews

Yesterday I went to a career services workshop called “How to interview to get the job.”  The career adviser who led the workshop gave us some excellent advice.  First, she told us that research about the organization is essential because your answers have to show how you can help the organization, not how the organization can help you.  By researching, you can learn how your skills fit into the organization goals.  Secondly, she gave us a method to use when we are asked how we dealt with a problem in the past.  It’s called the STAR technique.  First, describe the Situation.  Second, describe the Task that you had to do.  Third, describe the Action you took.  Finally, describe the positive Result.  She told us to think of questions as an opportunity to tell a story with a happy ending.  How many of you get real nervous or give generic answers when the interviewer asks you to describe yourself?  The adviser gave us an excellent exercise to use that can prepare us for that question.  It is called “Your 30 second commercial.”  It is exactly that, selling yourself to the interviewer in 30 seconds.  To make your commercial follow this outline:  Hello, my name is…; I am excited in (area of study or future goals); I have experience and/ or coursework in…;   my strongest skills are…; I am looking for opportunities in… (career goals, but also how your knowledge can be put to good use)   This is much more effective than just generally describing yourself.  Finally, she told us that when an interviewer has many average candidates, a thank you note (e-mail or written) can be the decision maker.   I would recommend everyone seek out this workshop, but if you can’t, at least create your own 30 second commercial.