By Nia Saunders
So, you’ve gone to school upwards of sixteen years, acquired student debt, stayed up countless nights and persevered through many unfair group projects. You have your degree, but without a well-paying job, your framed diploma is just a harrowing reminder of the fact that it cost you $100,000 and four years of your life. Hopefully, some of the last four years were spent networking and attending career fairs. You also may have spent weeks on your LinkedIn profile and added potential new employers in hopes they would look over your employment history and resume. Maybe you have received some interest from those employers and scored a couple interviews.
Believe it or not, this was the easy part. Don’t get me wrong, making a good impression and receiving an opportunity for an interview is by no means easy. However, an amazing profile on LinkedIn or a five-minute conversation with someone at a career fair can only take you so far. So how can you prepare for an interview? If you don’t know what to expect going in to one, there are plenty of ways you can ensure you will be able to be as prepared as possible. These are tips from experienced interviewers and various employers on how to make your interview count.
Research shows that humans instinctively judge others based on their looks and body language and will form an opinion on someone in the first thirty seconds of seeing them. Knowing this, it is important to make sure that the interviewer forms a positive judgement on you from the moment you walk in to the room. Positive physical cues like eye contact, smiling and a firm handshake will show the employer that you want to be there. A study from Braun Research found that roughly one third of people aged 18 to 24 either fidgeted or didn’t make eye contact during an interview.
It is important to make sure your interviewer knows that you are excited to be there because there are plenty of other applicants who would love the opportunity to be there but were not asked. The fact of the matter is that this potential new employer is taking time out of their day to interview you. It is important to not only make sure they know you’re excited to be there but do so in a sincere way.
Another way to impress employers during an interview is to have some knowledge on the company you’re applying to. Knowing the current events, mission and history of the company will give you a leg up and prepare you in case an interviewer wants to ask you about it. An article from Forbes advises readers to set up Google alerts to their phone to alert them of any news story having to deal with a company. This way, you will have more to talk about during your interview and be able to demonstrate your knowledge on the company you are applying for.
Most interviewers tend to ask the same questions when conducting interviews. Before an interview it’s a good idea to research some common questions that are asked. Some examples of these questions include: “Tell me about yourself”, “Why are you interested in this job?” and “What are some of your strengths and weaknesses?” By coming up with a solid answer for these questions and being able to articulate your response in a professional fashion you will impress the interviewer. It will also demonstrate that you have put thought into your interview and lower your chances of being caught off guard by any questions.
Regardless of how qualified you may be for a job, your first impression can determine your success in landing that position. Adequate research in the job you are applying for and potential questions you may be asked also to give you an upper hand when walking in to an interview. Above all, confidence lets the interviewer know that you can perform your job well and can be trusted. You’ve made it this far, you’ve graduated with a degree and have landed an interview. You’re one interview away from your future. Master your interviewing technique and there’s no reason you won’t be able to make a statement.
Source:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonyoushaei/2014/10/20/12-surprising-job-interview-tips/#2b77ca0f50f4
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/lisa-earle-mcleod/job-interview-tips_b_894670.html
https://www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/how-to-get-hired-5-interview-tips-for-millennials
sans CV 
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