Getting your first job is never easy. For those who haven’t graduated yet and are going to balance school and work, it is especially difficult. Just imagine, they have to visit lectures and workshops, complete projects and written assignments, and find time for work. 

However, before that, they also need to squeeze job interviews into their schedule. It takes a lot of courage for one to even apply for a position, leave alone talking with recruiters for the first time in their life. Luckily, we have tips that will make it easier!

Revise Technical Aspects

There are different types of interviews. Some companies prefer splitting the recruitment process into

• soft skills interview;
• technical interview;
• test assignment;
• the final stage (job offer/rejection).

However, there are also those that recruit employees quite fast – it depends both on the industry and the company’s vision. The common thing among all of them is you won’t get to talk about abstract things only. You should demonstrate your hard skills. To do that, revise theory and practice. Whether it’s about working with Excel sheets or making space planning, it’s extremely important to brush up on your knowledge. 

Make the Interview Your Top Priority

Obviously, if you have not graduated yet, combining the preparation with studies may be too much. You will need a lot of time to make it stress-free and effective. So, consider addressing an expert from EssayPro if you have some written assignments you can delegate. Getting rid of this chore will give you more time and energy to prepare for the job interview.

Just Talk

Whatever you know or want to tell should be said. Of course, it only refers to the information relevant to the interview. There is no need to dwell on all your burdens, personal issues, and concerns. Don’t overshare. Just stick to the topic of discussion and point out the details related to your hard and soft skills. Recruiter(s) can even stop you as soon as they see how much knowledge you possess.

Try Freelancing

Of course, freelancing is not the kind of job you will be interviewed for, but you will get to know how people communicate online when it comes to business matters. This experience will reduce nervousness since you will know the core procedures, writing style, and general principles of collaboration.

Ask the Recruiter About the Interview Beforehand

It may sound like cheating, but asking about these details may help you save face. Unknown scares the most. On the other hand, when you know how many people will be present at the interview and what will be expected of you, fewer surprises await you. 

So, ask about the type of interview, what kind of questions will be there (on hard or soft skills), and whether there will be a test assignment to be completed on the spot. Don’t expect that you will be given very detailed answers though, and don’t be too pushy. Use to your advantage whatever the HR representative will tell you, even if those are minor things.

Prepare Your Questions Beforehand

At the end of the interview, you will be probably told to ask questions if you have any. The thing is, you will have a lot of those, but there are few chances you will remember them. So, write them down before the interview and take the notes with you. In addition, you may wonder about something else during the interview. Instead of interrupting, add your concerns to the same list and discuss all the points at the end.

Also, don’t forget to prepare your answers for typical questions like the ones below.

• Where do you see yourself in N years?
• What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• Why do you want to work in our company?
• Describe a conflict situation you had to deal with and how you solved the issue.

Be Prepared to Lose

There are high chances that your first interview may result in failure. It doesn’t matter whether it’s your incompetence or the recruiter’s, the point is to learn from the mistakes made. After all, everything can go smoothly, but in the end, you will be offered a completely unacceptable salary or poor conditions. That’s okay; you have to face it and be ready to decline the job offer if it’s not suitable for you.

Even professionals with years of experience have to go through numerous interviews and recruitment-related discussions before they get a good job offer. Before you get one, you will probably have a couple of bad interviews, be disappointed, and lose motivation. To restore the latter, remember why you decided to find a job in the first place.

Don’t Lie

Sooner or later, you will get caught on lying about your achievements, knowledge, and experience. So, consider choosing safer alternatives. If you don’t know the answer to a question or have only superficial information, tell the interviewer(s) that you haven’t dealt with this matter but will dig into it for sure. When talking about lack of experience, mention some strengths of yours when it comes to learning. 

Low Self-Esteem Is Your Enemy – Fight It

If you tend to diminish your achievements or underestimate your abilities, it will be hard for you to pass all the stages of recruitment. Luckily, we have some recommendations for you! This section won’t give full guidance on how to raise one’s self-esteem, but it can help you boost your confidence for a while. Here’s how to do this: 

• you need objective information like statistics for your position (average salary, typical responsibilities and working hours, and so on);
• remember that failures and bad experiences are the things you can learn from;
• focus on your strengths;
• when listing your achievements, use numbers.

When you know the things above, you have factual information you can use during the interview. It is especially useful when you are overwhelmed and can formulate only emotional responses. In turn, numbers and facts help you stay concentrated.

Be Ready to Complete a Test Assignment 

Some test assignments take several hours or even days. So, they won’t be given to you right after or during the interview. However, there may be a test to check your basic knowledge – such tests usually take up to an hour and should be completed on the spot or online, in the presence of recruiters. 

Read All You Can Find About the Company

Even if you apply for a position to have a source of income without planning to build a career, you must know what the company does. Google the product it offers, check reviews, and read previous job descriptions (in case they are not hidden). It is essential that you know the values of the company, how long it has been operating, and what you can learn there.

Takeaway

Finally, you don’t need to be perfect to pass a job interview. There are always some strengths that can make you stand out among other candidates despite your weaknesses. Remember that even if you fail your first job interview, there is always space for your personal and professional growth. However, we are sure that the tips above will help you succeed!