As students settle into the rhythm of the spring semester, their focus is not only on taking exams and completing school work, but also securing internships and full time jobs after graduation. One of the first steps to receiving these internship or job offers is carrying out interviews. Whether they are technical interviews, case interviews or group interviews, these often bring a deal of stress and anxiety for students. There can be so much pressure to nail down the “right answers,” ask appropriate questions and stay confident throughout the process.
This month, I had the pleasure of speaking with a few QUESTees to share their interview experiences and advice for students. First, I reached out to Meilin Yuan (Cohort 42), a Finance and Information Systems double major. Yuan has interned for a number of companies throughout college, including firms like Leidos and the Federal Trade Commission. In the beginning of her college career, Yuan admitted she used to feel intimidated by interviews. “You definitely want to treat the interview as more of a conversation and less of a transactional process. There is no right or wrong answer, and it’s okay if you don’t always know exactly how to respond.” During her interviews, she found it difficult to relax and attempted to put on a certain persona to feel more accepted. However, she realized that it was important to stay authentic to herself and not take the process too seriously.
Yuan also stressed the importance of asking clarifying questions. This helped her learn more information, so she could make educated guesses and feel more confident with her responses. To conclude, Yuan once again encouraged students not to dread the interview and job application process. “All you need is one yes, so it’s totally okay if it doesn’t work out with that company. There are so many opportunities out there! The more you apply and network with others, the more you will learn and improve.”
Next, I reached out to Brooke Lesser (Cohort 40), a Marketing major with a desire to study law after completing her bachelor’s degree. Lesser has completed marketing and legal internships at companies like J&C and Russo Petrullo Law Group. Through her experience, Lesser shares similar thoughts to Yuan regarding the importance of staying relaxed and true to yourself in interviews. “You have to remember that the recruiters are human too.”
She further emphasized how the interview is not only answering questions, but also asking questions as well. These questions may vary from asking more about the company or even about the interviewer’s personal interests and hobbies. “It’s always nice to give others that space to express their own passions and interests. It also makes you more memorable and authentic as a candidate.”
Lesser is especially proud of her ability to stay true to herself and learning how to think on her feet. “Although there is always room for improvement, I can definitely see the growth I’ve made in my interactions and networking skills. I’m not afraid to be honest in my abilities, and I’ve learned it’s okay to admit when you don’t know something.”
Finally, I spoke with Aditya Singhvi (Cohort 43), a Neuroscience major with plans to study medicine after graduation. Singhvi has worked in a variety of research assistant and leadership positions including institutions like UPenn, Simply Neuroscience, and Young Jains of America. When it comes to interviews, Singhvi admitted he used to script his responses in advance. However, he found this ineffective as it restricted what he could say and did not always align with the questions he was asked. Now, Singhvi recommends having a general idea or key points to discuss rather than writing out specific details. “I realized scripting responses wasn’t as genuine, and it honestly made me more nervous too. I think building confidence in your abilities and how you can help that company is far more important than anything else.”
Although Singhvi is proud of his ability to improvise answers and reflect on his abilities, he also emphasizes the importance of interview etiquette. For instance, he spoke of learning the “sweet spot” in talking versus active listening. “You don’t want to be that person who doesn’t know when to stop talking. You want to make sure you’re being mindful and respectful of their time.”
He also mentioned the importance of staying engaged even when you aren’t talking.
“This may seem obvious, but a lot of the time we might zone out or get distracted by what’s happening around us. It’s important to actively show the recruiter you are interested and ready to talk about anything.”
Although interviewing can be stressful, it’s comforting to know that many of our own QUESTees have been in the same boat and successfully navigated common challenges. QUEST wishes everyone the best of luck in job hunting! Don’t hesitate to reach out to QUEST faculty and other students for help.