The Interview Cheat Sheet Every College Student and Recent Graduate Needs

Wouldn’t it be nice if you could walk into an interview and smoothly answer any and every question that came your way?

After going through many interviews ourselves as college students and recent grads, we know that being caught off guard isn’t fun (and won’t land you the job). That’s why we, here at WayUp, have decided to share our strategies for the 7 common interview questions you’ll have to face during your job search. This is the interview cheat sheet every college student needs to knock the interview out of the park.

1. So tell me about yourself.

Cut the life story to a minimum, and approach the question this way: What’s something that has happened in your life that speaks to your personality or your values? Are you someone who never gives up or the person your friends go to for advice? Tell your interviewer a succinct yet impactful story that isn’t shown on your resume or your cover letter. Read more.

2. Tell me about a time you failed.

Everyone has failed at some point in their life. All employers are trying to do when they ask you this question is determine how well you bounce back from your mistakes. Start with a real mistake, talk about what you learned from it and outline the steps you took to make things right. Read more.

3. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

“Idk…employed?”

You don’t have to know exactly what profession you want to pursue in order to answer this question — but your answer should include an essential component: at least one skill that’s simultaneously vital to the position and something you want to hone and pursue in the future. Read more.

4. What is your greatest weakness?

Employers don’t want to hear a “fake” weakness like “I work too hard” or “I’m a perfectionist.” Start with a real obstacle you’ve faced (whether in school or in your professional life) and talk about ways you’ve been working to turn it into a strength. Read more.

5. Why do you want to work here?

We all want to suppress a “Because I need the money!” in response to this question. Do your homework on the position and the company and talk about the initiatives that impressed you. Highlight some of the positive ways the interviewer spoke about the company and play up cultural fit if you’ve interviewed with more than one person in the office. Read more.

6. Why should we hire you?

Connect the dots for your employer by highlighting the top 3 or 4 qualifications you have that would make you successful in the position. (Hint: to do this correctly, read the job description very carefully and listen to the way your interviewer talks about the type of person needed for the position.) Read more.

7. What other companies are you interviewing with?

You have the right to remain silent.

Well, not really – but you do have the right to your privacy. It’s usually not a good idea to show your cards early on in the interview process (if you’re interviewing with the company’s competitors, that won’t go over well; if you’re not interviewing anywhere else, that won’t make you look great either). Focus on making your interviewer feel confident that you want this position, even if you’re considering other options. Read more.

Now go out there and land the job!