Tag: interview tips

How to Answer: Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

The key to answering “Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” and related interview questions like “What’s your dream job?” is to show potential employers that you’re thoughtful about your career path and your future ambitions. When employers ask this question, they want to know that you’re motivated by success and that you’re going to stick around.

While you don’t have to have an exact answer about the path you want your career to take, your answer should convey what you enjoy doing and what you’re good at. It’s also important that at least one component of your answer relates back to the job you’re interviewing for.

Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your answer.

Be honest but don’t go into too much detail.

While it’s important to be honest in every part of the interview process, if the real answer to this question is “Not at this job,” or “Winning my first Oscar,” then we suggest focusing instead on what you can learn from the position and how those lessons will fit into your long-term career goals. Start by outlining a goal you’ve set for yourself and then explain why the role you’re interviewing for is an important part of your personal and professional growth.

Outline the steps you plan to take to reach your goals.

Once you’ve established your ideal career path, briefly outline the steps you intend to take to get there. For example, if your goal is to be a sales manager, explain how you plan to advance from an entry-level role to a more senior one.

Pro Tip: Keep your answer focused and concise — ideally no more than 1-2 sentences.

Show that you’re committed to sticking with the company.

Interviewers hiring for an internship or entry-level job are aware that you’re not going to be in that position forever, but they want to know that you’re committed to doing a good job while you’re there. The best way to convince them of that is to paint a picture of how the position aligns with your other goals and to show that you’re committed to making the most of the experience in every possible way.

Say something like: “In five years I see myself in a sales manager position where I am directly responsible for strategizing and implementing ways to increase my company’s annual revenue. I plan to start by working on small business sales and building my way up to mid-market sales within two years. My five-year goal is to move into enterprise sales and manage my own accounts with big companies. The most important thing though, is that I want to work for a company where I can really build a career and learn.”

Although you may not be sure of your long-term professional aspirations, answering this question is a great opportunity to show that you’re thoughtfully considering your future and looking for a role that will align with your goals, while also helping to shape those goals. This kind of thoughtfulness is likely to not only impress potential employers but to convince them that you’re worth investing in as an employee.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as A Job Guide in Psychology and find answers to common interview questions such as What Makes You Uncomfortable?

How to Answer: What Gets You Up in the Morning?

 

One of the most common questions you’ll encounter during an interview for an internship or entry-level job is: “So, what gets you up in the morning?” This question is meant to give the hiring manager an insight into what inspires you and gets you going.

Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your answer.

Talk about what motivates you personally and professionally

The hiring manager is interested in more than your previous internship experience or the classes you’ve taken. They want to know what motivates you to get up every day, so be sure to tell them that. If you’re interested in leading your own team one day or learning a specific kind of skill, mention it and explain why it’s important to you.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to talk about big goals. After all, there’s no better way to show that you’re truly motivated to succeed.

Give specific examples

Talking about what inspires you is a great start, but it’s important to back it up with concrete examples. Be sure to explain why it’s meaningful to you and how you plan to work it into your life. This is especially important if the goal is career related since you’ll want to show the steps you’re taking to achieve it.

Say something like: “I’m really motivated by helping kids from low-income backgrounds and I’ve done a lot of volunteer work in this area throughout my time in college. It’s easy to be passionate about something so meaningful, but it’s especially important to me because of my background and where I’m from.”

Explain how it has shaped your career path

Once you’ve explained your goal and outlined your plan for achieving it, connect your answer back to the position you’re applying for and show why you’d be an asset to the company. Be sure to demonstrate that you’ve truly thought about the position and how it will fit into your life.

Say something like: “I know I couldn’t have gotten to where I am today without the help of mentors from a local organization in my hometown. In fact, this volunteer work has been a major driver in my decision to start a career in elementary education and I’m looking for a position where I can develop the skills that will allow me to do that successfully.”

By talking about your future goals and how they inspire you, you’ll show the interviewer that you’re thinking ahead and taking proactive steps to shape your career. This is a great way to stand out from the crowd and help potential employers see your value.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How Do I Get a Job in Another City or State? and find answers to common interview questions such as Tell Me About a Time You Went Above and Beyond the Requirements for a Project.

How to Answer: What are you Passionate About?

 The reason interviewers ask this question is because they’re trying to get a sense of who you are beyond your resume, and to know that you can commit to something and see it through to completion. This is a great chance for you to show what makes you a unique and well-rounded person and to demonstrate the value you could bring to the team!

Here are some interview tips that will help you nail this answer.

Talk about what excites you.

Your personal values and interests are part of what makes you unique, and talking about them is a great way of showing how your passions have shaped who you are both personally and professionally. Talking about what excites you is also a great way to humanize yourself in the interview and become more than just a resume. Plus, it’ll help the interviewer to remember you.

Show how you’ve made your passion a part of your life.

Whether you’re interested in animal rights or basketball, the passion itself is not as important as how you talk about it. Be specific and give the interviewer a sense of how that interest fits into your life. For example, if you’ve been an animal rights advocate for a long time and you volunteer at a shelter, explain how that experience has shaped you and what you’ve learned from it.

Say something like: “I’ve always loved animals and I had several dogs growing up. During my first semester of college, I started volunteering at the local animal shelter. I’m passionate about working with animals because so many pets end up abandoned and I want to help them find good homes.”

Pro Tip: Whatever your passion, make sure to clarify that devoting time to it won’t change the time and commitment you’re able to put into your work.

Show how your passions drive you to succeed.

Once you’ve established what your passions are and shown that you’re dedicated to them, talk about how those passions have driven you to succeed. This will show the interviewer that you’re able to use your personal interests to set goals and achieve them!

No matter what the passion, showing that you’re able to turn your interests into achievements is a great way to demonstrate long-term thinking and to show employers that you could help them meet their goals.

Say something like: “Volunteering has given me the chance to not only work with animals but to also learn about nonprofit organizations, which has given me hands-on experience of company operations and helped to shape my career goals.”

Answering “What are you passionate about?” is a great way of showing potential employers that there’s more to you than what they can see on a resume. In addition to showing that you’re a well-rounded person, it’s also a great way to prove that you’re able to set goals and achieve results based on those goals. Added bonus: You may find out you have some things in common with the interviewer!

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Dress for a Job Interview at a Bank and find answers to common interview questions such as What Gets You Up in the Morning?

How to Dress for a Job Interview at a Nonprofit

Unlike other business fields that have more clearly defined dress codes (such as a startup or a corporation), nonprofit organizations are kind of a mixed bag, ranging from more corporate organizations to ones that mimic the startup environment and culture.

Here are some tips that will help you start off on the right foot when interviewing for an entry-level job or a paid or unpaid internship at a nonprofit.

1. Research the organization’s culture

One of the best ways to find out what to wear to your interview is to check out the organization’s website and social accounts. These channels will usually give you an indication of how formal the nonprofit is and will often also give you some deeper insights into organization’s culture as a whole.

2. Stick to business casual attire

While a full suit may be too much for most nonprofit jobs, avoid wearing jeans or sneakers unless the hiring manager or HR contact says that it’s okay to do so. A casual interview outfit may be seen as reflecting a casual work attitude to a potential employer, and not in a good way. Instead, opt for a business casual look such as nice pants and a blouse for women or slacks and a button-down shirt for men. And remember to keep things subtle. That includes perfume/cologne, clothing, makeup and even accessories.

Pro Tip: Depending on the position, your interview could include making a quick trip to the program site so be sure to ask about this in advance so that you can properly prepare if need be.

3. If in doubt, ask the hiring manager

Although asking the hiring manager what to wear might seem a bit intimidating, it’s important to remember that it’s always fine to do so. In fact, it’s a question they get asked on a regular basis and one that they’re comfortable answering. If you’re not sure how to do this, you can say something like: “I want to make sure that I’m dressed appropriately for the interview. Do you have any suggestions for suitable attire?”

4. Wear comfortable shoes

If there’s one constant piece of advice when it comes to interview attire, it’s this one: Wear your most appropriate and most comfortable pair of shoes. Good-looking, polished shoes convey attention to detail and this is something that hiring managers almost always notice. So remember not to skimp out when it comes to your footwear.

Interviewing for a role at a nonprofit is a unique experience. Depending on the organization, it could be a very formal or informal process. Regardless of how informal the nonprofit might be, show the interviewer that you respect them by dressing professionally. A clean, attractive appearance shows that you’re truly interested in the position and that you’re going to take it seriously if hired.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 10 Tips for the Perfect Cover Letter and find answers to common interview questions such as Tell Me About a Time You Made a Mistake.

How to Answer: How Do You Handle Pressure?

You’ve started preparing for your interview and you can clearly articulate what motivates you, and the strengths that you will bring to the team. But what do you do if the interviewer wants to get a sense of how you fare when things get tough: “So tell me, how do you handle pressure?” she asks.

This common interview question, which you’ll encounter during more interviews for an internship or entry-level job, is designed to test a few things. Employers want to know that you don’t let the stress of high-pressure moments (which are inevitable in any work environment) get to you and can still perform well. Additionally, your answer to this question allows employers to see how you get your best work done and how stress affects you.

To nail this question, it’s important to understand and explain the situations that can stress you out, illustrate how you manage your reaction to that stress, and then give a real-life example of how you dealt with stress. Your answer should be honest, but definitely with a positive spin.

Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your answer.

Talk about a time when you faced serious pressure.

Think about a time in your life when you felt truly overwhelmed. If you’re an athlete, maybe this was during the run-up to a big game. Another great example is the pressure of finals that students face every semester. Whatever example you choose, outline the situation and explain why it was a high-pressure moment for you.

Pro Tip: Avoid examples where the pressure or stress was due in part to your own shortcomings (i.e. “I didn’t budget enough time ahead to study for the final exam, but buckled down and ended up doing well”). Instead, choose an example that shows how you were able to rise to a challenging occasion.

Give concrete examples of how you deal with the situation.

Once you’ve identified the moment of pressure, outline the steps you took to address it. Be sure to include the way you assessed the situation and the plan you put in place to get through it. Be specific and provide details that will help to highlight the outcome.

Show how these steps helped you meet your goals.

After outlining process you put in place to deal with the moment of pressure, talk about how you were able to resolve the situation and meet your goals.

Say something like: “I find that when I have multiple projects and deadlines at the same time, I’m at my most productive. I’m careful to prioritize tasks and to structure ways for me to manage my time and energy proactively. Last semester, I had three final projects and a presentation due in the same week. I knew that I would need to be diligent with every moment of my day to set myself up for success. I created a weekly calendar that outlined the time needed to complete each project, the time needed to practice the presentation in front of my peers and time for sleeping and going to the gym. Having it all planned out minimized unnecessary stress and allowed me to focus on execution, which was the most exciting part for me.”

By specifically highlighting how you’ve responded well to pressure in the past, you’ll show the interviewer that you’re ready to take on even the toughest parts of the job, getting you one step closer to closing the deal.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 7 Phone Interview Tips  and find answers to common interview questions such as What Excites You About This Industry?.

How to Answer: Tell Me About an Accomplishment That You’re Most Proud Of

One of the keys to a successful job interview is being able to highlight your accomplishments. When the hiring manager asks a question such as, “Tell me about an accomplishment that you’re most proud of,” they’re interested in finding out what you’ve achieved and what matters to you. This is a time when your interviewer wants you to show off, so don’t be shy. Make sure to come prepared with at least one example of your accomplishments, and use the S.T.A.R. method (which stands for situation, task, action, result) to describe your experience.

Here’s what to keep in mind as you prepare your answer.

Outline the situation

Think of something you’re truly proud of accomplishing. Whether this accomplishment happened in school, at a previous job or internship, or even during an extracurricular activity (like on a sports team), start your answer by talking about the events that led up to the moment. For example, if you’re most proud of leading your debate team to win Nationals, explain the situation that led up to that.

Talk about the task

Next, outline the task itself. Focusing on the debate team example, if were you in charge of motivating everyone with an epic speech or staying up all night to practice with a struggling teammate, this is the time to mention that. Explaining your role in the situation creates context for the story and gives the interviewer an idea of how you handle responsibilities and what you’re able to achieve.

Explain the action you took

Once you’ve outlined the task at hand, explain the steps you took to achieve your goal. Use one or two examples to back up your answer and show how these added value to the situation. For example, you can mention the plan that you created to keep everyone motivated and explain how you put it into action.

Highlight the results

Finally, be sure to mention the successful outcome and explain why you consider it to be your greatest accomplishment. The outcome itself doesn’t necessarily have to be a huge win, but it should be something that you’re truly proud of and that reflects well on you.

Say something like: “During my junior year, I led my debate team to Nationals after a successful season. I was in charge of making sure the team was still motivated and on top of their game after a pretty long season. I came up with a gameplan that combined debate practice with team building, dedicating extra time to two team members who didn’t have as much experience. We ended up winning Nationals and had an amazing time in the process.”

By following the S.T.A.R. method, you’ll be able to show off your biggest accomplishment and show the hiring manager that you’d be an asset to the team.

How to Answer: Why Do You Want to Work Here?

One of the most common job interview questions you will encounter is fairly straightforward: “Why do you want to work here?” The question allows the interviewer to learn if you’ve done your homework about the organization, assess your current career needs and decide if you’re a good fit for the company. It also helps them to get a sense of your passion for the role and for your future career.

The question may seem like a trick question, but it’s not. It’s also not one you should answer spontaneously. Instead, you should plan a thoughtful, concise and appropriate answer in advance.

Here’s what you should keep in mind when preparing your answer.

Focus on an aspect of the company that you admire and explain how that resonates with you.

You may be tempted to answer this question frankly, but saying that you “need the money” or “saw that the company was hiring” will not give the interviewer any insight into who you are. Every person your interviewer calls in to discuss the position has bills to pay, too. Instead, focus on why you chose to apply to this particular company. Be sure to mention something specific such as the company’s main product or one of their core values.

Say something like: “I’m graduating this spring, so when I was thinking about my first full-time job, I decided I wanted to work at a company that makes a product I truly believe in. Your company’s user demographic is people ages 18 to 25, and as a person within that age group and an avid user of your product, I think I could represent the brand well as a PR and communications specialist.”

Highlight your skills and explain how they’re relevant to the position.

Next, set yourself apart by highlighting your skills and elaborating on your strengths and experiences. If you have particular experience with the company’s target demographic or the main skill set required for the role, be sure to mention that.

Say something like: “I was a brand ambassador for two years in college, so I know the best ways to increase brand awareness and sales, and to be the voice of a brand.”

Connect your career goals to the brand.

Once you’ve demonstrated your passion for the brand and shown how your experience relates to the role, be sure to mention how your career goals align with those of the company. The key is to show that you’re passionate about working for this particular company — not a competitor or simply any company in the field.

Here’s how to bring it all together:

“I’m graduating this spring, so when I was thinking about my first full-time job, I decided I wanted to work at a company that makes a product I truly believe in. Your company’s demographic is people ages 18 to 25, and as a person within that age group and an avid user of your product, I think I could represent the brand well as a PR and communications specialist. I was a brand ambassador for two years in college, so I know the best ways to increase brand awareness and sales, and to be the voice of a brand. Your company’s dedication to empowering young people struck me in particular, and it seems like a great fit in terms of me being able to provide valuable insights and expertise while working for a brand that believes in what I can bring to the table.”

By showing that you’re knowledgeable about the company and that your values align with theirs, you’ll demonstrate that you’re a good fit for the role and stand a great chance of impressing the interviewer.

 

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Get a Letter of Recommendation and find answers to common interview questions such as Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?

How to Handle Back-to-Back Interviews

Back-to-back interviews can be stressful, but they’re also a good sign that an employer is interested in you as a candidate. What are back-to-back interviews? They’re a series of interviews where you meet with multiple team members one after the other. Back-to-back interviews are different from panel interviews because you’re meeting with team members individually rather than all at once. And although having several interviews in one day can be a little intimidating, it’s also a great way for you to showcase your skills and demonstrate why you’d be a good fit for a particular role.

Here are some tips to keep in mind as you prepare for back-to-back interviews.

1. Bring several copies of your resume.

Being able to communicate your skills and experience effectively during an interview begins with highlighting the key points in your resume. Since you’ll be meeting with several decisionmakers throughout the day, having multiple copies of your resume available will ensure that they’re each able to get a sense of who you are and whether you’d be a good fit for the team. As an added bonus, having multiple copies of your resume will show potential employers that you’re well-prepared and enthusiastic about the interview, characteristics that are likely to impress everyone you meet during the hiring process.

Pro Tip: Offering the interviewer a copy of your resume is a great way to start the interview, especially if they walk into the room empty-handed.

2. Learn the names and backgrounds of everyone you’ll be interviewing with.

Knowing who the decisionmakers are is a must for any interview and especially one where you’ll be interviewing with multiple people on the same day. To get this information, ask the hiring manager or HR contact for the names and titles of all the team members you’ll be meeting. Once you have a list, do some research by checking out the company website to learn about their roles and be sure to also do a quick Google search for each person to learn more about them and what they do at the company.

Pro Tip: Saying each interviewer’s name a few times during the interview is a great way to put the person at ease and make them feel comfortable. Once you’ve established a good connection, ask them questions based on their experience and background. This will emphasize your interest in the role and show your genuine excitement about being part of the team.

3. Ask for a glass of water.

Since back-to-back interviews involve a lot of talking, asking for a glass of water at the beginning of the interview process will ensure that you won’t get a dry throat as you’re talking and that you’ll be able to perform at your best during each interview. And if you need time to come up with an answer, taking a sip of water can also buy you some extra time.

4. Stay relaxed and pay attention to your body language.

It’s normal to be a little nervous during an interview, but you really don’t be. In fact, being relaxed during the process will demonstrate that you’re confident and enthusiastic about the role. To ensure that you come across as confident, keep your voice even and sit up straight. If you really need to relax, you can also silently count to ten or focus on your breathing.

5. Be prepared to answer the same question several times.

Since you’re meeting with multiple team members, know that you might have to answer the same question(s) more than once. This isn’t because you did anything wrong; it’s because different people are trying to get to know you and your qualifications. Some companies also have interviewers ask the same questions to test their candidates for consistency. Be honest and keep your answers more or less the same for each interviewer. You want to communicate a clear and consistent message and work/academic history.

Back-to-back interviews are a great way to make a good impression on multiple team members at once and a sure sign that a company is interested in bringing you on board as an employee. By coming to the interviews confident and prepared, you’ll be sure to put your best foot forward and get one step closer to landing the job.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as 10 Tips for the Perfect Cover Letter and find answers to common interview questions such as How Do You Handle Pressure?

5 Things You Must Do To Prepare for a Video Interview

More and more, recruiters are conducting interviews over video chat. It’s a very efficient and cost-saving way for recruiters to meet candidates, and it’s a convenient way for candidates to attend interviews. To give yourself the best chance of success, you should plan on treating your video interview the same way you would treat an in-person interview. Approach it with the same level of care and preparation, because it holds just as much weight.

Here are 5 tips to ensure that you nail your video interview.

1. Dress Professionally

“Dress for the job that you want to have.” Not only will this help your interviewer picture you in the role that you’re interviewing for, but it will help put you in the right mindset. Just because you’re not meeting your interviewer in the flesh does not mean you should take this as an opportunity to wear your sweats. They can still see you over the camera and you should make sure that you make a great first impression by wearing something appropriate for that position. For example, if you’re interviewing at a startup, a nice t-shirt and jeans is probably okay, and if you’re interviewing at a bank, you should be business casual.

2. Test the wifi and service beforehand 

Your interviewer will likely suggest a service like Skype or Google Hangout to conduct the interview. To ensure that there are no last-minute surprises, download the software and make an account at least a day prior to the interview. That way, if something isn’t working for you, you can politely reach out to your interviewer to let them know ahead of time. Also, make sure that you have a strong internet connection. You definitely don’t want to be cutting in and out during the interview.

Pro tip: Practice with a friend. Ask a friend to hop on the same service to test out the audio and visuals ahead of time so that you can be assured that you’re set up for success.

3. Don’t interrupt.

It can be tricky to read body language over video chat to know when your interviewer is done speaking and it’s your turn. Make sure to avoid talking over them by waiting one or two seconds after they’ve finished before giving your answer.

4. Use your computer, NOT your phone.

Though it may be tempting, your phone is not the correct device to conduct your interview on. You should be sitting at a level desk or a table. If you don’t have a personal computer, try checking one out of your school’s library and getting set up there.

5. Make sure your background isn’t distracting.

It’s fine to conduct your interview in your personal space, as long as it isn’t too personal. A pile of dirty laundry or books on your bed isn’t going to make a good impression. Instead, try to make your background as neat and non-distracting as possible. If you’re having trouble with this, try booking a private study room in your school’s library to take the interview.

With these tips, you should feel confident in your ability to impress the interviewer and nail the interview.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Write a Thank You Note After An Interview and find answers to common interview questions such as What Are Your Strengths?

How to Answer: Tell Me About a Time You Failed

Although no one likes talking about a time they’ve failed, the truth is that everyone has experienced failure at some point in their lives. As Robert F. Kennedy famously said, “Only those who dare to fail greatly can ever achieve greatly.” When employers ask this question during an interview for an internship or entry-level job, they’re interested in learning about your willingness to take risks and your ability to overcome challenges. In order to come up with an answer that shows that you’ve learned from your mistakes, you need to be able to demonstrate that you’ve successfully bounced back from failure and that you’ve learned important lessons along the way.

Pro Tip: Don’t be afraid to be honest. No one is perfect, and even the most successful people have failed more times than they can count. Instead of aiming for perfection by saying that you’ve never made a mistake, focus on how you can turn a negative into a positive.

Here are some things to keep in mind when preparing your answer.

Pick a real failure that you were able to learn from.

Think carefully about some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced during your life. Did they happen because you took a risk or tried something new? Or maybe you failed at something you’re normally very good at but circumstances got in the way. Whether your biggest failure was the Calculus test you didn’t pass in college or the track meet you lost in high school, the key to coming up with a great answer is to pick a situation where something went wrong but that something wasn’t catastrophic. This will make it easier to keep the story short and to focus on what you learned rather than how it felt to fail.

No matter what you choose, make sure you stay away from personal or overly emotional topics that don’t relate to the job at hand and could make the recruiter uncomfortable.

Outline the steps you took to overcome the challenge.

Once you’ve given some context for the situation and how it developed, outline the steps you took to get back on track. For example, if you’re talking about a test you failed, you can mention that you talked to your professor to get advice, then worked hard and went to office hours for extra help to make sure it didn’t happen again.

Pro Tip: Be detailed when outlining your approach. This will show the hiring manager that you’re not only proactive about problem-solving, but that you’re also able to think through the best ways to overcome a challenge.

Show how you were able to bounce back.

Finally, talk about what you learned. This is a great way to show the interviewer that you’re focused on personal and professional growth, and that you’re able to take even the most difficult situations and turn them into something positive. Most of all, you’ll be able to demonstrate that you’re resilient, a quality that employers always look for when screening candidates.

Say something like: “When I took Calculus my freshman year, I knew that I was in over my head. I’ve always been pretty good at math but the class was really challenging and I found myself falling behind. When I got my final grade and realized I had failed the class, I immediately went to talk to my professor and she helped me put together a plan for retaking the class and passing it. Over the course of the next semester, I went to office hours every week and asked a friend who was good at Calculus to help me with my homework. After struggling with that class, I realized that college was going to be much more challenging than high school, so I made sure to carefully look over the syllabus of every class I took and to set up meetings with professors to go through questions and ask for advice. I found that to be a great way of heading off potential problems and I managed to pass Calculus with flying colors the second time.”

Answering this question might seem challenging at first, but it can be a great opportunity to show the interviewer that you’re able to troubleshoot problems and to learn lessons that will serve you well in both your professional and personal lives.

Next, get more career tips for internships and entry-level jobs such as How to Stand Out with Business Cards and find answers to common interview questions such as Would You Work Holidays and/or Weekends?