With back to school in full swing, here are some tips for your interviews! Good luck, you got this!

THE ABCs OF INTERVIEWING

A: be ARTICULATE and avoid filler words. Try to eliminate “like”, “um,” “ah,” and “you know”.

B: be CONFIDENT! It shows you know you can do the job, and you know you will be an asset to the client.

C: CLEAN up your room if you are doing a virtual meeting. A messy background can distract the interviewer.

D: DRESS professionally! It’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed.

E: be EARLY. Always arrive early (or log on early) in case of the unexpected.

F: be FLEXIBLE If the interview time is changed, try to be as accommodating as possible. This will always reflect positively on you.

G: GREET the interviewer with a smile (and a handshake if in person!)

H: be HAPPY and positive! Avoid negative comments about previous employers.

I: first IMPRESSION. You never get a second chance to make a first impression!

J: JOB description. Review the job post so you can share short, relevant stories that demonstrate your skill set.

K: KEEP your answers on topic. Don’t over-answer, less is more.

L: LISTEN to the interviewer. It’s easy to get distracted, try to be an active listener and stay focused.

M: MAINTAIN eye contact. You want to appear engaged throughout the interview.

N: take NOTES during and after the interview so you can keep records of important information.

O: be ORGANIZED. Have necessary paperwork and records accessible so you don’t get flustered.

P: PREPARE! Practicing mock interview questions is so important, especially for your confidence.

Q: ask QUESTIONS: It’s always good to ask questions to appear interested in the role.

R: REVIEW your RESUME so you are not reading it during the interview.

S: SET your SOCIAL Media to private. Potential employers will most likely do a social media check at some point during the interview process.

T: THANK You notes! Send “Thank You” notes after each meeting. This is underrated and always appreciated.

U: UNWIND after the interview. Job searching is stressful, take time to relax after each meeting so you don’t get burnt out. 

V: VISUALIZE a successful interview. Positive thoughts are incredibly powerful!

W: WAIT before speaking, especially over virtual meetings in case there is a connection delay. You don’t want to interrupt, which can be challenging when you are excited.

X: give EXAMPLES of your experience when the interviewer describes the job to showcase your qualifications.

Y: YOU! You are the most important part of this process. Prioritize your happiness and always go with your gut!

Z: ZOOM (virtual meetings) can be tricky- make sure to do a test run well before your interview.