Interviews are an inevitable part of life, and being in Commerce, they’ll be coming at you left, right and center. That sounds intimidating, but with our tips, we’ll bring you up to speed on all the dos and don’ts of interviewing ensuring you present yourself in the best way possible. Whether it’s landing a summer internship or getting that frosh rep position, it all comes down to one thing, and that’s the ability to sell yourself. Given only a matter of minutes, you have to be able to differentiate yourself. With frosh rep hiring right around the corner nerves may be high, but there’s no need to worry because QSA is here to give you our best tips to ensure you crush those interviews:
1. Know Your Brand
You need to know what you bring to the table, and leverage those strengths in order to build your brand, which is what you are ultimately selling. Everything you do and say shapes your brand and how it is perceived by others. Therefore, your actions must align with how you want to portray yourself.
2. Confidence
Confidence is displayed across multiple areas. It’s projected through what you say, how you say it, your body language, your posture, your movements and so on. You need to carry yourself with confidence in order for interviewers to have confidence that you are the best candidate for the position. Maintain eye contact, have good posture and remember: be confident not cocky!
3. Tailor Your Pitch
Your pitch needs to be tailored to the person you’re delivering it to. Each position requires a different skill set, so you need to adjust the way you sell your personal brand to align with what is being sought. This could mean altering what you include in your pitch, or adjusting the way in which you speak about your experiences to highlight the specific skills that are desired.
4. Dress the Part
First impressions are everything, therefore in a business setting wearing business attire is a must. It builds professionalism and shows that you are respectful of the interviewer’s time and are genuinely interested in the position. Dress to impress!
5. Do Your Research
Research the company/club and position that you are applying for to develop a solid understanding of what they do and why exactly you are a fit. Leveraging this knowledge in the interview will show genuine interest, and help you develop quality questions to ask.
6. Bribery
The QSA Co-Chairs love waffle fries from Location 21. If you want to land a frosh rep position I highly recommend bringing them a plate or two!