5 Interview Tips For Fresh Graduates

5 Interview Tips For Fresh Graduates

By Angela Wahome,
“I’ve been trying to get a job but i think the people that I have interviewed me have a problem. I am top of my class I have always done well. I feel that they are threatened by me.” These are the strongest words that have challenged me as I began to explain the few factors that a fresh job seeker needs to overcome. In this particular case a college grad, with no prior work experience.
Remember the Golden Rule, “Treat others as you would like to be treated?” It’s a great rule for how to interact with others but when it comes to your job search, you want to follow another rule which is “Treat the employer the way the employer wants to be treated.”
Therefore you must have a good understanding of what the employer wants. Many job seekers assume that they know how to present themselves well. This should not be the case, instead find out what the needs of the employer are.
Here are four ways you can gather about what the employer is searching for:
1. News about the company
Understand the current issues the organization is facing by reading and keeping up on news about the organization and its industry. An easy way to do this is to Google information about the company and industry. Another way is to search related blog sites to see what is being discussed.
2. Company Websites and Social Media Sites
Visit the company website and social media sites affiliated with the organization such as LinkedIn, Twitter, and FaceBook. Develop a clear understanding what the key products and services the company offers along with the key decision makers.
3. Networking
Understanding the needs, goals, and challenges of an organization is very important to your research. One way this may be done is to conduct some discussions with people that are in the same line of work or industry. If you are fortunate enough to know some one well then you may have the added benefit of getting inside tips about the organization. Remember that you goal is to gather informational so that you are able to prepare yourself to make a good presentation.
4. Practice
In addition to carrying out these activities it is important that you prepare for the entire interview process. There are several guidelines that you may follow that can assist you to be ready for the entire process. Remember the purpose of the interview is to help you get ahead. One of the greatest challenges that you will face is that you do not have as much work experience as the people in the job market. This can be over come by presenting yourself with a bit of a twist. Focus on your potential. Show your achievements on your CV and be able to talk about them. Having this mind set can let the employer see that you are able to carry out tasks and are willing to work. Be ready to answer questions so that you can show that you will be willing and able to work hard and learn on the job.
5. After the interview
It is important to treat each interview as a learning experience. When you walk away from an interview think about the things you felt you did not do so well in. See how you may have done things differently so that you do not end up in the same situation over and over. When you call for feed back remember this is still part of the interview process. If you did not get the position, you may ask why. Some employers will be able to share that perhaps the way you handle a question could have been better.
What every the case, think of all the hard work and the time you put into your education. A degree is not the end of all the struggle and hard work but it opens doors that give you a chance to do well what you like to be able to make a living.