What are the best ways to prepare for job interviews as a recent graduate?
Landing your first job after graduation can be daunting, but with the right preparation, you can ace your interviews and set the stage for a successful career. Job interviews are a critical step in your job search where you get to make a lasting impression on potential employers. They assess not only your qualifications but also your fit within the company's culture. As a recent graduate, you might feel anxious about this process, but there are effective strategies to prepare and boost your confidence.
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Rudresh AgaskarJoint Director - Placements at SVKM's Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS)
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Dhara Majmundar, CHRP ⓋSr IT Recruiter | College Professor | Career Coach | Lean Six Sigma | Canada's Top Corporate Recruiter - 2021/2022 |…
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Lili FoggleFounder, Impressive Interviewing ★ Interview Preparation ★ Employment Interviews ★ Graduate Admissions ★ Residency…
Before stepping into the interview room, make sure you have a deep understanding of the company you're interviewing with. This means going beyond a cursory glance at their website. Dive into their mission statement, recent news articles, and any relevant industry trends. Understanding the company's goals, products, and services will allow you to tailor your responses to show how your skills and interests align with their needs. This level of preparation demonstrates genuine interest and shows that you're proactive—a trait highly valued by employers.
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One of the biggest mistakes recent graduates make is to spread their net too wide without knowing the territory. It is okay to aim for three or four different targeted roles provided you are aware of where you are applying and why. Most of the times the applicants apply fire fighting rule thinking no one is looking at their resume or no one is going to respond. The reality is they are being reviewed and when reached out for screening, the applicant has no idea why they applied. To mitigate the situation, research about the job, company and industry before applying. This will keep ahead in the game.
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Multiple surveys say that not knowing enough about the company in an interview is a dealbreaker. According to one survey of 2,600 hiring managers, almost 50% of interview failures are due to a candidate not knowing enough about the company. Be sure to set aside enough time to gather and synthesize as much information as you can find about the company. The more detailed and obscure your information, the more you will impress your interviewer with your preparation and your knowledge. Even more importantly, the depth of your target research demonstrates your commitment to joining their team. Look where others don't - search for articles and podcast interviews by company leadership.
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Try finding answers tp these 6 questions 1. What is the company about? What do they want and what do they value? 2. What is the history and major developments they went through? 3. What are their offering- products or services? How are they performing? 4. What is the public perception about the company? 5. What does the employees say about the company, culture, salary and growth? 6. Current leadership- what do they value?
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Here are concise tips for recent graduates preparing for job interviews: Research the company. Know your resume well. Practice common interview questions. Highlight transferable skills. Prepare questions for the interviewer. Practice mock interviews. Dress professionally. Arrive early and be prepared. Follow up after the interview. Following these steps will help you prepare effectively and increase your chances of interview success as a recent graduate.
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Before this question I have a universal unsolved mystery question and every RECRUITERS , CEO , Founder , MANGERS , president, employees etc all faced this issue. When 99.9% Employers asking employee with minimum experience. Then how recently graduated students etc will grab the job even they have skills and knowledge???? How experience is gained? when we embark our professional with one employer only right? But when you search for job with ratio of 0.5:99.5 % how we can get a job ?
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Estude sobre a empresa + Encaixe suas experiências de vida com as perguntas. Mostre como você e sua autenticidade se encaixam com a empresa que deseja trabalhar, encaixe os valores e propósito da companhia com os seus e prove com ações do passado o porquê tudo isso é verdade, traga curiosidade, ambição e humildade para a entrevista.
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Research: Deep dive into the company culture, mission, and the specific role. Show genuine interest and how your skills align. Practice: Conduct mock interviews with friends or career advisors. Craft responses to common questions (strengths, weaknesses, salary expectations). Know Your Worth: Research average salaries for your degree and experience level. Be confident when discussing compensation. Highlight Achievements: Showcase accomplishments using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result). Prepare Questions: Have thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company culture. Professional Polish: Dress appropriately, arrive early, and maintain eye contact. Follow Up: A timely thank-you note shows your continued interest.
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Here are some steps to ensure that you'll be viewed as a viable candidate: 1) Read over the company's website & other internet articles to obtain a strong understand of the firm's mission, executive team, and values; 2) Develop 2-minute stories of things you've accomplished on the job to demonstrate that you have the ability to add immediate value; 3) Speak with individuals who either are OR have done this kind of work to know what to discuss. These people are 'subject matter experts' & can tell you more than any website or job description; 4) Practice interviewing with people who can give you objective & helpful feedback; 5) Be able to answer 'Why this company? Why this industry? & Why this job?'; 6) Be likable & ask thoughtful questions.
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One of the most insane things I heard from a recent graduate is their school told them not to spend time researching. What?? This AI-generated article has it right - and right up front. Go beyond the website. Listen to any financial report videos or read what the company puts out. Do a Google search for any media features. Examine the competition. Write a hypothesis about why the role is open and how you can help bring your skills to the company. Not sure of your skills? See below ...
Your resume got you the interview, so you must be able to discuss everything on it in detail. Be prepared to explain your educational background, any projects or internships, and the skills you've developed. It's not enough to just list your experiences; you should be ready to tell compelling stories that highlight your problem-solving abilities, teamwork, and adaptability. Employers are looking for candidates who can reflect on their experiences and articulate how they've grown from them.
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I have seen students write fancy things on their CV and then not being able to talk about it... Maybe because they did not think that some point would be important and could become their Achilles heel... Not being able to talk about something mentioned on your CV is a red Flag and a big one at that. For example - You may have done a course on Edward De Bono's Six Thinking Hats and have mentioned it on your CV and you may also have the certificate...Impressed by that the interviewer may ask you to wear A Green Hat and answer the next thing...and you may have to put in your mouth because you don't know / remember about it...
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You must be able to give a quick highlights that explain some of your experiences and accumulated skills. Whether you have interned or worked at the local coffee shop, you have been skill-building all through school. Now it is time to prepare to explain how you apply your skills. Remember - skills are functional and behavioral. What hard skills have you developed? When you apply these skills "how" do you apply them ... these are your behavioral skills.
Practicing your interview responses is key. While it's impossible to predict every question, certain topics are almost guaranteed to come up, such as your strengths, weaknesses, and situational responses. Use resources like mock interviews or role-play with friends to refine your answers. Practicing out loud helps you become more articulate and reduces the likelihood of being caught off guard. Remember to also prepare some thoughtful questions for the interviewer, as this can be just as telling as your answers.
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It's very important to research the common interview questions related to your field and to prepare answers for them one by one, it's even better to record mock interviews using camera / recorder so that you will be able to know how you could make improvements. For behavioral questions - use the STAR method to structure your answers, think of some real-world scenarios that you have experienced and apply them to your answers.
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When you prepare, avoid writing out your answers as complete sentences. Interviewing is a verbal communication skill, not a writing skill. Your interviewers want to see how you think on your feet, how you react in the moment. If they wanted your scripted answers, they would ask for them in writing and not waste valuable working hours doing in-person interviews. And here is the major reason to avoid memorizing answers: a candidate who is reciting memorized stuff is simply not as likable as the candidate who is giving honest, thoughtful and spontaneous answers. So use bulletpoints to keep your message on track and practice speaking naturally as you give your answer.
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Search for a list of typical interview questions on the internet and start writing out all your answers. It doesn't need to be perfect but thinking through all of the questions at least once will help you to be ready with the answers during the interview. You can practice in front of the mirror, or if you can use Microsoft PowerPoint presenter mode, as it will analyse your tone, speed, stop words etc. and give you handy tips!
First impressions are crucial, and your attire plays a significant role in how you're perceived. Research the company's dress code and opt for professional attire that fits well within their culture. If in doubt, err on the side of conservatism. It's better to be slightly overdressed than too casual. Dressing appropriately shows respect for the company and the interviewer, and it also boosts your confidence.
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DO be clean and well-groomed. Everything you wear should be free of stains, holes, wrinkles and signs of excessive wear. You want them to see that you made an effort to look nice. It’s a sign of respect. DO make sure your hair is not hanging in or covering your face. Your interviewer will definitely be looking at your face. You don’t want to seem like you are hiding. Absolutely no hats. DON’T wear perfume or cologne. Some people are very sensitive to certain smells and have an immediate negative reaction to smells they don’t like. There is NO scenario where I recommend wearing a scent. Even if you are applying for a position in the perfume industry. You can talk about your favorite scents. Just don’t wear one
Interview etiquette extends beyond just dressing appropriately and arriving on time. Body language, such as a firm handshake, eye contact, and good posture, communicates confidence and respect. Listen actively and show enthusiasm in your responses without interrupting the interviewer. After the interview, send a thank-you email or note expressing gratitude for the opportunity and reiterating your interest in the position.
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Pay attention to body language. Multiple surveys of hiring managers and HR executives have been done to assess which nonverbal cues make a poor impression and impact interviewers negatively. Most studies agree that these four behaviors harm a candidate's chances of success: 1. Lack of eye contact 2. Not smiling 3. Crossing arms over chest 4. Fidgeting - playing with something on the table, fidgeting in seat, playing with your hair or touching your face. Candidates should practice delivering their messages of value and fit without the nonverbal behaviors that have been shown to distract an interviewer and lead to poor interview performance.
The post-interview phase is just as important as the preparation. Follow up with a personalized thank-you message within 24 hours of your interview. This not only shows good manners but also reinforces your interest in the job and keeps you fresh in the interviewer's mind. If you haven't heard back within the timeframe they provided, it's appropriate to send a polite inquiry about the status of your application.
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