Page 76 - Scholarship Guide Feb 2019

74 ARTICLE
5 Job Interview

Tips All Fresh

Graduates There’s a high likelihood that your job interview will
GET READY STRONG ANSWERS TO
TYPICAL QUESTIONS, AND REHEARSE

begin with, “Tell me about yourself,” or “Why do you
Should Know want to work for us?” You could also search some
websites such as Glassdoor for examples of interview
questions from past interviewees at the same or simi-
lar organisation. Take some time to prepare answers
that highlight your strong personal qualities and skills.
They should also be of a good length, not too short
or too long. Once you have your responses, rehearse,
rehearse, rehearse.

IDENTIFY YOUR ASSETS THAT
MAKE UP FOR INEXPERIENCE
During your job search, you’ll realise that almost all
the “entry-level” jobs ask for a few years of relevant
working experience. If you still manage to land an in-
terview at that job, don’t try to hide or apologise for
your lack of experience. Know your potential and a
good fit for the job. A common counteracting strategy
is to highlight that you’re an eager and fast learner.
But more than that, you can also share your rich ex-
periences outside of work, such as when you studied
abroad or in your volunteering. How are the skills and
experiences you gained relevant and transferable to
the job you want? Dig into your personal passion that
makes you interested in the job. If you’re applying for
a position at a travel agency, for example, let the in-
terviewer know about your love for travelling and the
favourite places you’ve been to.

MAKE A LIST OF QUESTIONS
FOR THE INTERVIEWER
By Wu Xueting You did it, you finally graduated from university! Now At the end of the interview, you’d most likely be asked
comes the next big challenge: finding a job. As a fresh this final question: “Do you have any questions for
graduate, the job interview is often a source of anxi- me?” Having a few questions to ask shows the inter-
ety, especially when you have little or no experience viewer your sincere interest in the job and organisa-
in it. Entry-level jobs are a much bigger and more level tion, as well as letting you sneak in a bit of impres-
playing field compared to an internship, too, because sive knowledge you’ve gathered about them in your
you’re competing with a huge number of recent grad- research. If there are specific projects or features of
uates. How can you stand out in the interview? By pre- the organisation you’re curious about, here’s the time
paring and practising. Follow these tips to get ready to learn more. If not, a good general question to ask
and make sure you ace that first job interview. is, “Can you tell me about the work culture here?” Re-
member, a job interview is also the chance for you to
RESEARCH THE COMPANY interview the organisation and evaluate if it’s a place
You probably know quite a bit about the company be- you really see yourself working at.
fore you applied for a job there. Once you’ve secured
an interview, it’s time to really do your homework and SHOW YOUR INTEREST IN
find out more about the job, the organisation, their YOUR BODY LANGUAGE
values and mission, what they have accomplished, Sit up straight and smile! Your body language often
and the industry. Having a better understanding of forms the first impression for your interviewer, so
the organisation can help you impress the interviewer be sure to let your enthusiasm shine through. Start
and prevent you from saying something not quite ac- off with a firm handshake, maintain an appropriate
curate. Reading through their website is the first step, amount of eye contact (with all the interviewers, if
but go beyond that: Google the organisation’s press there are more than one), and keep your tone light and
releases and what has been written about them, and cheerful. And don’t forget to smile genuinely! As with
take a look at their social media. If you happen to have the verbal language you choose when sharing your
a connection to someone who works there or has strong qualities, the goal with your body language
worked there before, even better! Ask them about the is to exude confidence and professionalism, but
organisation and get some insider’s knowledge. with humility.