Interview Skills | Preparing for a job interview | Effective Interviewing Skills | Interview Skills Tips | Job Interview Tips | Interview Questions

Interview Skills

What is interview for?
An interview is a chance to show that you're more than just test scores and grades.  

What is the Key Strategy?
Practice makes you perfect

Things to Avoid

1. Go late
2. Memorize speeches—sound natural and conversational
3. Chew gum
4. Wear lots of cologne or perfume
5. Swear or use too much jargon
6. Be arrogant—there's a fine line between being confident and boasting
7. Lie—it will come back to bother you
8. Be rude to the receptionist or any other staff you meet
9. Bring a parent into the interview
10. Refuse an interview—this is usually noted avoid filler words like “Um”, “Ah”, & “You know”
11. Indecisive phrases like: “I think,” “I guess,” “probably,” or “pretty good”
12. Think before speaking
13. Long verbose answers--limit your response to 1-2 minutes

Things to Remember:

Be Your Own Best Advocate; the staff learns about you from your transcript, test scores, and application. The interview is your chance to be your own advocate by talking positively about your interests and enthusiasms, to show your personality, and to boost your chance of admission.

1. If you do not hear or understand a question, ask them to repeat or clarify it for you
2. Remain calm, relaxed, and be yourself
3. Try to focus on the message you are trying to convey--NOT how well you are doing!
4. Ask good questions
5. Thank the interviewer

Highlight your strong areas such as:

1. Sports: 
If you're an athlete bring your certificates, statistics or other information that will help giving a clear picture of your talents.

2. Extracurricular Activities: 
If you are good in debates, poetry or story writing, singing, painting or in any other activity present it in interview.

3. Participation:
If you plan to participate in an activity, such as the newspaper editor, debate, speech or performing art speak to students who take part. It's a good way to find out what the people are like and what your chances are of getting involved.

4. Discuss Special Circumstances: 
The interview is a good time to explain a drawback in your transcript or discuss any personal circumstances that affected your studies. You have a learning disability and need to make extra effort with every assignment. You do not have sufficient resources in spite of that you studied so well. Show them that you are a potential candidate.

5. Its Okay to Ask Questions: 
Asking questions shows that you're interested in the college and what the admissions officer has to say. You should always have a question in mind about the college or your major field to show that you have a deep interest in attending the school. You can also ask a question, such as, "Do you have any advice for me?"

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