Interview Tips - By: Estelle K.

After sending your resume to numerous companies, you finally get a call back from one of them telling you that they were impressed by your qualifications and that you’ll be required to come in for an interview.

At that point, you’re probably thinking that you’re only a few steps away from your dream summer/part-time job. However, you should probably know that the interview is one of the most important parts of the hiring process. A couple of months ago, I had my first job interview for a position as a summer camp counsellor and as you can probably imagine, I was really nervous about it. It didn’t help at all that my interviewer asked questions that were well…unexpected and I had to use every inch of my imagination to come up with what I hoped were good answers that made sense. Below are some interview tips that will help you land your dream job…good luck!

1. Do some research about the company and if possible the person interviewing you. With the help of the internet, it should take you less than half an hour.

2. Go into the interview prepared to make several key points of your own selling points that demonstrate that you are deserving of the job.

3. Review your application and other pertinent information before leaving your house. 

4.Anticipate potential interview questions, and jot down notes about how to answer them.

5. Dress appropriately for the occasion. You might want to go with a dress, pantsuit, or dressy skirt/pants and blouse. Cover up any obtrusive tattoos and avoid ostentatious jewellery (especially things like nose or eyebrow rings) that could distract an interviewer’s attention from what you have to say. The time to make an individual fashion statement is not during an interview.

6. Be enthusiastic, smile and have fun! During the interview, try to be enthusiastic and cheerful. A smile puts the interviewer at ease, dissipates the tension inside you and conveys confidence.

7. At the end of the interview, express your gratitude for the opportunity to interview, and communicate how much you enjoyed the discussion.

By: Estelle K.