As someone who had a human resources internship, I had to sit through over 100 interviews. I learned the key components to successfully get the job. Sitting through those interviews, I saw the common themes of what makes a candidate stand out. I also learned all of the common mistakes someone can make during the interview process. I have seen it all.
Here are my best tips for impressing your potential employer.
1. Show up on time
This one may seem obvious, but I have had several people arrive between 5-20 minutes late for their interviews. During our hiring season, if you arrived late, we wouldn't even interview you. To be on time is to be late. Always arrive 5-10 minutes early. You may be interviewed as soon as you get there or they may need you to fill out a form before being interviewed. There is nothing worse than being late.
2. Come with background knowledge of the company
Something that always impresses employers is having a basic understanding of the company you are interviewing for. You don't need to know everything, but to be able to relate your talents with different aspects to the company helps employers envision you working for them. Try not to overdo this part as it can seem slightly strange, but add in a few facts that you know and it shows dedication.
3. Prep yourself on potential questions
I can always tell when someone isn't well prepared for an interview. They generally pause for an awkward amount of time or lose their train of thought in a sentence. There are so many resources that will give you typical interview questions. If you are struggling to answer a question, ask them to repeat it. You will have more time to figure out how you want to answer without having to pause awkwardly.
4. Be honest...but not too honest
The person interviewing you will be curious how you will fit in with the work culture. You can make small talk and even show a bit of your sense of humor. Be sure to be tasteful and to not overshare. When asked about your skills, do not lie about knowing Excel. My boss used to ask very specific questions that only well-seasoned Excel users could answer. If you couldn't answer it, the interview was over in five minutes.
*BONUS TIP
Make sure your social media is clean of anything inappropriate. They do check (it was part of my job) all social media accounts.
5. Fake it 'till you make it
Everyone is nervous for an interview, especially one for a competitive internship. You need to appear confident. You are competing against so many qualified candidates. Do not let that shake your confidence. You were called to be interviewed for a reason. Show them that you are confident in your abilities and you will be hired.
*BONUS TIP
When the interview is over, send a follow-up email or handwritten letter to the person who interviewed you. Human resources deals with a lot of people all day. You want to be memorable and thoughtful of their time. Doing this is a simple yet kind thing to do.
I have had good interviews where I landed the internship. I have also had bad interviews where they lasted about 10 minutes and I ended back at square one.
After having to interview over 100 people, these are some of my best tips to land the internship.
