How to make a first impression that gets you that second interview
It’s a good idea to start looking for internships as you come to the end of your Sophomore year. By then you will have some decent samples to show potential employers, so you should get some of those up on a website. Next steps are making a nicely designed resume, setting up a LinkedIn account, and getting your social media accounts under control.
TLDR; Dress nice, bring copies of your resume, show your work like reviews, send a follow-up email when you get home.
Before the Interview
Keep it clean
You want to feel your best when you get to this interview. So do the things that make you feel put together—wash your face, do a facemask, shave, clean up your nails—whatever it is, treat yo’self. You’ll feel fresh and confident when you go in, and you won’t have to worry about the chipped nail polish on your nails.
Dress for the job you want
A good way to gauge how to pick your outfit for the interview is to look at how people working at the company are dressed. You can check out their website, or peruse the employee list on their LinkedIn page. When in doubt, go for slacks, a button down, and clean shoes. A good rule of thumb is to not wear something you haven’t seen your boss wear.
Come prepared
Nothing looks better than a crisp resume in a nice folder. In case you interview with a few people from the company, print some extra copies to share. When you interview, you’ll also likely want to show some examples of your work. So treat this like reviews—clean your laptop, and have some work ready to show. There are few silences as long and awkward as the ones spent searching for files.
Do your homework
To get yourself in the right mindset, look over their website and figure out who they are, what they do, what kind of industry they’re in, etc. When you go in already understanding the company, its easier to come up with questions and relevant conversation.
During the Interview
Body language
There is no right way to be, but there are some common actions that can give off the wrong impression. Try to keep your hands and hair out of your face, look people in the eye when you talk to them, and sit up straight. Practicing your professional ~look~ in the mirror beforehand can be helpful, but don’t worry too much about it.
Introductions
Introduce yourself with a smile and a handshake. Its always nice to be respectful. To help yourself remember the people you meet, repeat their names when you shake their hands. Nothing weird, just something like, “hi, Janina, my name’s Alyssa, nice to meet you!”
Sharing work
Just like in reviews, you want to sell your work from start to finish. Tell them about the project, the problem, your process, and the final solution. Avoid talking down your own work, they aren’t there to critique you, they brought you in because they liked your work!
Finishing up + after the interview
Always be grateful and courteous. They didn’t have to invite you in, and they took the time out of their day to meet you. Let them know how they can contact you for further information, and be sure to thank them for their time and consideration. Once you get home, send them an email to thank them again, and to send anything they may have asked for during the interview.