Communication and interview skills are a common area of focus when it comes to your college career. Most internships, jobs, and leadership positions require an interview. Many times, students do not understand that an interview can make or break an application process. By the time that you have a scheduled interview, the interviewer has already read your resume which means that they know your GPA, involvements, work experience, etc. What they are now looking for is how you present yourself and what sort of interpersonal and communication skills you have. Many bosses have said that if an applicant can demonstrate strong communication skills and a passion for their field of interest during an interview, a lower GPA does not play a huge role in their decision making. This is a common misconception among college students as many assume that employers are focused strongly on GPA. Your grades are very important, but how you present and sell yourself in an interview can get you the internship and the job of your dreams!
How to Have a Successful Interview Mindset
​When it comes down to going out into the world and finding internships and careers, employers are not just looking for people who are book smart with a 4.0. Interviews are a time to showcase your skills that do not get conveyed on your resume. Even if you have all the requirements and accomplishments on paper, if you don't have the personality and the communication skills that they are looking for, you won’t get the position. They can see your accomplishments on a resume, but they can’t tell what kind of person you are and how you interact with others. Even for positions where you mostly work alone, at some point you will have to collaborate with others. Employers need to know that you have had experience with leadership, solving problems, and successfully communicating and collaborating with others.
Tips to Ace Any Interview
Here are some beneficial tips to help you ace an interview:
Taking on any leadership position in a club or program at OSU will help you better understand how to be a part of a team. When you are put in charge of making decisions that affect other students, you will learn a lot about yourself and how to successfully communicate and work with others. To explore all of the different opportunities within Ohio State’s student organizations, click here.
Going to career/internship fairs and meeting with your professors can also help better your communication skills because it puts you in situations dealing with employers and professionals.
Make sure to dress appropriately for the interview. This is not a fashion contest; however, it is very important that you are dressed professionally to make a good impression.
Make sure that you research about the company and that you prepare yourself for different questions that may be asked, so that you are not unprepared for any topic that may come up. Some great questions to look over can be found here.
If you feel that you need extra help, you can apply to the program called QUIC right here at the Fisher College of Business that focuses on interview preparation. This program allows you to have the opportunity to dress up and go through the motions as if you were at an actual interview and it is a great tool to use if you are nervous or unsure of exactly what to say and how to act during an interview. For information about QUIC, click here.
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Overall, it is important to understand that having good interview and communication skills will take you a long way. These skills are just as important as your grades and involvement. When going into an interview, be confident and be yourself. You want the employer to see who you genuinely are, what you stand for, and what kind of impact you would have on their company. Don't play the part of someone else, show them the real you. If you really want to make an impact on employers, never underestimate the power of an interview.
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