A milestone of adulthood is heading out to your first job interview. It can be exciting as you take a step towards financial independence, but it can also be a little nerve wracking if you feel unprepared. It is normal to feel nervous for your first job interview, but with some guidance, you can feel confident and ready to present yourself to your next boss.
Tips For Your First Interview:
- Create a Resume: The first step to finding a job is creating a resume. If this is your first job, you won’t have other work experience, but you can include school activities and extracurriculars that have given you skills that would be helpful in the workplace. For example, if you were a part of the Student Council, this could show employers that you have experience working in groups and completing projects.
- Dress the Part: You’ve heard the expression: “Dress for the job you want”, well this is the case for job interviews as well. Employers want to see you looking put together and appropriately dressed. This shows that you are professional in your appearance, and also that you respect them by taking the time to dress appropriately for the job.
- Do Your Homework: Do some research about both the job that you are applying for and the company you are applying to. Make sure that you have read the job description thoroughly so you understand the qualifications for the position. You should also spend some time on the company’s website to learn about their mission statement and company values.
- Ask Questions: You may assume that in an interview you’ll be the one answering all the questions, but an interview is also a chance for you to get to know that business as well. Interviewers want to know that you have done your research and that you are invested enough in the interview process to have some questions of your own. A simple question like: “What does a day in the life look like in this position?” shows the interviewer that you want to understand more about the position and how you would fit into the company as a whole.
- Know Your Strengths: Being modest is a great attribute, but in an interview, you need to be confident enough to communicate what you bring to the table. Understanding your own strengths helps employers see how you can best benefit their business.
- Use the STAR Method: Interviewers will usually want to know how you’ve handled situations in the past that could relate to the position. Using the STAR method (Situation: What is the context of your story?, Task: What was your role in this situation?, Action: What did you do?, Result: What did your actions lead to?) helps you to clearly communicate your experience.
- Be Authentic: Employers want to hire the real you. It’s understandable that you may feel like you should try to be exactly what they want. But the truth is, if you’re not authentic, you won’t know if the company is the right fit for you. It may seem tempting to embellish on your skills and accomplishments, but interviewers find honesty refreshing and respectable. Focus on your key strengths and why your background makes you uniquely qualified for the position.
- Practice: Once you’ve done your research, grab a family member or friend to help you practice interviewing. You can find lists of commonly asked interview questions online. Choose a few to practice answering confidently and concisely.
- Prepare a List of References: Employers will want a list of references, so be sure to have your list ready. References should be people who know you well, but who are not family members, like a coach or maybe a family friend. It is important to contact them ahead of time to see if they feel comfortable being listed as a reference. Tell them a little bit about the job you’re applying for and why you’re interested in the position. This can help them when an employer contacts them for information.
- Follow Up: After your interview, send an email to your interviewer to thank them for their time. This extra step can go a long way in showing your interviewer that you valued the experience.
Foundations Asheville for Young Adults
At Foundations, we serve young adults between the ages of 18-24. Our goal is to support them launching successfully into their adult life. Many of the students who come to Foundations are struggling with anxiety, depression, executive functioning, and experiencing challenging family dynamics. We support our students by helping them work toward success in college, success in the workforce, success in relationships, and authentic social engagement. We also help them to manage finances responsibly, learn functional living skills, and grow into independent young adults. For more information please call (877) 318-7273.
The Foundations Team” profile “We work tirelessly to empower individuals with the essential skills and knowledge to thrive in their personal and professional lives. To contact our admissions team, call (877) 318-7273
