Preparing for an Interview: Tips from the Professionals at The BrandLab

Interviewing can often be a nerve-wracking process – but it doesn’t have to be! Preparing for this event can help you make a positive impression with a company in a short amount of time.

Do you want to be prepared and polished for your next interview? Take a few notes from the students of the BrandLab program. They recently acquired some of the following tips through one of BrandLab’s DevelopU Workshops and now we’re sharing them with you!

Developing an Interview Strategy

Understand How You’re Being Judged

Ever heard of KSA’s? The acronym stands for:

• Knowledge: how your knowledge relates to the role
• Skills: relevant, strong skills you possess for the position
• Abilities (or, in this case, Attitude): ex. Your positivity and how it impacts your teammates

These KSA’s are the foundation of your interview so you’ll want to make sure you practice addressing each of these important categories.

Do Your Research

You already know how important it is to prepare for interviews. But, you’ll need to go beyond knowing some simple facts about the company and dive a bit deeper. First, find examples of the firm’s work that stand out to you. Don’t be afraid to scour their social media accounts and websites for information – this is the time to investigate!

Next, take some time to figure out what it’s like to work at the company (hint: culture!). Look for things such as awards, photos, social media interactions, reviews, etc. Not only will you get an idea of whether or not you’re a good fit for the organization, but you’ll also be able to prove it by providing examples during your interview.

Finally, make sure you know and understand the details of the job description. By using the information for the position, you’ll be able to illustrate your skills and how you’d fulfill the required job duties (think STAR method). The job description can also be a great source for additional questions to ask your potential employer about the role you’d play within their company.

Explain the “Why’s”

When you’re being interviewed, be prepared to answer the questions that can’t be written on your resume. Often, these questions help to describe the ”why’s”:

• Why you applied
• Why they should hire you
• Why you’ll succeed in the role

Interview Dos and Don’ts

DON’T Talk Too Much

Arm yourself with research and make sure you practice important focus points before a live interview. You’ll be prepared to articulate your answers – without rambling!

DO Take A Few Notes

If you hear something interesting, don’t be shy about writing it down. It can prompt questions later in the interview, or, simply show that you’re interested and engaged.

DON’T Rush Through Your Answers

You don’t have to rush to answer a question. Sometimes, it’s a good sign if you want to take a few seconds to think about what you want to say. Take some time so you can avoid rambling and stumbling through an answer.

DO Be Memorable

How you’ll be remembered will not only depend on what you’ve said, but also include things like your overall presentation, attitude, and other details (even small ones!). So, think about your pre-interview etiquette, plan for the post-interview, and focus on how you’d like to be perceived with your confidence-level, smile, body language, and energy.

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