How to Prepare for Last-Minute Interviews
This blog post was written by Peer Career Ambassador, Alex Martiros ‘21.
A call or email comes through your inbox from an employer for a job you’ve been waiting to hear back from for weeks. The message is that you’ve been given the opportunity to interview with this company within the next week. If you wait longer than that your window to interview will close.
For most people, this scenario would be something to panic about. Researching the company and preparing questions alone could take a week and a half, never mind figuring out how to compose yourself or what to wear. In order to feel prepared as you walk into a last-minute interview, here are some go-to tips to ensure success.
One of the best ways to prepare for a last minute interview is to edit and review your resume and/or cover letter. Editing your resume/cover letter and adding missing information should be a top priority to complete. On top of that, check over your LinkedIn profile and see if the information mirrors the information on your resume. Almost all employers will look at what experiences and skill sets you bring with you on your resume, and they usually look at your LinkedIn as well.
Another useful preparation method to quickly but successfully prepare for an interview is to complete the following three steps:
- Read up→ Research the company beforehand. Learn more about the job description. Research some of the heads of offices within so you can be prepared to talk to an interviewer about why you like the company and what aspects/people within the company specifically caught your eye.
- Make yourself a match→ You’re going to be asked to talk about yourself and the interviewer will want to know why you’re the best fit. Use Glassdoor and similar websites to find potential questions a company can ask. We encourage you to reflect on what the company looks for in candidates and align those required skills to your previous experiences. You should have a solid grasp on your answers and how exactly they work well within the company’s values and goals.
- Find something unique→ Find a trait that could be a transferable skill or qualification other candidates are less likely to have. One of the biggest factors that play into failure to land a job is the employer not being able to remember why you were special to him or her. Talk about what makes you a standout candidate and leave a lasting mark on your potential future employer.
A few more tips for you to take into consideration before your interview include scheduling an appointment with a resource you have available, doing a mock-interview, and brushing up on professional dress wear. As long as you feel confident walking into your interview, you should be off to a great start.