The moment of truth has arrived. You have just finished your studies and you are finally facing your first job interview.
Excitement and nerves are the two words that best define you at this moment. You want to get this job with all your might. So the first thing you’ve done after receiving the appointment is to go on the Internet looking for some tips to help you get it.
And, from our point of view, you have done well because all tips are few when it comes to something as important as your first job.
So that’s what today’s post is all about: tips to get your first job. Will you accompany us?
7 steps that will help you prepare your first job interview
Let’s start with some tips on how to prepare your first job interview:
1 – The first thing you should do is find out as much information as you can about the company. Find out information about the products or services they offer, their brand values, the requirements for your job and the position held by the person who will interview you. Nothing that you can’t easily find on their website or on the LinkedIn profiles of their employees.
2 – Prepare a personal presentation that links the information you found in the previous point with your skills, abilities and beliefs. Explain why you are interested in the job and what you can contribute if you are selected.
3 – Since this is your first job interview, you may not know it yet, but there are certain questions that are repeated over and over again. For example, what is your main shortcoming, what are your salary expectations or where would you like to see yourself in five years. Tip: think about the answers you are going to give in advance so they don’t catch you by surprise.
4 – Whether it is a face-to-face interview or a video call, it is advisable to practice with friends and family. First of all because you may have very clear ideas in your head, but you must be able to verbalize them correctly and, secondly, because it is a good way to detect your areas for improvement.
5 – There are people who think that, being your first job interview, it is impossible for you to provide references, but that is not exactly so. Your family members, college professors and coaches are not only there to give you advice or tips, they can also validate your skills and strengths.
6 – Think of two or three questions to ask the interviewer. It is quite common that, at the end of the interview, you will be asked if you have any questions. But it is not enough to ask the first question that comes to your mind, our tip is to use this moment to show your interest in the job or the company.
7 – And finally, make sure you know the location where the job interview will take place and the time you need to get there. It is best to arrive ten or fifteen minutes early so as not to be delayed in case something unexpected happens.
5 tips for your first job interview
And once at the your first job interview, keep these tips in mind:
1 – Pay attention to non-verbal communication:
- While waiting to enter the interview, stand or sit on the edge of the chair so you can stand up nimbly.
- Shake hands decisively to convey self-confidence.
- Maintain a good posture and keep your hands in a visible place; people who do not show their hands may give the impression that they are hiding something. Tip: hold a pen in your hands or take notes during the interview.
- Look the interviewer in the eye so he or she can see that you are interested in the job.
2 – Show yourself as you are. If you don’t understand something, ask openly. Don’t try to look like something you are not because, sooner or later, everything will come out.
3 – Dress in a way that matches the job you are applying for. It is a job interview and, even if it is your first job, you have to project a professional image.
4 – Try to incorporate some of the information you have learned about the company during the conversation. The interviewer will see that, in addition to your interest in the job, you have initiative and you will be at the top of the list.
5 – Once the interview is over, send an email thanking them for their time. In addition to showing that you are a grateful person, it will serve as a reminder of your candidacy.
We hope our tips will help you to face your first job interview with more confidence and self-assurance. After all, as a university, our goal is to prepare students for the professional world.
Would you like to know us better?
We are CIS University – Madrid and we look forward to welcoming you.
