Help, I Need a Job!: Interviewing Inspiration

My biggest advice to anyone beginning the interviewing process is to interview with companies you are passionate about. If you are not passionate about the company, find a different company. After you’ve found an organization that aligns with your passion, leverage your genuine interest in the practices of the company to research everything you can about them. Read their press releases, understand their position in their market, and learn as much as you can about them before walking into that room.

Next, de-rail the interview. Your interviewer may talk to 5-15 other candidates on a given day – asking the same questions, hearing the same responses. Dale Carnegie, in his book How to Win Friends and Influence People, writes, "Talk to someone about themselves and they'll listen for hours". In general, a person's favorite topic is themselves as it is human nature to be driven by pride and vanity. Exploit this! Yes, they may have some required behavioral questions to ask, which is a great opportunity for you to show them how you align with their values. But if you are passionate about the company, your enthusiasm will shine through and you will be able to transcend the normal level of conversation and attempt to talk about the real reason you are both sitting in the room together – you share the same passion.

Whether you’re conscious of the fact or not, a LOT has been invested in you in your ~20 years here on Earth. People have believed in you which is why you’re going to school at UW–Madison. Being a part of AKPsi validates you as a uniquely capable individual; the skillset our organization develops empowers our members to exceed expectations. Understand this and appreciate it. It is my belief that we owe a duty to our investors to NOT spend time chasing opportunities we don’t care about – determine your passion and go make your dream come true.