Take a moment to think about your responses.

It’s ok to take a couple seconds to collect your thoughts and think about your response to questions. Don’t wait too long, but it’s totally ok to formulate and prepare a coherent and relevant response.

They’re probably not trying to “test you.”

Unless you’re interviewing for Google or Apple (they’re notorious for asking profoundly complex interview questions), your interview genuinely just wants to get to know you as a person (more than what’s on your résumé), and many will interviewers will go out of their way to make sure you don’t feel undue pressure. Be real, be honest, and don’t feel overwhelmed to “give the right answer.”

Do your homework.

Part of preparing for an interview is doing background homework. If you’re applying for a job, you should already know as much as you can about the job and the company (that’s what the interwebz is for). If you’re applying for a scholarship, you should know what the scholarship is awarded for (and what they’re looking for). Knowing what they are looking for can help you present yourself as an ideal candidate.

If you are able to mention pertinent details about what you are interviewing for, it can communicate maturity and initiative. For example:

• “I know past recipients of this scholarship have been required to participate in [insert required activity for scholarship recipient] and that’s something I would very much look forward to.”

• “I love that "[insert company name]” offers full benefits to even part time employees, which tells me this is a company that truly cares for its employees.”

Practice!

You’ve probably never thought twice about your posture, but it matters. Practice sitting upright, practice sitting calmly without fidgeting with your hair, and practice making eye contact! If offered a handshake, reciprocate with a firm handshake, too.

“So what kind of questions might they ask?”

There aren’t really “standard” interview questions, but here are a few you might hear.

• “Tell me a little bit about yourself.”

  • This is your opportunity to show your personality! Don’t regurgitate everything that they might have already seen in your résumé or transcript, but take this as an opportunity to share the things you’re passionate about, or the skills or personality traits that make you a good candidate.

• “Give three adjectives to describe yourself.”

  • Be honest, and if possible, specific. Avoid generic words like “hard-working” or “responsible.” Instead consider phrases like “I love working with other people,” or “I love the satisfaction of a job done right,” or even “I love trying to make everything I do in a fun way.”

• “Who is your role model and why?”

  • It can be anyone, because it’s the why that’s more important. It can reveal what values are you think are important…

• “Name one of your strengths and one area for improvement.”

  • Be honest but not too cocky. It doesn’t have to have a perceived relationship to what you’re interviewing for. You could even say “I’m usually the funniest person in my friend group.” As for the area of improvement, PLEASE don’t say “I tend to work too hard.” Remember NO ONE is perfect, and we all have areas of our lives to improve. What’s important is that you are self-aware, and doing something about it (e.g. “I used to struggle with remembering all my tasks, but now I make sure I write everything down in my planner.”).

• “Where do you see yourself in 5 years? In 10 years?”

  • Have you thought about your future? Are you motivated by any long-term goals?

• “We have 500 people applying for this one scholarship. Why do you think you deserve it?”

  • This one’s tough, but it comes up in scholarship interviews. Don’t just point out your GPA or AP course history, but instead sell something unique about you that makes you an attractive candidate. If it’s a merit-based scholarship, talk about a significant academic achievement. If it’s a need-based scholarship, well then tell them why you need the scholarship (just remember want and need aren’t the same thing).

Speaking of questions…

It’s fairly customary for an interviewer to end the process by allowing you to ask any questions you may have. It is generally accepted that having no questions to ask is not such a good look. Asking at least one question can demonstrate your enthusiasm or eagerness for the opportunity you’re applying for, and it can show that you truly interested in the role. It might not seem like there would be a lot of questions for a job interview at a fast food restaurant, but it’s just a good practice to maintain going on to future interviews. Some sample questions:

• For a job: “What might I expect an average day to look like"?”

• “Have I answered all of your questions?” or, “is there anything else you’d like to ask me?”

• “When might I expect to know about your decision?”