A Guide to Interviewing From one College Student to Another

By: Laura Farmer, Promotions Copywriting Coordinator

A Bit About Me 

The feeling of scrolling on LinkedIn and seeing everyone from my classes post their internships for this summer was unlike anything I had felt before. I was happy that they had gotten an internship, but upset that I had not gotten one yet. One of my professors mentioned this exact feeling during class one day and reminded us to continue applying and trust the process. So, I did. I eventually heard back from an internship I applied to and was offered a position. However, I would not have gotten this position if it had not been for Inigo and my own personal efforts towards professional development.  

Professional development is what initially attracted me to Inigo; the amount of career growth that I have experienced this far has exceeded my expectations. During the first half of my semester in Inigo, I have been able to visit two agencies and learn more about the communication industry. Even just by interviewing for Inigo last semester, I felt that I had grown.  

While I have interviewed for a variety of different jobs before, interviewing at Inigo was unique. I had not thought about how those interviewing me would be fellow students. The ability to connect with them made me feel more comfortable and confident in myself. Since then, I have interviewed for multiple internships and am at a place where I feel confident in giving advice on how to improve at being interviewed.  

How Should I Prepare Before an Interview? 

Preparation for an interview is key. I always start by finding people that I know who have worked at the company or work there currently; I typically ask them what the interview is like and the types of questions I should expect. If you cannot find anyone who fits into this category, Google it! There is almost always a Reddit thread to be found on these topics, and it could even change your mind about working at this company.  

Next, you will want to research the company’s values and mission and find a few values that connect with you. For example, I found that the company I will be interning at values community and volunteer service, so I made sure to write that in my interview preparation notes. I then make questions for the interviewer surrounding those values and how they are implemented into the day-to-day work environment. If you are lucky enough to have the name(s) of your interviewer(s) prior to the interview, look them up and figure out their career background to make questions tailored to them as well.  

Lastly, review your resume. The most embarrassing thing to happen in an interview is for the interviewer to ask you a question about something you put on your resume, but you do not remember it. By reviewing your resume, you could see something that you did in the past that reminds you of something that you have since forgotten.  

Something that I had never thought about doing prior to applying for internships is writing a letter of interest during the reviewing process before being invited to interview. You can also write one after you have been invited for an interview. In this, highlight your experience and passions and how those relate to the job. If possible, also relate it to whoever is reading the letter. For example, I knew I was sending it to an all-female team, so I wrote about how I am involved with Women in Business at Loyola.  

How can I Be a Good Interviewee? 

Bringing in copies of your resume for the interview is a green flag to interviewers. It allows them to glance at it again and remember the specific things about you that made them ask you to come in for an interview. They can also ask you about something about it, which is another reason to be very familiar with your past experiences. 

This is your reminder to be confident in yourself. Being anxious is very normal. I am always anxious before and during interviews. Sometimes the interviewer will notice this and try to make you feel more comfortable, other times the conversation will distract you from your feelings of anxiety. Another thing I have noticed when I am anxious is that I sometimes have a hard time maintaining eye contact, which is very important during interviews. Being able to hold eye contact will show the interviewer that you are confident and able to communicate well. It is supposed to feel awkward, so do not let that feeling deter you. Just remember that you are there for a reason, which is that they liked what they saw in your application. 

The final thing to do during an interview is to ask the questions you developed during your research process. You may find a time during the bulk of the interview to ask them, or ask them after the interviewer asks you, “Do you have any questions for me?” This will show that you prepared for the interview, implying that you have passion. A question that you should put some stars by and make sure to ask is, “What is the next step in this process?” I find that if I do not know when I will hear back, I will be anxiously checking my email for the next couple days.  

You Thought You Were Done? 

Nope. You are not done quite yet. Make sure to email the interviewer after the interview, thanking them for considering you. Try to make the thank you as tailored to that specific interviewer as possible. Maybe bring up a unique topic you touched on together. Honestly, I am guilty of forgetting this, but in the future, I hope to remember.  

As you are driving home from the interview or lying in bed staring at the ceiling, think about your performance in the interview. Do not ask yourself, “Did that go well?” Instead, ask yourself, “How can I improve for next time?” Think positively, but remember that there is always room for improvement. I like to think about if my questions helped me stand out enough in comparison to the other candidates.  

Some Lasting Remarks 

I know what you all came here for, my tips for interviewing at Inigo. In addition to my previous tips, in the cheesiest way possible, be yourself. Know that you will be  interviewed by other students who have been exactly where you are. If you do not think you have relevant experience, I am positive you have experience working on a team or collaborating with others. Inigo welcomes students with all different levels of experience. As I mentioned before, it is the passion that you have that matters the most. Inigo is the perfect place to continue developing skills and gain new experiences. Best of luck!