At the career center and the university, this week has been a heavy week of interview practice, mock interviews, tough interview question workshops, and the like. Interviews come in many shapes and sizes, including phone interviews, Skype interviews, one-on-one interviews, group interviews, and panel interviews. I’m sure there are others but the one in particular that I wanted to focus on was the one-on-one in-person interview. This is the most common one that you will experience in your career with a panel interview not too far behind.
Let’s start off by stating the obvious- dress formally, conservatively, and ideally in a suit. I’m reminded of a scene from Remember the Titans when Coach Boone says to his players, “You will wear a jacket, shirt, and tie. If you don't have one, buy one, can't afford one then borrow one from your old man, if you don't have an old man, then find a drunk, trade him for his.” I don’t know if I’d go as far as the last method of acquiring a suit but you get the point. Despite our industry being more casual in nature than let’s say Wall Street, do not show up dressed like you are about to play a game of pick-up basketball or like you’re going right from the interview to play 18 holes of golf. Start off on the right foot!
Other before-the-interview tips include: do your research and prepare questions to ask. Research includes visiting the team/organization website, searching for them on Google, and reading about them in industry publications like The Sports Business Journal. Also, part of researching the position includes knowing the job description inside and out. Know the bullet points like the back of your hand and be able to address each of them as they pertain to your skill set and personal experiences. Finally, prepare 3-5 good questions to ask the employer. Don’t ask about a recent trade rumor or who they might draft or why they just signed so-and-so to that many years or that much money. Ask about the company culture; ask about the ideal candidate; ask about the room for growth and if there is an opportunity to get professional training. All of these things show that you are genuinely interested.
Practice, practice, practice. Practice with a friend, professor, career counselor, or even just yourself. There is no way to tell what questions that you will be asked during an interview but there are standard questions that should be easy to conquer- tell me about yourself, what is your greatest strength, where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years. Be ready but don't sound robotic...
Then there is the actual interview. This is your time to shine. Sell yourself. Tell them why you are the best person for the job. Be confident but not cocky. More than anything, answer the question that you were asked, provide details and examples every chance you can get, and answer questions with passion and enthusiasm. Lastly, be the expert in the room on your resume; don’t be surprised by a question that someone asks if it pertains to your resume.
Think you are done? Not quite. After the interview concludes, close it with a great handshake, ask for their business card, and thank them for their time. Now comes the differentiator- that same day or at least within 24 hours, send a thank you letter and thank you email reiterating your interest in the position and in the company. If you promised to send them additional documents like a list of references or a portfolio of your work, this is the time to do it.
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