Have you ever felt like you accomplished a goal because you
just happened to be in the right place at the right time? In career
development, a theory that embraces this idea is called planned happenstance. Last
semester our advisors read more about this theory in a book, Luck Is No
Accident.
In honor of St. Patrick’s Day this week, here are some tips for
you to have “the luck of the Irish” in your next interview.
Look for something
you have in common with your interviewer. If you notice and mention something you share, you will make yourself and the interviewer feel more
at ease. For example, if you had an
interview with me and shared you liked the Monet print on my wall, we could discuss Impressionist artists. Or, maybe you see that your interviewer has
a VT class ring, so you could ask a question about his favorite VT memory.
Use resources to research your interviewer(s) and the company. You will be more relaxed if you feel like you know a bit about
your interviewer before you meet. Tap into the organization’s web site, LinkedIn, Glassdoor, and Google. And, CareerShift links you to articles where a
contact is mentioned online. If you want to do in depth research, contact a reference librarian.
Come prepared to
tell stories. Your stories make you different from all the other candidates. For example, as you talk about your perseverance, citing specific examples like
you ran a marathon or you raised your GPA, will prove to the employer that you have that strength. Use the STAR formula where you describe a
particular situation, the tasks involved, the actions that you took, and the results of the situation.
Keep on keeping on.
All you need is one employer to make
you an offer. If you are getting interviews, but not offers, meet with a career advisor to talk about your experiences.
Consider doing a mock interview. We can videotape your interview and make suggestions. Use Interview Stream
to work on your answers to questions you find challenging. Practice: the only
way to get better at interviewing.
Follow these tips in your next interview, and see if a
little luck comes your way.
I say luck is when an opportunity comes along
and you're
prepared for it.
Denzel Washington
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