I'm a high school junior and I have my first job interview coming up. I'm kinda nervous and could use some advice on what sort of basic interview questions I should expect. Anything in particular I should focus on?
It's perfectly natural to be nervous for your first job interview, so don't worry! The good news is, the more you prepare, the more confident you'll become.
1. Expected Questions: Entry-level job interviews tend to have many of the same basic questions, such as:
- "Tell me about yourself": Here's your chance to highlight your experiences, skills, and interests that would apply to this job. Be brief and concise.
- "Why do you want to work here?": This question gauges your interest in the job and the company. Research the company and be ready to demonstrate your enthusiasm and knowledge about what they do.
- "Can you describe a time in which you've dealt with a difficult situation, and how you handled it?": It could be a situation from school, sports, volunteering, or a club activity. Highlight the problem, your approach to solving it, and the positive outcome.
- "What are your strengths and weaknesses?": Be honest here. Highlight a strength that would be beneficial for the job and discuss a weakness honestly but also mention steps you're taking to improve.
2. Company Knowledge: Learn as much as you can about the place where you're interviewing. This could include what they do, their values and mission, and any relevant recent news. This will show you're proactive and genuinely interested.
3. Dress Appropriately: Even though you're a high school student, it's important to dress appropriately and professionally for an interview. You want to make a good impression!
4. Mock Interview: Try having a friend, family member, or teacher do a practice interview with you. They can ask you some sample questions and you can practice being as articulate and calm as possible.
5. Remember Your Soft Skills: Remember to showcase your soft skills including teamwork, leadership, problem-solving, communication, and organization. These are valuable in the workplace.
6. Be Yourself: Above everything, be genuine and authentically yourself. Interviewers can tell when you are being honest and authentic as opposed to simply telling them what you think they want to hear.
Finally, remember to ask questions yourself, such as "What does a typical day here look like?". This shows your serious interest in the job. Don't forget to thank the interviewer for the opportunity at the end! Good luck!
CollegeVine’s Q&A seeks to offer informed perspectives on commonly asked admissions questions. Every answer is refined and validated by our team of admissions experts to ensure it resonates with trusted knowledge in the field.