What to Expect During Brown University Career Lab Interviews?

I'm planning to utilize the Brown University Career Lab for some guidance, and I'm curious about what the interviews are like. What kinds of questions do they typically ask, and how should I prepare for them?

Great question - the Brown University Career Lab offers interviews as a way to help students prepare for future job or internship interviews. The goal of these interviews isn't to evaluate you, but to provide a safe space for you to practice and receive feedback. So, it's less about the specifics of the questions they ask, and more about providing a realistic interview experience.

In terms of the kinds of questions, you can expect a mix of both behavioral and situational questions. Behavioral questions often focus on experiences in your past that have shaped you and are usually accompanied by "tell me about a time when..." prompts. Situational questions, on the other hand, typically deal with hypothetical scenarios, and you might be asked what you would do under certain conditions.

As far as preparation goes, you should approach it much like you would any other interview. Review the basic principles of interviewing: understand your strengths and weaknesses, be able to tell succinct stories about your experiences (using the Situation, Task, Action, Result, or STAR, method can be helpful), have a thorough knowledge of your resume and be able to explain any gaps or unusual items, and have questions ready for the career counselor.

An excellent way to prepare is to conduct a self-assessment before the interview to get clear on your goals, interests, skills, and values. This will enable you to answer questions more effectively and confidently. Also, always remember to breathe and take your time replying to questions to ensure your answers are thoughtful and well-articulated. Good luck!