Coming back from your Spring Internship? Getting ready for Interviews? Or looking forward to that full time position you accepted? Learn more about what to bring up in the interview or a new position.

Be Yourself in Interviews

There is no better person to be, than to be yourself! And you’d be surprised at how much authenticity can help you come across as confident on the job or when talking with recruiters. However, there is a limit about how much to share in your work environment. Here are some of the Yes’s and No’s of how much to share about yourself on the job or in the ‘tell me about yourself’ question:

YES

  • Share your Enthusiasm – excitement is contagious. Don’t be afraid to let your employer know your excitement about the opportunity with the company. Enthusiasm can be shown through asking questions; non-verbal’s (smile!); or gratefulness for dinners, opportunities, and time.
  • Let your Personality Shine – It’s okay to be yourself at work and at the interview. Many get nervous, which is understandable; however, it’s more awkward if you are trying to be something that you think others want you to be. Everyone is unique and can offer a different perspective that would otherwise go undetected. Influence in the areas that come natural to you. Laugh. Have fun.
  • Get to Know your Team Members – the people you work with, you end up seeing….a lot! Although not every time, often there are people we connect with at work that can make our work experiences that much more enjoyable. Get to know your fellow teammates. Explore their interests. And get to know them as people. It can help share the workload, take a load off, and build support when natural work frustrations arise.

NO

  • Avoid highly controversial subjects – although these topics are often very fun to talk about and you may have strong values, the work place (initially) is not the safest places to battle these out. Recognize that not everyone will have a similar background or inclination. That being said, sometimes we find friends at work where these subjects become safe to address.
  • Tread lightly on your extracurricular activities – Did you attend Round Up? Perhaps not the best way to start a conversation on ‘what did you do this weekend?’ Yes, college life is fun and there are experiences that we learn from and carry with us. However, not all of these experiences help you leave a positive first impression in the professional world.
  • Don’t Gossip – Don’t gossip.

Good Luck with Interviews! Good Luck on the job! Come see us if you have any concerns.

Dawn Shaw, Career Consultant

Submitted by Jenny Tseng