On October 3, I attended an interview workshop with Target which taught students how to have an effective interview. The Target representatives explained that doing research on the company you are planning to join is very important for preparation. Also generate a list of accomplishments that you could possibly talk about. Things that went well and went wrong in your life, how you got out of a difficult situation, what you learned from your experiences, and illustrate your leadership skills. Before going into the interview, practicebecause being nervous is unavoidable but if you practice then you be more confident in yourself. Once the interview begins make sure to sell yourself, be confident but also be honest. Tell your interviewer what your strengths and also your weaknesses. No one is perfect so don’t try to convince them that you are. Speak with enthusiasm but also think before you answer their questions, don’t blurt out everything that comes to mind. Make sure to ask questions at the end to show genuine interest in learning more, which they will appreciate. Thank your interviewer, say you enjoyed meeting them, get their card, and shake their hand before leaving.
While I’ve been to workshops like this one in past, I wanted to see a different point of view on the interview process. It was very helpful because the representatives that came in were people who interviewed others before so they know what an interviewer looks for. The workshop helped me explore my career goals because it went over what’s important when picking a job to interview for. You should pick a job that you want and that fulfills your career aspirations rather than basing your decision on salary because you can always rise up in a job and get paid more but if you’re miserable because you like the money you need to reevaluate what’s more important in life. Interviews are something we as college students need to master because we are each going to be applying for jobs and internships and it’s a skill we need. There are other workshops that will to be occurring soon about resumes and cover letters that I want to attend. I want to get advice on my resume and see how I can make it better. There is also an internship seminar coming up that shows us the best ways to search for an internship or job that’s a good fit for us, which should be helpful. Overall it was an informative workshop and I hope to take advantage of more of Baruch’s workshops and other resources to accomplish my career goals.
