 Your First Interview Out of College
Are you prepared for your first interview out
of college? Below are four interview questions
geared towards recent
college graduates.
Why did you choose your college/major?
This question gives you the opportunity to show the hiring manager how
you set goals and monitor success. For example, if you chose your university
because it has one of the best academic programs in a particular field
of study, you probably became interested in this program during high school
and made a conscious decision at that time to build a portfolio of academic
successes and extracurricular activities that made you a desirable candidate
for that college. This shows your commitment to project completion as well
as a high tolerance for challenging, competitive situations.
How does your degree prepare you for a career in (industry) or
to excel as a
(job title)?
The hiring manager is asking you to link your academic major with your
targeted positions right after college. Draw on your college experiences
including specific curriculum examples, a senior thesis, contributions
to class projects, relevant internships, and extracurricular activities
to demonstrate parallels between academic success and that expected of
you in the world of work.
What qualifications do you have beyond academics that qualify you
to make a successful transition into business?
There are two types of extracurricular activities
that you can discuss…(1)
school-related and community-based activities and (2) working
arrangements to finance your education.
Participation in the same school-related activities for all four
years validates that a candidate knows their strengths and is choosing
to actively pursue them. It also shows a high level of discipline
and commitment.
Students who financed their education through part-time and summer
jobs can show how these jobs contributed to a strong sense of self-determination
and self-reliance. They can make direct correlations between the
skills learned on the job and their relevance to the position they
are applying for. These students can also show employers how they
successfully manage multiple tasks, prioritize responsibilities,
and manage their time effectively.
Do you think your grades are a good indicator of your ability
to succeed in business?
Grades may reflect an individual’s potential performance, but it is not
guaranteed. Never apologize for less than stellar grades or blame others for
poor performance; this could lead the hiring manager to believe you don’t
feel confident in your abilities or don’t take responsibility
for your actions. Instead, try to present a complete picture
of your candidacy by discussing your grades within the context
of your other accomplishments in college. For example, if you
were a B student, but also held a leadership role in your fraternity
or worked 30 hours a week to finance your education, let the
hiring manager know about these successes.
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