Interview Advice

Breathe; you got the interview for a reason

Carry yourself with confidence

• Even if you don't feel confidence, giving that "vibe" off will help! I like to listen to some hype music right before, haha

Smile and make eye contact 

Practice a firm handshake 

Try to avoid fidgeting 

Keep water nearby; if you need an extra second to think about an answer or take a break, take a sip

If you need extra time to think about a question, you can also say something along the lines of "that's a great question" to buy yourself time. Alternatively, just ask for a little time! It's better to take longer to come up with a good answer than give a bad answer 

For virtual interviews, show up ~5 minutes early to allow time for technical difficulties

For in-person interviews, show up ~10 to 15 minutes early

If you want to take notes, you can bring a notebook, but don't use your phone or computer during the interview

Practice a response to the notorious "tell me about yourself" question 

• Spend most of the response talking about your background related to the topic at hand 

  • For example, if you're interviewing for a research position, talk about your history with science for most of the response! 

Practice active listening while the interviewer speaks

Come prepared with 3 to 5 questions of your own to ask at the end!

After the interview, follow up with a thank-you email

Tie your responses into

• Lessons you learned

• The position you are interviewing for