My First Interview

Well, not my first interview ever - I gained some experience interviewing for internships last summer, and a few part-time positions here and there. But this is my first interview as a graduating senior, looking to begin a full-time job after leaving 'Nova in May.

To start, I'll discuss what I did to prepare myself for the interview. Hands down: research is key. Not only should you read (and reread) the job description you have applied for, but take some time to research the company. The more information you know about the company you are interviewing for, the better impression you have the ability to make. First and foremost, explore the company's website: read background information and "Who We Are" pages, as well as information about their partners, clients, etc. A great place to learn about current and recent developments in the organization is to read the "News" and Press Releases section of a company's website. These features will provide you with many of the basic facts you should be aware of. Researching the company's website will also help you to come up with questions to ask the employer during your interview. Note: I'm not just saying all of this because it's what I have read or been told to do - all of the above is what I did to prepare myself for my interview the other night! I probably spent a good two to three hours on the company's website, trying to gain an understanding of the organization as best as I could. It definitely helped me to come up with some great questions to ask during my interview as well.

Next, practice practice practice. The more familiar you become with frequently asked interview questions, the more comfortable you will be when those questions are asked during a real interview. How can you practice? There are lots of ways! For one, you can set up a "Practice Interview" with a Career Counselor in the Career Services Office (to make an appointment, call 610-519-4060). You can also take advantage of Mock Interview Days, like the one coming up tomorrow - Friday, January 29th! Sign up on GoNOVA to participate in a mock interview with a real live employer, from companies such as ING Financial and Northwestern Mutual. I did a practice interview in Career Services last spring while I was preparing to interview for some summer internships. I admit that it felt a little bit silly/awkward to be videotaped during the interview and than watch it back afterwards. But it really REALLY does help and make a difference! It gives you a chance to see what you're doing wrong (and right of course) during an interview and helps you take active steps to change the "bad" things. For example, I realized how much I could not sit still - in the video I watched myself twisting back and forth in the chair! Now I know to make a concious effort to sit still and be calm and collected during an interview.

Want to know what else to do to prepare yourself for an interview? And how my interview actually went? Keep an eye out for my next post to read more!

My Last Semester of College...

I can't believe it's already here! The summer before I arrived at Villanova to start my freshman year, everyone I spoke with basically told me the same thing: "Enjoy it, the next four years are going to fly by!" At the time, I didn't pay too much attention to them, but looking back, I must admit they were right. Now, with one semester to go, the comments have significantly changed. Everyone I speak with asks "How do you feel about graduating?" and "Do you have a job lined up yet?" Well, the answers to those questions are sad/anxious/excited and NO. I am sad about having to leave the place I have called home for the last four years, while at the same time excited to move on to the next phase of my life. I am determined to enjoy my last semester of college, and also work hard to use all of the resources available to me to find a job (and hopefully a great one at that).

As you may have guessed by the title, this semester I will be writing a blog about my search for a job. I am a marketing and international business co-major, and I am highly interested in working in advertising. Ideally, I would love to land a job at an advertising agency. I am aiming to work in Boston or NYC, as a resident of Massachusetts I would love to stay relatively close to home to be near my family. While many of my accounting and finance major friends have already received job offers and can breathe a sigh of relief this semester, I know that marketing majors and other like us have only recently began to see job postings (besides a few here and there). The time is now for us to research, apply, and hopefully have the chance to interview for that job of our dreams!

From working as a Career Assistant in the Career Services Office here at Villanova for the last couple of years, I have learned a great deal about job search strategies. From networking and interviewing, to navigating GoNOVA and perfecting resumes, I will share all of the tips and advice I have learned along the way, as well my experiences through internships and other activities. Stay tuned for my next post!