Any soon-to-be graduate feels a certain amount of anxiety about the next step of their professional career: the job search. And a large part of that apprehension comes from the prospect of potentially intimidating job interviews. You’ve worked hard to complete your CAD training and have honed your skills as an architectural or engineering technician, but now you’re faced with a new challenge – convincing employers that you have what it takes to succeed in the real world and that you’d be a valuable asset to their team.
Here are a few tips for nailing your next interview:
Think Beyond Your Discipline
Being invited to interview with a company means you’ve already made the first cut. Congratulations! It also means they’ve reviewed your CV, technical background and perhaps evaluated a sample of your work. The hiring manager understands for example, that you have the necessary engineering training to do the job. Now, the interviewer is interested in getting to know you as an individual – your maturity, professionalism, and character.
In order to get a clearer picture of you as a person and prospective team member, the interviewer may well ask you questions like:
- What do you consider your greatest strength and weakness?
- Talk about a time you had to work under pressure: how did you handle it?
- How do you respond to criticism from a superior?
You should have responses prepared for questions like these – they turn up so often because they provide a valuable glimpse into your problem-solving, critical thinking and communication skills.
Be Honest About Your Abilities
So, you’ve learned an enormous amount during the course of your CAD college career. And you’re ready to apply that knowledge at the professional level. However, during a job interview applicants must resist the urge to over-sell their expertise, or exaggerate their abilities. Remember that the hiring manager has seen your resume, and for most new graduates, the professional experience section is rather sparse. Or, it could be that the job you’re applying for requires specialization in say, oil and gas pipelines and your knowledge in this area is a little weak. But under no circumstances should you fabricate experience or in-depth knowledge – not only will the interviewer eventually uncover your deception, your dishonesty will do serious damage to your credibility.
It’s always better to admit that there are certain areas in which you are not an expert and that you are dedicated to continued learning and professional development. This is an excellent opportunity to show you’ve researched the company, understand its mandate, and are excited to learn from such an experienced team.
Practice, Practice, Practice
When it comes to talking about ourselves in interview scenarios, many of us seize up and fall silent. Under the pressure of being observed and evaluated, we simply become tongue-tied – or ramble on without a censor. You may have your responses all planned out in your head, but for many candidates, practice is essential for maintaining poise and eloquence on the big day.
Create a list of interview questions that focus on both the professional and the personal. Ask a friend, family member, or perhaps a professional you know in your field, to conduct a mock interview. Ask for feedback about the quality of your response, such as:
- Did I stay on track and fully answer the question?
- Did I take too long to get to the point?
- Did I appear comfortable in my chair, or tense and nervous?
- Did I maintain good eye-contact?
- Did I clearly convey my technical knowledge?
- Was my voice strong and confident?
With careful preparation comes confidence. By following these tips, you’re sure to impress on your next job interview.
What do you think is the most important part of prepping for an interview?
