So by now, you’ve done your due diligence on the organization that is offering you the opportunity to interview. The day of that interview is fast approaching, the nerves are naturally beginning to settle in. You continually review your notes, play out all of the scenarios and possible questions in your head over and over, counting down the days, inching closer to that interview that stands between you and your ideal internship.

This instalment of the series is going to focus on the actual interview; how to make sure you are your best self when you are underneath the microscope. We’ll talk about some things to consider in the days leading up to the interview, the day of the interview and the interview itself, and then following up after the interview. Let’s dive in.

The Days Before

Study. Spend time reviewing your notes on the organization and the answers you’ve pieced together for some of the more common questions (read part 3 of this series for examples). Work on how you will phrase your answers, making sure to hit all the pivotal details that convey the points you are trying to get across in a succinct manner- brevity is the soul of wit. Talk through them, out loud to yourself, or even get feedback from someone else.

Compile Notes. Make yourself some simple cheat sheets to refer to during the interview, which is presumably either a phone or zoom call. Don’t overdo it with a bunch of words, focus on key phrases/words that will jolt your memory about what you want to address. You’ll be nervous, so you don’t want to completely blank or forget discussion points. Writing it out by hand is also typically very useful for retention, which is another studying tip, but it will probably benefit you the most to type them out eventually, in larger fonts.

Sleep. The interview process is daunting, especially when you don’t have a ton of experience with it and the racing thoughts that can accompany the nerves you feel are enough to keep you up at night. Getting as much sleep as possible in the nights leading up to the interview will help reduce the impact of any negative effects should you not sleep well the night before. Keep a notepad on your nightstand, jot down any thoughts that might come to you as you go to sleep, especially if it is adjustments to answers, otherwise they will play over and over in your head while you’re trying to sleep.

The Day Of

Nap. On the chance you didn’t sleep well during the night leading into your interview, find time to shut your eyes for 10-20 minutes. Even if you don’t fall asleep, research shows that the simple act of trying to nap can have positive benefits. Just don’t nap for too long and put yourself in a state of sleep inertia. Consider consuming a caffeine source right as you start to nap to help you wake up feeling energized and avoid sleep inertia.

Review BRIEFLY. Don’t overwhelm yourself trying to spend all of the hours leading up to the interview reviewing your notes. Trust the time you’ve invested in the days leading up to the interview and allow time for your mind to unwind. Think of it as shutting down all of the apps and tabs you’ve had open for a few days, allowing the computer to run more efficiently.

Workout. As performance coaches, we already know the positive impact a workout can have on stress levels, so get one in and get your mind away from the upcoming interview. You’ll feel better channeling some of the pent-up energy and nerves into a barbell or a run.

Eat/Drink. The brain runs on glucose, so give your brain what it needs to be at optimal function. You don’t need to do anything special outside of your normal routine, but just make sure you have something in your system. Consume some caffeine before your interview for the extra energy boost. Also, time your hydration appropriately so you are not needing to use the bathroom mid-interview.

Plan your Interview Environment. Make sure you know where you are going to be at the time of the interview and that it’s quiet. The pandemic has expanded everyone’s leniency when it comes to disruptions, but do your best to mitigate those excess noises. Avoid high traffic places like coffee shops, where ambient noise can add up and be very disruptive. If disruptive noises are inevitable, such as living by train tracks or potentially crying babies, it would be a good idea to prep the interviewers for the potential occurrence.

Double Check your Tech. Make sure the cell or internet connection you are going to be on is going to be stable (disconnect other devices connected to the same signal if you are worried about the connection getting unstable). Make sure you have the latest version of Zoom/Skype/whatever video call platform you may be using, and that your computer is up to date and fully charged or plugged into a charger. Use the test video/audio features of the video call platform about 15 minutes before you are scheduled to be on your call to confirm there are no issues. It may be helpful to use headphones for a phone call so you are not relegated to holding your phone to your ear while trying to focus on the interview.

Dress for the Part. If it is a phone conversation, you can disregard this point and just dress comfortably, but if you will be on camera, I would definitely consider dressing up a bit more. Business casual at the least, but business formal wouldn’t be a bad idea either; it is a job interview after all. Personally, I find it helpful to deescalate the seriousness of the situation and not wear socks/shoes, but that may just be me.

The Interview

Deep Breaths. Take a few of these before you start. Extended exhalations elicit a calming effect on the body, so take advantage of the physiological tools at your disposal to settle yourself down.

Smile. You are in a people business- give them a friendly first impression, and it will help you to be in a better frame of mind, even if you are crapping down your leg as the interview begins.

Start Strong. The first question is almost always going to be the “tell us about yourself” softball question, so knock it out of the park with how readily you can answer it. Again, don’t just recite your resume; add the qualitative bits to it that begin to unravel the deeper story of who you are. Aim to have this answer finished at a comfortable speaking pace in no more than 45-60 seconds.

Be Mindful of Cadence. You don’t need to immediately answer a question after it’s asked. Let the question breathe with a pause, rather than a filler word, and then begin speaking. You will probably speak faster than you think you actually are, so be mindful of your pace. Enunciate clearly, pause when you need to as opposed to just spewing word vomit because you have a need to fill the quiet space. Candidates I’ve spoken with who have these undulations in their answers always strike me as being more thoughtful, as opposed to those who rush into answers, fly through their responses, and use a lot of filler words.

Be Honest. This is on two fronts: 1) when they ask for weaknesses or moments where you screwed up like was said in the last article: Open. The. Kimono. The more transparent you can be, the more it will be appreciated. You are speaking with people who have been there before and are still making mistakes to this day. Be able to address how you are actively working to combat your limitations or what lessons you took away from a time where you messed up. 2) If you don’t know the answer to a question, just say so. Your guard will be down enough as it is, it will be obvious you are making up your answer if you attempt to answer a question you have no capability of answering. The candor of you just saying you don’t know will be much more appreciated than BSing the panel.

After the Interview

Ask Questions. Have questions prepared ahead of time to make sure you understand the full extent of the internship and what you are signing up for. What are some good questions to consider if they don’t get answered during the interview? Here is a non-exhaustive list:

• Are there opportunities to gain coaching experience?
• What capacity is there for my role as an intern to be expanded?
• What will a typical day look like for me?
• If unpaid: are there opportunities for a work-study or for me to work at a part-time job?
• Can you tell me more about the internship curriculum?
• What is there to do for fun in the area?
• What initially attracted you to work at xyzorganization and what has kept you wanting to work there?
• Are there any books you recommend I read as a precursor to my arrival, if I am selected?

You don’t need to copy these verbatim, just go with what is relevant and what is important to you. If you need help getting your thought process rolling though, feel free to use these as a starting point.

Follow-Up. Give it some time, but send follow-up emails to everyone that you spoke with on the call to thank them for their time. Individualize the emails to some extent, maybe regarding a particular question or interaction from each interviewer so it doesn’t appear that you just copy and pasted the email to each of them. It’s a good way for them to be primed about you again as they look to make their decisions.

Relax. You made it through the interview and have done what you can to paint yourself as an ideal candidate for their organization. What occurs from here is entirely out of your hands and not worth stressing over, so take some time to unwind from the moment.

Wrapping Up

Now you wait! Or rinse, wash, repeat for other interviews and then begin the waiting game. Remember, there is a whole section on the Career Development forum in which you can ask questions, trial your answers or gain deeper insights on the interview process of practitioners who have sat in the interviewer chairs. Our next instalment is going to begin to turn towards the actual internship experience itself, how you should prep for the internship and your time there, and what to expect in the first few weeks. Best wishes as you undergo your interviews!