Interviews Help YOU!
Interviews, in my opinion, are one of the most amazing professional tools that anyone has. But it is especially important to maximize on this tool as a university student, than at any other time in your life.
Why?
Interviews are the instances where you get to put your best foot forward. You’ve spent time tailoring your resume to the position and your cover letter outlines why you would be a good candidate. But in interviews, they get to meet you. The person behind the paper. And honestly, it’s my favorite part of the ‘job finding’ process.
Benefits of interviews?
Of course interviews help you! I think everyone can agree that practice makes perfect. The more I apply for positions, the more interview opportunities I get. This allows me to become more confident about comprehensively speaking about my strengths and weaknesses. It also allows me to practice analyzing interview questions, and really pinpointing what an employer is looking for when asking their questions.
These aspects are obviously super important, but the most important thing to me?
It helps me recognize my own growth!
We move from things so quickly in life sometimes. You’re a part of a club or association one day, and then you’re not. You keep the memories; sometimes good, sometimes bad, but do you always remember or even recognize the skills you acquired in those positions?
It wasn’t until my most recent interview that I realized that I was in a space of reflection where I could explore everything I have accomplished up until that point. Compared to the last formal interview I had last year, I was able to recognize just how many skills I have either acquired or improved… and that’s a great feeling.
On the other side, it also helps me recognize some of my skills I’m least confident with, and therefore what areas I need to work on. It’s good for me to know this while I still have the time to truly do something about it. I’m definitely not saying that these skills cannot be acquired later on in life. However, working on your personal and professional growth at university while you have support services is much easier than after you’ve graduated, and you don’t necessarily have all these supports any more.
