One of my civil engineering graduates has had three interviews in the last 4 weeks.
He genuinely thought he’d secured the most recent role. Unfortunately, he missed out.
Yes it is disappointing for him but there are always things to learn
One thing I keep reminding graduates is this:
If you’re attending interviews but giving exactly the same answers every time, you’re probably doing it wrong.
Every interview should teach you something.
Maybe a question caught you off guard.
Maybe you realised your explanation wasn’t clear or it was too long & repetitive
Maybe you forgot to put it in Context, using the STAR method
Whatever it is, make the adjustment.
Interview skills are built one interview at a time.
Another point that’s often overlooked is competition, you might even say he was completely obvious to the level of competitiveness.
So when you apply for highly competitive graduate programs or online job advertisements, you’re usually competing against hundreds of other graduates.
Even if you’re very good, someone else may simply be a better fit on that particular day.
That’s why I keep encouraging graduates to build opportunities outside the online market.
The ideal interview? is when you’re the ONLY one sitting across from the engineering manager and you’re the only graduate in the room.
That’s why networking gives you an enormous advantage.
One final point.
Practise your stories with other people.
If they don’t understand what you’re trying to explain…
Neither will an interviewer.
Remember you might understand what you are saying, BUT does the INTERVIEWER?
As you improve you will notice your communications will become sharper and straight to the point and you notice different responses in the interview
Maybe a gentle knod or appreciation after all they may have heard the same response many times and its the exact same response but your simplified response showed a little more confidence, Clearer, and More focused.
You start saying less…
But meaning far more.
And that’s exactly what experienced engineers do.
Mark Healy the Graduate Coach
If you need HELP hit the link below
https://lnkd.in/gbVzm3mG
