Preparing for interviews can be anxiety-inducing. In addition to getting clear about what you’re looking for in a school and how you’ll be contributing to life on campus, you’ll also need to navigate your personality. We all have strengths and weaknesses, obviously, and we’ve found that most people who consider themselves to be extroverted are generally less nervous about the prospect of a college interview. Even still, it’s incredibly important to prepare! Keep reading for three tips for extroverts during the interview process:
Research the school and figure out a few things you want to highlight:
Preparation is everything when it comes to interviews. We cannot stress this enough. We recommend finding at least three aspects of the school that you’re really excited about, and writing down a list of things you want to highlight during the interview. In addition to expressing what you want to major in, find more specific offerings that will show that you’ve done your due diligence in researching the school. And while you’re making your list, figure out a few things you want to mention about yourself. Think about the jobs you’ve had, memorable moments, and other experiences that speak to what you’ll be bringing to campus. Creating this roadmap will allow you to streamline your responses and stay focused when you’re asked questions you didn’t see coming.
Be an active listener:
Most extroverts have been blessed with the gift of gab. But it can also be a curse! During your interview, make sure that you’re listening to the entire question that you’re being asked. A lot of interview questions are two-parters, and if you zone out because you’re so excited to answer, you might miss a crucial aspect of the question. Something else to avoid? Interrupting. It’s fine to be enthusiastic, but not so much that you’re dominating the entire conversation.
Remember that you’re being interviewed, and stay focused:
Yes, it’s a good thing that you love interacting with others. But keep in mind that you’re at an interview, not hanging out with your friends or making friends with someone in a long line outside of a concert. Your role here is to answer the questions that you’re being asked, and to engage with the interviewer in a genuine way. Your role is not to take control of the situation. By remaining focused on the task at hand, and sticking to the list you created in the first step, you can let your personality shine while also explaining why you want to attend X school.
Interviews are scary, we know. We like to remind our clients and blog readers that you should be using your interview as one of many tools to decide whether or not you want to attend X school. What does this mean? Be curious, be genuine, and while this advice is easier given than taken, try not to stress out too much. Our last tip? Brainstorm at least five questions to ask at the end of the interview!
Contact us here if you need guidance during the college process.