Final Graduate Interview or Blind Date?

Published 10 September 2010 by Chris Bordin, Talent Sourcing, Telstra HR

The good old fashioned ‘Final Interview’ can be similar to that first blind date your friend insisted you go on because it would be ‘fun’!   



Turned out it was possibly the worst experience of your life as you did not really know anything about the person you were meeting. Final interviews can be exactly the same if you do not come prepared. Things for consideration:

•    Do some research – Know something about the company who is interviewing you. Whether you try and research some challenges facing the company in the immediate future or what the company actually does is a good starting point. This can be a doubled edge sword though, as you will have this information in your head and therefore will feel the need to say it at any point in time. Make sure you keep it in context!
•    Know where you are going & arrive early – Interviews can be stressful enough so removing any additional stress from the situation makes sense. Know where the office is located, who you need to contact upon arrival (name & number), how long the trip will take you etc
•    Dress to impress – Look like you want the job and not like you have just left the races!  Think professional, this is you at your very best, like the previous point plan ahead, make sure you are freshly ironed and laundered the night before.
•    Rehearse beforehand - Prior to your interview, prepare answers to common questions the interviewer is likely to ask, such as "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"  "Why do you want to work here?"  "Why should we hire you?" and the ever popular "Tell me about yourself."  Conduct a mock interview with a trusted friend as practice.
•    Come prepared – Even if you are told not to bring anything with you, it never hurts to have a copy of an updated CV, academic transcripts, supporting certificates etc with you at the interview. Always better to come across well organised!
•    Be confident – Unlike a blind date, you have the knowledge that to reach a final interview the company ‘likes’ you! You have already jumped a number of hurdles to get yourself into this position. So go into the interview with a lot of confidence and sell yourself well by highlighting your strengths and acknowledging areas of improvement (I dislike the word weaknesses).

In closing, every interview is a valuable learning experience. Even if you don’t get this particular job, when the next interview rolls around, you’ll be much better prepared and more at ease with the whole process.  All of which can go a long way to boosting your confidence and improving your chances of being offered the next job. Good luck!

Chris Bordin has donated his expertise from the graduate industry on behalf of Telstra.  For more information on their programs, visit their online profile.