5 Tips For Acing Your Next Internship Group Interview

By Alexandra Brown on April 29, 2015

This article is brought to you by Dream Careers, the largest global internship program for college students offering all-inclusive programs in 11 cities worldwide. To learn more about Dream Careers, please visit us at SummerInternships.com.

Aside from meeting numerous amounts of new people, learning about them and about yourself, partying, and figuring out what you want to do with your life, a huge part of college that people don’t always initially think about is how to fill up summers.

When you’re in college, summer is a partial break from the academic stresses of being a full-time student on campus, but it’s also a time to start building a resume.

The first summer, it’s not always a huge deal if you don’t have an actual job or internship lined up relevant to your major; you might not even know what you want to major in at that point.

For summers after your first as a college student, however, you’re most likely going to want to work a job or a paying internship relevant to your course of study, so as to build your resume, and have experience under your belt for future employers after graduation.

It’s usually a good idea to start thinking about and searching for these jobs in the early spring so there is time to apply to multiple places in time for summer to start.

If your application for a certain internship is under consideration, you may be asked to come in for an interview, which is always a great sign. Your interview could either be one on one, or a group internship interview.

For either one, it’s important to prep accordingly, and to have thought about what you might be asked before you are in an office, across from your potential employer, and clueless about what to say or ask.

Here are 5 helpful steps for prepping for an internship group interview.

1. Do your research

The first thing you’re going to want to do before going in to a group interview is research the company or employer on your own. The more you know about your potential employer and their company before even going in, the more attractive, attentive, and impressive you will look to them, and the more memorable you’ll be to them when they’re thinking back to who they interviewed. This is especially important to do if you’re going to be interviewed with other people. You want to stand out among a group, and the more you know, the more impressive you will look.

Research could entail simply browsing the company’s website online, searching the name on Google and seeing what kind of news articles come up, or even asking around about the company’s reputation.

2. Dress for the job

One of the worst things you can do when showing up to an interview is showing up looking like a sloppy college student. You won’t be taken seriously or professionally; you’ll be treated like the college student that you are. You’ll also look even more exceptional compared to others in your group interview if they decide to show up in casual clothing without making much effort.

Dressing for the job usually means wearing business casual attire, but it could vary depending on where you’ve applied. The idea is that you’re showing your potential employer that you can rise to the professional level necessary to succeed at the company. You’ll even feel better about yourself walking in; dressing for the job can be a huge confidence booster.

3. Arrive on time

Perhaps the most important thing you can do in preparation for an interview is to not only show up, but to show up on time, and preferably, 10-15 minutes early. You want to save time to relax before your interview, calm your nerves, and enter the room or office with as much confidence as possible.

Arriving on time or early also lets the employer know that you’re eager, punctual, and lets them know how you will treat the job if hired. They’ll remember you if you’re late, and not in a good way. You only want to be memorable for positive things. Arriving on time also gives you another opportunity to stand out among the people you’re being interviewed with; if one or more people are late, you automatically look better to the employer.

Showing up late and behind schedule shows that you’re unable to meet deadlines, and that you won’t take the job seriously.

4. Rehearse

Rehearse with a family member or friend to practice your ability to answer questions on the fly, and to practice answering these questions in the presence of other competitors in your group interview. You’re going to want to feel prepared so when you go in, you don’t feel uncomfortable speaking in front of a group of people.

In the interview, you’ll appear better prepared, and you’ll be less likely to get stumped on what to say or how to answer specific questions.

5.  Speak up

In a group interview, you’ll want to stay quiet when others are speaking to show respect, but you’ll also want to make sure you speak up when something is relevant to you, or when you have the opportunity to speak about your previous experience. If there is something you can contribute to the conversation, don’t be afraid to say it; you’ll be more memorable to the employer if you do.

Looking for a top internship in an exciting city? Enroll in Dream Careers and guarantee yourself an internship and a fun summer in your choice of 11 cities globally. To visit our website, please click here.

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