As the clock ticks for upcoming spring/summer co-op folks, the dreaded interview phase for A Round sits right around the corner in early November. After recently navigating my own interviews for my current co-op cycle, I am all too familiar with the bundle of nerves and self-doubt that creeps in seconds before the questioning begins. That is why I have compiled a few answers for prospective interviewees for when their turn arrives, so sit up straight, take a deep breath and get ready to put on your best suits.
Right off the bat, what do employers really look for?
It is easy to answer this with what comes to mind first: grades and long activity lists. But the simple answer is not the right answer here. Employers have already tallied GPAs and extracurriculars and chosen to interview you, so what they are really honing in on after is how appealing your skills and demeanor are to the workplace.
Colin McCarty, a biomedical research assistant at the Lankenau Institute for Medical Research who is experienced in conducting Drexel co-op interviews, describes that a standard resume with “good” grades and activities is only a small part of the process: “Every student has that, so it doesn’t do much because when you look at the whole picture, everyone is kind of the same, so what really stands out is how personable and ready you are to be engaged and ask questions and give honest answers in an interview.” In a sea of candidates with the same major and experiences as you, there can be no shame in being a personality hire, so absolutely take advantage of those soft skills.
How many questions is too many questions?
Walking the fine line between appearing informed and seeming downright unprepared often comes down to this. Personally, a solid range I used was 2-4 questions; any more than that is more likely to appear overly rehearsed or unsure of yourself. Since a large portion of most interviews is the job description, it is best to come in informed by doing some extra digging but also to rely on any questions you might be curious about on the spot. While employers definitely appreciate preparation, the latter is far better in emphasizing engagement and interest, so why not have the best of both worlds?
According to McCarty, asking good questions is also like a tug of war where, instead of just the interviewer grilling you, you now have some of the rope and power and can keep them on their toes as well.
Can you overplay confidence?
Everyone has heard the familiar mantra of being confident if nothing else during interviews, but with too much confidence comes the risk of appearing conceited, and this is the one mistake to be wary of because it can make or break an interview.
McCarty reflects that people sometimes go in trying to overdo their confidence: “You should go in confident, but sometimes it translates to being pretentious. Do not scoff at something your interviewer says if you already know it because the interview may be tailored to a student who does not, or do not act like you are being put out for getting a couple of minutes of an explanation.”
Even during less interactive moments such as while touring the workplace during in-person interviews, being inquisitive can only bring you up. Otherwise, it can easily be seen as stand-offish if you just stand around and are not displaying eagerness.
And what if an interview doesn’t go well?
It is expected that some jobs will not be as suitable for some of their applicants as for others, which is something that cannot be surmised from a piece of paper alone. You may have to sit through an interview that does not go quite as planned, but that does not necessarily mean that it was a bad interview on your part or the interviewer’s. Rather, it means that it takes time to find a strong match, so if you are not the top choice, remember that that is entirely normal and to not dwell on it.