How to Nail an Interview

The season of summer internships is upon us, which also means you're going to need a killer interview. 

They get it; you're qualified for the position. You go to a good school, you have good grades, and you have enough experience that you won't colossally mess up. 

So they call you in for an interview and now you have to talk to someone. 

Yikes. 

But have no fear! It really isn't that bad. 

You just have to relax and be a more polished and professional version of yourself (like sorority rush!). 

Obviously, you should be able to talk about anything on your resume, but other than that, don't feel the need to prepare statements or anything. I'd advise against it, because it will seem like you lack adequate social skills, which could hurt you, especially if your job is like mine and you have to spend a lot of time talking on the phone. 

So tip #1 is to just be yourself and have a natural conversation. 

Tip #2 is to look presentable and memorable. 

This means makeup, but just enough to look professional (a thinly lined eye, foundation, mascara, concealer, nude lipstick, little bit of bronzer) and hair done. Your outfit should be professional but have some aspects of your personal style--even if that just means tying a cute scarf to your bag!

Here are some outfits that I've worn to interviews before.

                                  

Obviously each outfit is appropriate for different types of offices, but use your discretion! 

Now go get hired!

A Little Bit of Self Motivation

In high school, I learned that no one else cares if you aren't doing everything you should be.

Your teachers might, your parents proably do, but your peers? Absolutely not. 

This means that you have to motivate yourself.

Have a paper due tomorrow morning but you'd rather binge watch Grey's Anatomy on Netflix?

No one is going to say, "hey, shouldn't you be writing a paper?" because they don't care if you're writing your paper or not.

You have to motivate yourself. You are the only person that always has your best interests in mind at all times. 

You have to take matters into your own hands and think about:

a) what it is you want to do

b) how you're going to do it

c) when you're going to do it

d) who has done it

And then you have to figure out how to motivate yourself. 

For me, it's by drawing inspiration from powerful women and by using quotes. 

In my dorm room, I have a little shrine to motivation, and it's the first thing I see every morning and the first thing I see before I go to sleep. 

The powerful people that are considered inspiring are different for everyone. But for me, Amy Poehler's Leslie Knoppe, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Michelle Obama, Sandra Day O'Connor, Madeleine Albright, Malala Yousazfi, Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods, and Amal Clooney are among them.

But the quotes I use are applicable to everyone and everything. And since it's difficult to see some of them, I've written them down here so that you can be inspired too!

"If you can dream it, you can do it"

"Even miracles take a little time"

"Esse quam videri; to be rather than to seem"

"Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try'

"You may be pretty and you may be talented, but nobody will remember that if you're mean"

"If you keep on believing, the dreams that you wish will come true"

"It's a new day, bend and snap"

"Be the Leslie Knope of whatever you do"

"Promise me you'll always remember, you're braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think"

"You must always have faith in people, but most importantly, you must always have faith in yourself"

"I want adventure in the great, wide somewhere"

"This is just part of growing up, a little adventure, a little rebellion"

"Never look back, darling, it distracts from the now"

"If you want something you've never had, you must be willing to do something you've never done"

"Hakuna matata, it means no worries"

"Make life sparkle"

"Never half-ass two things. Whole-ass one thing"

"You have to be the best version of yourself, and if that means you have to be a bit self promoting, then it's okay, it really is. Because who's going to believe in you more than yourself?"

And most importantly,

"Have courage, and be kind"