Ever had a moment where you felt your dream slipping away right before your eyes? That was me, sitting at my college apartment desk, talking to the woman who could change my life forever.
She’s head of the internship program at Macfadden, the publisher for magazines including Dance, Dance Spirit, and American Cheerleader, in New York City.
This is my dream! I was about to graduate college with a degree in magazine journalism and a lifetime of competitive dancing. I had to get this internship.
Then it happened: she asked me a question I had no idea how to answer. “What was your favorite story in Dance Magazine this year?” she asked. I had not prepared for this interview well enough at all. Part of that was because it landed in my lap quickly, but also because I was new to interviews. I didn’t know how to properly prepare.
I felt the opportunity slipping away before it even really began. I couldn’t believe I was blowing my shot to work at a company that seemed so perfectly suited to me. I couldn’t believe I had bombed the interview!
Then, out of desperation, I did the only thing I could think of: I asked if we could revisit the question. She said OK and we continued on with the interview. I answered everything the best I could while jumping onto my computer, Googling some stories from the past few months, and finding one I recognized and could talk knowledgeably about.
Once she had finished her list of questions, I asked if we could revisit the earlier one I hadn’t answered. “My favorite article was the one about knee injuries and how to manage them,” I said. “I have struggled with a bum knee for the past several years, so this really hit home for me.”
“Great,” she said. “Thank you, we will be in touch.”
I was sure I'd bombed the interview and crushed my NYC dreams. But to my surprise, she admired how I handled the situation.
In fact, she was creating a new internship role just for me, the web intern (this was 2007, afterall, and magazines were not yet publishing online regularly).
In the end, I got the internship and moved to NYC! My dream career had started, after one fateful phone call.
Looking back, that interview taught me a valuable lesson: preparation is key. Here are three tips to help you nail your next job interview.
Research the Company
Visit the company’s website to learn about its mission, products or services, leadership team and latest news. Pick a few specific things that stick out to you and be prepared to talk about them. While it wasn’t available back when I was interviewing, these days, you can follow their social media accounts to get a feel for the company culture and activities.
Understand the Role
If a job description is available, study it. Make sure you understand the responsibilities and requirements, and ask about anything that isn’t clear to you. Identify which of your skills align with the job description.
Bonus tip: Go beyond identifying skills that align and think of your experiences that align with the job description. Think of a story from your past internships, volunteer hours, or odd jobs that showcases your ability to take on each responsibility listed.
Prepare Your Answers
Prepare answers for common interview questions like "Tell me about yourself," "Why do you want this job?", and "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" Again, stories work really well here!
And never overestimate the power of Google!
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