This is the time of year when college students are out looking for a part-time job. An important part of the process is the interview, something many people struggle with. If you’re one of those people, don’t fear, because we’re here to help!

What preparation is needed before the big interview? Professor Melinda Reuter has the answers for that. Professor Reuter is a member of the Communications Department and has a ton of great advice. Before an interview she highly recommends researching the company. Find out what is important to the company and be able to talk intelligently about the company. Professor Reuter also advises dressing appropriately for the interview. She recommends “If you are unsure about what to wear, go by the company and see what everyone is wearing.” Her final tidbit was to edit the resume. “You would be surprised by how many times there are small typos in a resume,” she remarked. Pre-interview can be nerve wracking, but with preparation it becomes so much smoother.

During the interview is almost as bad as the anticipation beforehand. Dr. David Campbell spent ten years as a hiring manager and has a lot to say about the process. When asked what employers looking for, he answered “I was always looking for good fit for the company. Does their personality fit the company atmosphere? I also looked for reliability. Would they arrive on time and do a good job?” His best piece of advice relates back to the worst interview he ever conducted. In that interview, Campbell asked the individual what his greatest weakness was. The individual’s answer was awful. Campbell’s advice to avoid this is to turn a weakness into a strength. He gave two example answers “I get too invested in the job” or “I always take too much responsibility onto myself.” The very last bit of wisdom he has to give is that men need to remember to take the tags off their suits.

Sabrina LeBlanc is a junior here at Millikin University. She just went through several job interviews and finally got a job with Ross. She has several things she would love for others to know. The hardest questions she was asked were “Why should we hire you” and “Do you have any questions for us?” She replied by saying she was detail oriented and a hard worker to the first question. Her advice for the second one is “It’s okay if you don’t have a question, and if you do you should definitely ask. You need all the information available before jumping into a job.” Her tips for successful job interview is to not pretend to be what you think the company wants. She says have fun in the interview and try to not stress about it.

Trying to get a job is hard work. It involves searching desperately for any job openings and then applying. After applying, comes the wait. Will they call me? Will they want an interview? Once at the interview stage, things become even harder. What is the right thing to say? What is the right thing to wear? These are all questions faced in the job process. Going in prepared and with a game plan can ease the stress and anxiety. Research the job, know the company. Dress to to impress the hiring committee. Remember to give a positive spin to weaknesses. Give firm handshake, make plenty of eye contact. Do these things and all should be well. But above all, try to have fun in the interview, treat it like a conversation.