I’m an upcoming Senior and I have an interview with the police department in their Victim Services department on Tuesday. I’m super nervous and I have no idea what to expect. I also have severe social anxiety, but I really need this internship and I’m working on beating my anxiety. The one thing that is really making me nervous is the unknown, I have no idea what they’re going to ask me, what they are going to have me do, if it’ll be a group interview.
I really just want some tips from other students who have interviewed for internships.
Thank You.
I interviewed for multiple internships (law firm, political action committee, state agency, senator’s office) – I’ve found that a good way to approach an interview is to convince yourself that “they” need you more than you need them. Even if that’s not necessarily true, try to persuade yourself that your skills and assets are valuable enough that you are in fact needed by whoever is facilitating the internship. You will offer something no one else can.
During the interview itself, remind yourself that it is okay to think before you speak. You can pause before answering a question to gather your thoughts into a coherent remark. It’s not Jeopardy! - you don’t get bonus points for being the quickest to hit the buzzer. It’s also not a beauty pageant - the interviewer is not gonna expect you to have a rolodex of prepared, memorized answers to choose from. Try to remain conversational and casual in your affectation.
Wear something comfortable yet smart (nothing too restrictive, tight, etc - i.e. don’t wear 4 inch heels, etc). Don’t go overboard with your look - dress in a manner that conveys respect and professionalism.
Everything will be fine.
Good luck!
I suggest you practice some answers to standard questions. Like “tell me a little about yourself” or “why do you want this job?” or “what skills and talents would you bring to our department?” Unfortunately, we are so used to not bragging on ourselves that it can be hard to switch gears and be self-promoting in an interview. Another one to prepare for is “what is your long-term career goal?” You want to be able to tie this internship into your future career goal.
Study the department ahead of time as best you can. Learn what you can about how they operate, what they do, what other departments they interact with. They ALWAYS ask you “what questions do you have?” So have 3 or 4 intelligent questions lined up that show you have done your homework. Don’t ask about salary, overtime, or how long your long break will be. Those types of questions are only relevant once you get the job. Ask questions that show your true interest in the position.
I was asked in a job interview to give specific examples of how I had handled certain situations. Like handling conflict between coworkers, providing leadership in an organization, going above and beyond the call of duty. You want to have some examples that show your personality and good character and effective leadership.
You want to practice a 60 to 90 second speech that tells who you are, what your skills are, and what you have to offer this department.
Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes early. That will give you time to breathe deeply, compose yourself, and give yourself a last minute pep talk.
Be sure you know the first and last name of each person you interact with so you can follow up with a thank you note. That note can be email or handwritten, but you want to thank them for their time and consideration.
Also, ask before you leave the interview about the hiring process. “What kind of time frame do you have for making hiring decisions?” Once they tell you time frame, then ask “May I follow up with you in XX amount of time ?”
Best of luck to you.