New Grads, Don't Make This Fatal Interview Mistake!
By Christina McKenna
“She just didn’t give the impression she wanted the job.”
Ugh. That was the feedback I got from a recruiter friend about how a recent college grad I know performed in a job interview at his firm.
“We liked her academic background and, in terms of internships and other experience, she's right in-line with our other candidates,” he said. “But she seemed disinterested and, honestly, that cost her. We hired someone else.”
New graduates, take heed! Don’t let this happen to you!
The sad truth is, that rejected new grad was highly interested in the position! She was simply worried that demonstrating too much enthusiasm would make her appear unsophisticated or overly eager. So, instead, she downplayed her interest, a misguided move that killed her candidacy.
At Bluestone Executive Communications, we train professionals at all levels to answer questions in high stakes situations---like media interviews, analyst calls, and even job interviews. While for seasoned and mid-career professionals, experience can – and should – be a selling point, new grads have little if any work history to offer. Yet, organizations know recent grads can bring value with other aspects of their candidacy, such as cutting-edge tech skills and contemporary cultural connections. But, hiring managers tell us, youthfulness alone won’t cut it.
“They've got to show an eagerness to learn and contribute, or we won't invest in training and developing them,” according to another recruiter we spoke to. “After all, we’re not hiring them on their record, but rather their potential.”
New grads, let that be a lesson.
You’ve got skills and insight that, in time, will bring value and move us all forward. But don't let insecurity or complacency undermine your chance to get your foot in the door. Work to sell yourself and know that when it comes to touting your best assets, your curiosity, initiative, and enthusiasm may well be what sets you apart from the pack.
Want more inside expertise on how to nail your new grad job interviews? We created an intensive on-demand course just for you called “Nail the Job Interview for New Grads,” and it’s loaded with our top secrets to help those newest members of the workforce land their first job.
Click below to learn more and use the coupon NAILEDIT to get 50% off in the month of July.
Give it a try and let us know if it works for you or if something else has worked better. For more great ideas and tips for rock solid communication, visit us at bluestoneexec.com.