Parents, it’s Interview Season
University and boarding school applications.
Summer internships.
First job offers.
Even promotion interviews for mid-career professionals.
And they all come with the same challenge:
How do you talk about yourself—clearly, confidently—without sounding either too humble… or arrogant?
Easier said than done.
Because most people have never been taught how to speak about themselves under pressure.
In just the past few weeks, I’ve worked with:
- Two high school students who were accepted into their first-choice universities!
- One university student who landed the exact summer internship she wanted!
After the interview prep, one of these students wrote me:
“When I am under pressure, I tend to block while speaking. Working together really helped me overcome this. You taught me new techniques that allowed me to express myself more clearly and improved how I presented myself onscreen.”
So how can you ace that interview that counts so much?
Interview Tips!
Two Questions That Trip You Up
(and what to do instead)
Last week, I taught an interview workshop at New York University in Florence.
And I kept hearing the same sentence:
“I knew what I wanted to say… but it didn’t come out right.”
Interview preparation can change everything!
Let’s tackle how to best approach 2 of the most common and tricky questions.
1 – “Tell me about yourself.”
Most candidates either:
- List their CV
- Or tell a long, unfocused life story
Neither works.
Because this is actually the only question in a job interview where the interviewer can really get to know the real you.
DO NOT RECITE YOUR CV (or “resume” in the USA)!
In 1 minute or less, you might say…
- your name (first and last)
- where you are from (city, state, country)
- where you are in your studies / work / life
- a brief history of what you’ve done with your life up until now (personally & professionally)
- any cool hobbies, passions, and interests
- something catchy about you that makes you unique!
NOTE that details create a connection.
…but the impression you make still matters just as much.
You might be surprised to hear that even acting auditions often happen over Zoom! Yes, really.
And here’s the truth: even the most perfectly crafted answer can fall flat if you’re not thinking about who’s on the other side of the screen.
Don’t forget that virtual communication is still communication. Your presence and personality shouldn’t disappear just because you’re behind a screen.
I’ve put together three Best Practices for Online Calls that will help you work your next Zoom interview.
These details make the difference between being heard… and being overlooked.
With gratitude,
Elia
Communicate the best of yourself.
PS – If this info was helpful, please pass it on to someone else who could find it beneficial!
