Interview Tips for Freshers
A job interview can induce anxiety, nervousness, and unease in even the most seasoned professionals.
But for freshers, that anxiety can be tenfold.
Freshers generally have less direct work experience and work history, making the interview a bit more difficult to prepare for.
However, there are still things you can do to prepare for an upcoming interview.
We’re going to provide interview tips for freshers that will help you to prepare for an upcoming interview and to help you to calm your nerves beforehand.
As always, we highly recommend revisiting your resume and ensuring that all pertinent sections are wholly completed.
Your resume, while not a direct contributor to receiving a job offer, is the main factor to getting a job interview.
It is, therefore, of utmost importance to ensure your resume is fully completed and accurately portrays your work and education experience.
What is a Fresher?
Before we dive into interview tips for freshers, it’s important to establish what a fresher is.
Generally, a fresher is someone who has no previous work experience.
Typically, this means that the persons work experience is completely nonexistent.
While being a fresher is a difficult predicament, it is important to understand that everyone was once a fresher.
From Fortune 100 CEO’s to senior managers, everyone had to start somewhere.
It may feel difficult and uncomfortable, but you should embrace your lack of experience and focus on your strengths during the interview.
Arrive to the Interview On-Time
Perhaps one of the most important aspects of any interview, but even more so for a fresher.
As someone with little to no experience, you want to make a good impression immediately.
This can be accomplished by arriving to the interview location early.
Typically, you should aim to arrive to the interview location between fifteen to twenty minutes early.
This will help you to get situated and to ensure that you do not get snarled in traffic or in any unforeseen issues.
In addition, you will be able to calm your nerves before the interview and be more prepared to speak with the interviewer.
Bring Multiple Copies of Your Resume
While you may be scheduled to meet with one, two, or even three individuals, that can change quickly.
If you’re well-liked, the interviewer may request additional employees to come in and meet with you.
You should always be prepared for the unknown and unexpected, and bringing multiple copies of your resume will help you to be better prepared.
As a general rule of thumb, you should look to bring five copies of your resume to an interview.
As a recommendation, the resumes you print and bring to the interview should be printed on resume paper.
While not necessary, resume paper helps you to appear more professional and prepared for the interview.
You can find a number of resume papers on Amazon, including ones with white, ivory, and diamond white color finishes.
Please note, these links to Amazon are part of an Amazon Associates program, which provides The Corporate Connoisseur with a small commission.
This is at no additional cost to you and helps to keep this site free and honest.
Dress Professionally
No matter if you’re interviewing for a retail position, an internship, or an entry-level position, you should aim to dress in a professional and business manner.
This means dressing to impress and with clothing that is professional and appropriate for a workplace.
As the interviewer will view the clothing you are wearing, you will want to impress them directly off the bat.
Your clothing should not only be business professional, but should also be free of any stains, dirt, and debris.
You should also ensure that your clothing is wrinkle free and ironed properly.
Bring a List of Questions to Ask the Interviewer
An interview is a two-way street, with discussions and questions be levied to both the interviewer and the interviewee.
As-such, you should research the company and the position before the interview.
You should have a solid understanding of the company, the products they offer, and the services they complete.
As you are researching the company, be sure to write down between three to five questions to ask the interviewer.
These questions should be related to the position you are applying, and interviewing, for.
Generally, you will want to ask questions regarding the position and what the role entails.
Bring a Backpack or Suitcase
In addition to bringing multiple copies of your resume, you will want to bring along a backpack, purse, or suitcase to carry your documents in.
As a means to come off more professional, you will want to carry a backpack, purse, or suitcase that is professional and clean.
You should try to avoid walking into the interview with your documents, resumes, and list of questions in hand.
Not only will holding those documents in hand make introducing yourself more difficult, but those papers and documents risk getting lost, wrinkled, or disheveled.
You can also check out our list of the best interview folders if you’re unsure of which one to purchase.
Maintain Proper Hygiene
Another great interview tip for freshers is to maintain proper hygiene and appearance.
While not discussed too much, you will want to ensure that your appearance is proper, professional, and business-like.
This means maintaining your facial hair for men and spraying a few spritz of cologne or perfume.
Follow-Up Appropriately
As another rule of thumb, you will want to follow-up with the interviewer appropriately.
This means contacting them via email within 24-hours after the interview.
This follow-up email should simply thank them for their time and for meeting with you for the interview.
You will also want to address some major points that were discussed and reiterate your excitement and enthusiasm for the role.
While the interviewer may not respond to your follow-up email, it is always important to send one anyway.
A follow-up email is a great way to keep your application and candidacy in the interviewer’s mind and provides a thoughtful gesture to thank the interviewer for their time in interviewing you.
Conclusion
Generally, the best interview tips for freshers maintain a level of confidence, assurance, and reliability.
As a fresher, you will want to give off the best impression from the get-go and maintain that level after the interview is completed, via a follow-up email.
When preparing for an interview, whether you are a career professional or a fresher, you will want to conduct extensive research on the company and the role beforehand.
In addition, you should come to the interview both on-time and with a number of questions to ask the interviewer.
Lastly, our biggest tip and piece of advice for freshers going into an interview is to maintain confidence, project enthusiasm, and show willingness.
These traits will help to differentiate yourself from other candidates and make you a more employable candidate.
