For young job seekers, an internship is generally the first real step into a career. It’s usually the first job interview you have and this interview will help you get a feel for how future job interviews will be as you progress further into your career. Unlike a traditional in-person interview, a video interview for job seekers applying to an internship position can help showcase their knowledge of technology and their dedication to staying abreast of important trends.
For your video interview, it’s important to get all of the technical things sorted out first. This means checking for any errors in your image or sound quality before the video interview takes place. You should also ensure that you are in a quiet environment free of distractions so you will not be interrupted during the interview. Despite the fact that you won’t meet the interviewer in person right away, they can still see you. For this reason you must dress professionally in your video interview. One of the most important things to demonstrate is that you are mature, professional and ready to start working in your industry. The first step to accomplishing this is to dress professionally and to start the video interview on time.
Once you have the small things figured out, you should focus on the actual interview itself. Internship interviews won’t focus a lot on your past work experiences since you likely don’t have many, but it will focus on the skills required to fill the internship role such as leadership, independent work skills, and proficiency in the required skills needed for the role. Depending on the career you are pursuing, the interviewer will be interested in knowing how well-versed you are in the skills needed for the position. You may have already learned things in your college courses and can discuss those with the interviewer.
To compensate for your lack of experience, job seekers should express their desire to learn things first-hand with the internship and express their eagerness to jump into the role. Employers look for interns that are enthusiastic and quick to learn. They like to have interns that are happy to be there and aren’t there just for the college credit or paycheck. Make it a priority in your video interview to express enthusiasm for the internship and avoid focusing on your lack of experience.
As with any job interview, you must always have questions for the interviewer. This is one of the most important aspects of a successful interview. Signing onto a video interview or participating in an in-person interview with zero questions prepared shows a lack of interest on your part and will not help you snag the internship- or a job.
If this is your first video interview, don’t feel intimidated. As long as you project confidence and adequately prepare, the interview should run smoothly. An internship is a learning experience and the interviewer doesn’t expect you to have a resume full of impressive work experience or skills. As long as you demonstrate that you have the capability to do the job, then you have a sure shot at succeeding.
What are some tips you would give young adults video interviewing for their first internship? Share with us in the comments section below!
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