Staying Sane During an Interview
By Nicola Midiri
The interview is marked on your calendar in red. As the date approaches, you feel a mix of emotions: excitement, anxiety and nervousness. Your mind begins to race. What if you say the wrong thing? What should you wear? How can you make a strong impression? Your heart beats a little faster as you imagine walking into the room approaching the interviewer. Nervous about proving you’re the right candidate. These pesky thoughts are completely normal. Although interviewing can feel daunting, it's a universal experience. With thoughtful preparation and the right mindset, candidates can calm their nerves. This can create strong communication, which will allow you to approach an interview with greater confidence.
Photographer | Benson Delaney
To help students understand the interview process, Stephanie Paquin, the Assistant Director for Career Coaching, shared some effective advice. As Paquin works with students across a variety of majors, her focus is to help best prepare fashion students with professional skills in preparation for the interview process. Her main goal is to help students improve their interview skills by learning their own personal strengths and getting comfortable talking about them prior to the interview. Paquin helps students highlight their unique skillset, demonstrating their most outstanding qualities in the interview process in order to stand out as a truly memorable candidate.
Interviews can take place in many formats, but in-person interviews or virtual interviews are the most common. Speaking through a screen can feel less natural, but it’s important to treat it like an in-person interview. Communicating through fashion itself can help showcase your personality and finding ways to combine professionalism and self-expression is a great middle ground. For fashion students, adding some statement pieces to stand out can allow candidates to express their personal style. Showcase who you are while ensuring that your appearance remains appropriate. Whether the interview takes place in person or through a screen, it’s important to present an authentic polish version of yourself.
When it comes to preparing for an interview, it’s important to avoid sounding overly rehearsed. Practice makes perfect and is a key component for becoming more confident in answering questions. Paquin recommends utilizing Career Services by scheduling a mock interview appointment. Students will be asked hypothetical questions based on the specific company or industry. Feedback will then be provided for improvement. This preparation can be especially helpful for fashion students, who may need to discuss their portfolios, creative projects, or even knowledge of a particular brand.
The STAR method is also helpful for navigating interviews. STAR stands for situation, task, action, result. This method was recommended by Paquin as it helps candidates organize their answers by clearly explaining the situation, task, action and result of a specific experience. It should keep a person focused when answering a question and can limit rambling.
Many people may interview for the same position as you, whether they are fellow Marist students, recent graduates or experienced candidates from other schools and organizations. It’s important to be memorable and stand out. Make an impact by showcasing who you are beyond the resume. What separates you from another candidate is all about leaving a lasting impression. Leaving something behind is important, like a folder with a copy of your resume, samples from your portfolio, or any projects.
“It'll show your professionalism and organization skills. And when you leave and the next candidate walks in and they don't leave something, your folder will hopefully be left on their desk and that'll make you a memorable candidate,” Paquin said.
Students can learn what it takes to be an impressive candidate and turn to campus resources for extra support to curb any stress or anxiety. The Center for Career Services in the Dyson Center offers many resources for students. They review resumes and cover letters, assist with job and internship placements, LinkedIn guidance, conduct mock interviews and facilitate networking opportunities. By taking advantage of these services, students can feel more prepared when navigating the interview process.
Everyone goes through the interview process and it’s important to let students know they don’t need to go through it alone. Marist Career Services allow students to have so many opportunities to practice. As Paquin emphasized, “Practice, practice, practice is the biggest thing you can do to improve your interviewing skills.” As students navigate this process, it’s good to know that you don’t need to deliver a perfect performance. Think of it as an opportunity to share your experiences, show genuine interest, and showcase the person behind the resume.
Remember, don’t forget to say thank you. It’s an easy task after an interview to send a quick email, thanking the person you spoke with. It only takes a couple of minutes, and it makes a big difference. Paquin emphasized the importance of sending a personalized thank you note to each interviewer. Even referencing a specific detail from the conversation can demonstrate genuine interest and make the candidate memorable.
And lastly, don't forget to breathe. You got this, babe!
