INTERN: Top Tips to Land an Interview and Succeed

With preparations for KickstART Festival getting underway, Propel will be looking to recruit Interns for the 2020 KickstART Festival in the next couple of months. Internships are a great way to gain entry-level work experience, build connections and learn industry knowledge. Here are some top tips to land an interview and succeed! *as suggested by Propel Staff.

Our lovely 2019 KickstART Interns.

1) Be confident – It’s the little things such as being assertive in your cover letter and making eye contact during your interview that makes the difference. Note: don’t turn confidence into cockiness

2) Communicate what you want – Employees want to help you just as much as you want to help them, make sure you identify what you want out of the job so that expectations are set early on.

3) Do your research on the organisation – Nothing is more impressive than an applicant who is able to talk enthusiastically about the organisations values or key initiatives.

4) Have a positive attitude – Be friendly and reciprocate with the people who are interviewing you, they may be your future colleagues after all!

5) Make yourself comfortable – During an interview try to make yourself as relaxed and comfortable as possible. Arrive early to familiarise yourself with the environment, drink water if it is offered, participate in small talk to break the ice and don’t fidget during the interview.

6) Prepare to sell yourself – You need to convince the interviewer(s) why they should hire you over every other person they are interviewing that day, what is it that makes you unique, what can you give to the organisation, what can you do to make yourself memorable?

Bonus Tip: Apply for a position even if you think you are under qualified or if it might not be 100% suited to you. Why? First and foremost the organisation you are applying for will keep your CV on file regardless and may contact you if something more appropriate pops up. Secondly the more practice you can get to write cover letters and more experience you can get in an interview environment the better! - your dream job might be just around the corner and you want to be ready for it.