Before stepping into my final year, I applied for internships & apprenticeships, graduate schools, and some volunteering programs. I applied for internships as part of academic modules but I also wanted work experience, and that's why I considered applying for apprenticeships too. Having done all steps required, the final step to most of the applications I made was an interview.
And guess what? I googled tips for interviews and watched various videos on YouTube to get prepared to sit for an interview. I had to make sure that I master tips like:
- Be organized and on time,
- Think of questions,
- Dress appropriately and others.
While this was necessary and good, I found that it is not enough while preparing an interview for graduate schools and internships related to STEM fields. For example, while applying to one of the graduate schools, I had to do an interview and all they did was to ask me questions in class! I had to explain some concepts learnt in the 2nd year of my undergraduate studies.
The same thing happened when applying to the apprentice position in one of the organizations here in Rwanda. The position was about learning network protocols, Python development, and IoT (Internet of Things). During the interview, I was asked about Internet of Things tools (how they work and when they are used) and concepts in Python.
- I came to realize that while preparing to sit for an interview, you should do it as you prepare for written exams. We should be prepared to answer verbally, questions we used to answer using a pen. And, while other tips are important as well, we should also make sure that we are able to explain concepts as they were learnt in class.
I want to know from you: did you have an experience like this? Which tips have you found helpful? Leave a reply below!