It is common belief that one’s recruitment depends on what is said during the interview, and so the verbal exchange tends to be the sole focus. Yet this isn’t completely true. You will find some tips below to be successful in your interviews, and get your internship or job.

Get prepared for the interview

50% of an interview’s success depends on the preparation beforehand, and far too many candidates fail to prepare appropriately.

Getting prepared implies:

• Researching the company you are applying to (its mission statements, its current events, its values, its future challenges) by reviewing their website, specifically the Careers Department’s page.
• It also involves writing down any argument you may want to put forward for this specific position, and which can be later developed during the interview, depending on the employer's expectations. Doing this, you will have less chance of being unsettled and be more spontaneous.

Be image-conscious!

Contrary to common belief, it is not what is said that has the most impact on the recruiter, but the impression left after the interview. To avoid any unpleasantness, smile from the start, make eye-contact with the person you’re speaking with, punctuate your sentences with body language - mentioning some catchy anecdote may also help the recruiter remember you when comes the time to make the final choice. Paying a discrete visit to the company’s headquarters a few days before the interview to examine the company’s “dress code” may sometimes prove useful as well…

Tell a story about yourself

Nothing is more boring for a recruiter than a candidate reeling off his or her CV during the interview. To catch their attention, make the accounts of your internship, exchange, or group project lively, by describing your personal experience and how these made an impact on you as a person.

Be positive!

Recruiters need reassurance, for they fear making mistakes. They are looking first and foremost for a candidate who answers the position’s criteria in terms of qualifications and skills, but also in terms of personality. Avoid negatives sentences as much as possible, and emphasize the positive side of your past experiences, as well as the lessons learned from any failure you might mention. Instead of “my last internship didn’t go well”, you could say “my last internship partially met my objectives”.

Talk accurately about your qualities and flaws

Throughout the interview, recruiters form an impression of you, and they expect your answer to this kind of question to fit the description you have given of yourself.

Small tip: ask your relatives to describe their impression of you, specifically which qualities and flaws they associate with you. Make good use of this information: if your friends perceive you as shy, you might tell the recruiter: “I may come across as introverted, but once I know people, I become much more outgoing.”

Do I need to ask questions?

No, it isn’t mandatory to ask questions once an interview is over, especially if the recruiter told you all you needed to know about the company and the content of the position. Still, don’t forget to ask about the recruitment process and its developments (when will they contact you and what are the next steps), so as to follow-up and call the recruiter again when the time is right.

Practice!

Seize any opportunity to make sure you convey your message well (dinner with friends or family, personal, academic or professional relationships), to ensure that on “D” Day (meaning a job or internship you truly want) you’ll be in perfect shape !

Go further

• Sign up for a workshop on how to ace your job interview
• The most commonly asked interview questions

Are you thinking of attending a trade forum or professional reception? Do you want to prepare for a job interview and the traditional request to "tell me about yourself"? Are you seeking partners for a project? In all these situations, a "two-minute introduction" or elevator pitch is a crucial exercise, and one that requires practice. Your starting "hook" and the quality and clarity of the message you present will give the listener a first impression that is either positive or negative. Skilfully executing this pitch is essential to your interview and may determine its overall success. Done well, it might bring you even further!

The elevator pitch

An elevator pitch should not be improvised. Prepare it well in advance and practice with your friends to see what they remember about you. Finally, memorise it to be able to give it under any circumstances – although without giving the impression of reciting a script! All in two minutes.

1. Who are you?

Work on your lead-in here!

• Who you are (first and last name)
• Your current situation

Example: "Hi, I'm Paul Martin, in my first year of a Master's in Public Affairs at Sciences Po Paris.", "I'm a student in the Finance and Strategy Master programme at Sciences Po, and I'm looking for a management control internship in a finance department.", "I'm studying International Affairs at Sciences Po Paris, and I want to learn more about consultancy jobs in international relations."

Why are you approaching this company or contact specifically? (At a trade or employment Forum)

Example: "I read recently that you're opening new offices in Hong Kong; I'd like to learn more about what the teams there will be doing.", "I saw on your website that you have Digital Transformation expertise, and I'd like to know more."

2. What have you done?

Present your past experience in no more than two or three elements : "I've done this, this and this".

• What have you studied?
• What are your previous professional experiences that support your career goal?

Example: "I'm passionate about international relations, I studied at XXX and earned a Bachelor's in YYY. Then during my time in ZZZ (country) I did a six-month internship at VVV, where I completed an assignment as UUU. This allowed me to complete WWW (project) and develop my skills in...", "Before starting the Public Affairs Master at Sciences Po, I did a dual degree in Law and History at Paris 1 University Panthéon-Sorbonne, where I completed a three-month internship at the Paris District Court as assistant to a judge."

3. Demonstrate your areas of expertise

What are the successes you are proud of, and that illustrate your personal and professional qualities?

This section is important because it frames your experience and will highlight the logic that points to your career goal. Find successes in your past experience that will gain your listener's attention and give them the chance to ask questions.

Example: "I'm passionate about the environment. During my study abroad in Guatemala I created an environmental protection non-profit which is reforesting 10 hectares a year."

4. Explain your goal, where you want to go.

This is your reason for talking to this individual. Everything you've done until now led to the definition of your goal. Clearly state what you want to do.

Example: "My goal is to...", "Ideally, I'd like to...": talking about the future. "Now I want to go into XXX business sector, in particular as a YYY (profession) // to develop ZZZ (project)."

5. Where are you in all this? 

What is the area where you stand out, what motivates you, what is your "thing"... share the elements of your personal life that will highlight other qualities that are transferable to the professional sphere.

This section may be the most crucial in capturing your listener's interest.

Example: If you've lived in multiple countries, are a performance athlete or an accomplished artist, you can talk about this to illustrate your leadership, tenacity, creativity, etc.

WHAT TO DO ON D-DAY

Just before your pitch

• Smile (visual impression)
• Look your listener in the eyes and wait for them to be ready to listen to you
• Be confident, show that you feel ready to deliver your message

During the pitch

• Before starting, try to find out the functions of your listener: Are they from human resources? Operations?
• Remember to breathe and not talk too fast
• Stay present and remember to leave space for your listener to talk when you feel it's necessary
  E.g.: if you feel like they're not listening to you, ask them a question
• Use short, simple, precise sentences!
• Never say too much, you only have two minutes and you need to capture the interest of your listener. They have to want to know more about you and ask lots of questions!

Just after the pitch

• Let your listener speak
• Ask them questions to start a discussion
  E.g.: "Would you like me to share any aspects of my experience in more detail?"
  E.g.: What would be the next step?