A conversation with an employer can represent discomfort, fear and insecurity for many of you. Our representatives are here to make the whole process as easy as possible. We are aware that the conversation and what you will show at the conversation itself, carries a great responsibility. It's the same when you're looking for a job in Serbia, and it's especially stressful when you have to do it all in a foreign language.
First of all, DO NOT PANIC
Prepare well for the interview, comb through the most frequently asked questions by the employer and learn those answers as best you can. With the help of our representatives and preparatory material, you will overcome everything that bothers you and that could make it difficult for you to communicate and leave a good impression for getting the job you want. Given that the conversation will most likely be organized ONLINE, make sure that EVERYTHING works in that part (connection, connection, microphone, camera) and pay attention to appearance and dress. If you do have a LIVE interview, dress decently, be clean and tidy. Always keep your CV in front of you to remind yourself of what is written in that document, because most often the employer will be guided by it and ask you questions based on what you have written about yourself. What you should always have on you is a SMILE!
Find out about your future employer
Try to find out as much information as possible about your future employer as well as the work you will be doing. It is very important that you know what the company is like, how long it has been operating and what its qualities are. You can find all this information on the website of your potential employer, on Google or at our agents who will be happy to meet you if you have any questions or doubts.
Pay attention to dressing
We already talked about this in the DON'T PANIC section, but it's worth repeating. Take some time and think about what it would be best to wear if you have a face-to-face meeting with an employer. So, make sure it's something elegant, not too offensive, neat and clean. For an ONLINE conversation, it is very important that you pay attention to the NAME of your account (to be polite, especially if there are English words, so that the employer takes you as seriously as possible). It is always allowed and necessary to have a smile on your face and be pleasant during the conversation.
Prepare answers to the most frequently asked questions
The best candidates research the job description, think about the type of questions they will be asked, and plan their answers well. Some even practice with friends. Expect questions specific to your job!! Don't just expect basic questions like "what's the weather like?" or "tell me about your family". Below is a list of the 25 most common interview questions in the US:
1. Tell me about yourself.
2. Why should I hire you?
3. What work experience have you had?
4. How did your education prepare you for this internship?
5. Do you work better as a team or on your own?
6. What is your greatest weakness?
7. What is your greatest strength?
8. How would your professor describe you?
9. How would your co-workers describe you?
10. What would your employer tell me about you?
11. What qualities do you have that will make you a good employee?
12. Tell me about any major obstacles you have overcome in your life?
13. Why do you want this position?
14. What's the most important thing you will do on your first day of work?
15. Why are you the best candidate for this internship?
16. Tell me about a stressful situation in a past job and how you handled it.
17. Tell me about your interests.
18. What do you hope to achieve from this program?
19. How can you contribute to this company?
20. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?
21. What led you to your field of study?
22. Describe a situation where you worked as a team. How did you contribute?
23. Why did you want to be part of this program?
24. What is your greatest success?
25. What is your greatest failure?
It is very important to understand the American way of thinking about talking about yourself and your past work experiences and education.
- Mitigate your weaknesses and failures. Saying "I am lazy" or "I am always late" ensures that you will be rejected for a job. If you have such qualities, you must overcome them (by pushing yourself, by buying a new alarm clock...). A typical American answer to the question "What is your weakness" is something like, "It's difficult for me to stop before the job is done. This may annoy others because I just can't rest until the task is complete." You get the point?
- Never talk negatively about your previous job, boss, coworkers, or school. Even if you had a negative experience, find something positive to say about it. For example, "There was often confusion in the kitchen, but this taught me the importance of being organized, calm and to assist coworkers as needed."
Prepare questions that you will ask the employer
Feel free to write down on paper or simply memorize everything you want to ask the employer during the interview. Ask about the job you will be doing, the place, about the accommodation (if it is provided for you), what is the next step regarding the interview, and of course tell him that he is free to ask you if there is anything else he is interested in telling him... At the end of the conversation, feel free to say that you was glad that you talked and that you would really like to work for them, as well as that you will do your best to justify their trust if they hire you. This way they will see that you are very interested in working in their company and that you are someone who is ready to give his best in order to perform as well as possible at work.
GOOD LUCK!