It’s getting difficult to remember things before the MCO, but before the world changed, some of us were actually preparing to head out for internship.
I was one of those people, and I was lucky enough to land an interview with none other than Publicis Groupe Malaysia – one of the biggest names in advertising. Of course, the interview had to be conducted online. To me, interviews are uncharted waters, and boy was I nervous…really nervous.
But somehow, I made it through. And because I did, I thought I’d share some interview tips that worked for me in my online interview:
DO YOUR HOMEWORK
After my interview date was scheduled, I decided to do my homework. I started with some research on Leo Burnett Malaysia’s background, goals, past work and parent company which is Publicis Groupe, one of the legacy agencies and largest multinational marketing and communication companies in the world.
To calm my pre-interview nerves, I looked into the LinkedIn profiles of my interviewers to get a better grasp of the person I will be talking to through a screen. I was able to ‘humanise’ the process of an interview and also put a face to my interviewers’ names.
I also penned down some attractive keywords and sentences related to my interviewers’ job descriptions, which kept me from stumbling over my words during the interview!
PREPARE. ALSO, WAKE UP EARLY
On the big day, I got up early, had breakfast, put on some makeup and wore presentable clothes before settling at my desk with a cup of tea, 30 minutes before the scheduled time.
By getting ready half an hour early, I was able to go over the little things – those minor issues that I’d forget if I was rushing at the last minute.
In that time, I went over my notes, brushed my hair and checked the lighting, internet connection and camera angle before signing into the virtual meeting room. Those little things make a difference.
It may also help to test out everything – your camera, connection, lighting, video software. You could even do a test run with a friend the day before.
DON’T FREAK OUT IF THINGS DON’T GO ACCORDING TO PLAN
During the interview, things were okay but I did face some technical issues. As you’d expect, there was a slow internet connection just when you need it the most (tsk tsk). This was also apparently the best time for me to experience the incompatibility of Skype business accounts and regular Skype accounts.
But despite all that, the interview was still a success. There’s always a way to get around such problems.
The point is that you can’t get flustered if everything doesn’t go exactly how you imagined it. Despite how well you prepare, things can happen beyond your control.
If you’ve made it to the interview, you must have something that piqued your interviewers’ interest. When in doubt, just focus on being yourself and what you’ve prepared.
Also, figure out a backup plan. If the computer doesn’t work, could you switch to a phone interview? Could you Skype on your phone? Could you reschedule? Remember both parties want this interview to work – your interviewers don’t want to waste their time either.
ENJOY THE EXPERIENCE
Personally, I like this idea of using online platforms for interviews as I was able to communicate with representatives of a prestigious company from the comfort of home – playing my part in stopping the spread of COVID-19.
I learned about the typical flow of an interview and how I will also be informed of my job nature and job description.
I do see that in the future, we’ll be using this interview-style more often. Technology is making life quicker.
All in all, I am glad that being at QIU allowed me to seize such great opportunities with industry giants. I am also immensely thankful for the chance to be able to intern and learn at a company whose essence resonates with my own passion. Here’s to the adventure of internship!
P.S. – please stay safe and stay home everyone
