1. What do I talk about?
Think through life experiences that have been meaningful to you; think about what emotions you felt during and after those experiences, what you learned, and how it impacted your perspective for the future.
Prep by talking to people close to you about these experiences! These practice conversations may help you discover something about yourself that would be useful to bring into an interview. It might also help you recognize biases you have or help you view a situation from a different perspective, both of which are important to personal growth. Be sure to share any revelations about this growth during your interview.
2. Get into character.
Think about which personality traits you hope to spotlight during your interview. This will help you decide which experiences to talk about and how to speak about them. Remember that your non-verbal communication (eg. body language, facial expressions, etc) plays a large role in determining how you’re perceived as well. Practice telling stories in a way that best demonstrates the unique aspects of your character. Allowing your charismatic, funny, energetic, introspective, or witty character shine will make you memorable to an interviewer.
3. Stay human.
Take a step back and remind yourself that the interviewer is another human being. Try your best to be mentally present with them during the conversation. Speak casually, to the extent that feels appropriate in the interview setting. This will help you connect with your interviewer. Appearing interested, asking questions, and actively listening to your interviewer will keep the communication bidirectional, helping the two of you engage in a real conversation.
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