I have had nine interviews since school started, mostly for
consulting and finance positions in a variety of companies--PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte & Touche, IBM, Boeing, etc... My problem is not getting the interview, but my problem is doing well in the interview.
Apparently I look good on paper, but I making some kind of fatal flaw that has made each and everyone of the 9 firms I interviewed for slam the door on me. I come prepared to my interviews, I've read the annual reports,
done industry research, went over answers to commonly asked questions. In the interview I don't stutter, I don't ever say uhhh, I have no problem communicating what I want to say. So I cannot figure our what I am doing
wrong. The last of the big companies-JP Morgan, Bain & Co, McKenzie, are coming soon and I need to figure out what I'm doing wrong before I find myself living at home with Mom next year and waiting tables!
Please help!
ANSWER FROM BRIAN KRUEGER:
Three things to help you in answering your question:
Ask. Call the people you've already interviewed with and ask. Ask why you were passed over. You do have the right. You probably won't get a straight answer from most, but you will likely get some info of value
to help from at least 2 or 3. This may provide you with insights, although unlikely to provide the entire story.
Practice. If you have not yet done so, go through a mock interview with a career counselor from your campus Placement Center. They should be able to help you in fine tuning your interviewing skills.
Reconsider. Perhaps the "name companies" are not truly what you should be pursing. Perhaps there is a smaller, lesser-known firm that can provide you with the opportunity that has eluded you.
Bottom line is to put forth your "best you" in the interview. Not the best "who you think they want you to be," but truly you. If you act and they hire, they hired the actor, not you. Be
truly you (but be your best you) and you will eventually make the connection with the company that is right for you.
Do you have a question that you would like to have answered here in this forum? Send your question for a personal reply.
All job search information at this site is provided by Brian Krueger, author of the book College Grad Job Hunter, the definitive guide for college grad job search.
Used by permission from the author.
