Student Part-Time Job Interview Preparation

Although summer is half-way through, we know that many of you who are still studying will be looking for a part-time job to help alleviate some of the many expenses for studying.

However, a part-time job requires thorough preparation and a lot of motivation and commitment to your job, even if this is just a temporary job. You will never know what opportunities it can unravel in the future.

Muovo is sharing with you the following article, first published in CV Tips, which offers tips on how you can start preparing for your interview effectively.

Studying for the Interview
Prior to the interview, you should view the company website or do a search on a search engine about a company to find background information. If your friends or family members have worked for the company in the past, or in a similar position, ask them about the types of questions or work expectations you should prepare for.

Prepare for Basic Questions
Some interviewers may ask only basic questions about schedule and availability and if you have any previous experience in this type of job. There are also many sources of basic interview questions on the Internet, such as this list of Interview Questions to Expect and Prepare for, or you can take a look at the sample questions available in an interview book, such as Boost Your Interview I.Q. Ten Steps to Interview Success also has additional resources on interview preparation basics.

Job Specific Questions
Some interviewers may ask questions that are highly specific to the job concerned. A person interviewing for a position as a nanny will have to talk about their experience with children, as well as explain what First Aid and child development courses they have taken.

What to Wear to the Interview
Though most interview books will suggest you wear a suit, or even business casual, this may not be appropriate attire for an interview in landscaping, childcare or even retail sales. In this case, wear a version of the clothes that you plan to wear each day to work, but make sure they are brand new and clean. Don’t wear a T-shirt with a slogan, displaying offensive or sarcastic humor and especially not the uniform of a rival company, even if it is vintage. Pants don’t need to be pressed and you can’t really shine your steel toed boots, but they should be free of paint and stains and comply with safety standards.

Getting to the Interview
Get a map or directions to the interview so that you can show up on time to the interview. Punctuality is very important to employers, especially if they are arranging transportation to a work site, or if there is a safety meeting each day at the site, as can happen on some construction sites. If you have limited experience in these positions, punctuality is an asset.

Bring a Copy of Your Schedule
If the employer has offered to work around your schedule during the school year, bring a copy of your school schedule to the interview. Though you may be solidly booked with classes, some employers can be very understanding of these limits and will work around them. In other cases, an inflexible schedule may keep you out of the running for a position, so only offer the schedule if asked.

Read other blogs from this post for some extra help! Good luck!

Nikita Pisani at Muovo

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