The Interview

The past week has been a busy one. It's midterm time again and I actually had get some work done. Adding to the stress was my internship interview yesterday morning. This wasn't the normal competitive interview as the internship had been arranged beforehand by FIE. However, I still had to sell my skills and prove I wasn't a total nutcase or slacker. Here is a self-Q and A to breakdown what happened.

Did you get there on time?

I had some trouble putting on my new tie and I left later than I had wanted. The location, however, is two tube stops away so I arrived five minutes before my scheduled time at 10.

What was your first impression?

I was surprised at the modern appearance of the office building. Like many places in London, the neighborhood and the building's facade seems traditional and humble but the interior has a modern style to it. The office was one long room, sans cubicles, and there were plenty of new computers clicking away. Overall, the place was professional but edgy. I was intrigued.

The editor in chief, my interviewer, couldn't find a quiet office space so we went to Starbucks for the interview. I thought that was unique and very friendly.

What questions did he ask?

I had heard from other students that their interviewers didn't inquire too much about their skills but spent more time explaining what their tasks would be like. My interviewer certainly wanted me to explain my work experiences and the skills I had. He also tested me on my education history. What is the National Society of Collegiate Scholars and how did I get involved? What is my GPA? He went through each of the work experiences listed on my resume and grilled me on what I did at those jobs.

What are your tasks?

Apparently, Third Sector Magazine is revamping their website to compliment the print version better. The editor told me I would be working with the web editor on some of these projects. I will also be writing small features for the print publication, including profiles on small non-profit organizations.

How confident are you about these tasks?

This work is reminicent of what I did at the Career Center in terms of working on new projects and doing small write ups. I'm more than confident I can complete these tasks well. This is in my comfort zone but it also allows me to apply my skills to the real world. I'm really lucky I can get some clips too.

When do you start and what are your hours?

I start Wednesday, Oct. 29 which is the day the FIE internship program begins. I intern Wed, Thursday and Friday until Dec. 18th. My hours are 9:30 am to 5:30 pm with an hour for lunch.