How to understand the applicant in front of you

They’re nervous, of course
Practice is crucial for feeling confident, but these students have a few other tricks for redirecting their thoughts and keeping the nerves at bay.

Greg Nodaros, ’17, a business administration major with a concentration in finance, listens to upbeat, positive music. Accounting major Jacklyn Phillips, ’19, opts for calming tunes.

Lexie Brown, ’17, who’s studying business administration and marketing, shows up 30 minutes early and finds a nearby coffee shop where she can decompress before heading inside.

They’ve thought about the details
Nodaros starts the day with a big breakfast, water, and coffee so he’ll be hydrated, energized, and full for the duration. He also looks to public transportation so that he won’t get sweaty walking the streets of New York.

Brown picked her go-to suits because they fit well and she knows she won’t fidget. She opts for flats and small wedges over high heels, just in case the interview includes an office tour.

“I never want to trip or try and walk too fast,” she says.

Her bag is also stocked with a brush, gum, and some toiletries, just in case she needs to freshen up at the last minute.

In Phillips’ bag? Her favorite Richmond pen, a gift from accounting professor Daniel Paik.

They’re prepared
Going to Career Services for interview preparation, résumé review, and general guidance is just the beginning.

“I read up on financial news constantly, had a stock pitch or two prepared, and had my résumé memorized and in front of me during the interview,” Nodaros says. “I also had answers to potential questions written out on a whiteboard in a study room in the business school.”

They’ve read up on you
Brown did extensive homework before an interview with a financial services company.

“I scoured the internet for information about the company and the team I was interviewing for,” she says. “I couldn’t find much about the specific team’s duties, so I also used LinkedIn to look up my interviewer.”

They know what they want
These students aren’t afraid of hard work — in fact, they’re hoping for challenges that help them grow. And they want to understand how their efforts contribute to the final product.

They also want to be part of a collaborative and supportive team, but with room for independence. They’re hoping to find a mentor and to learn from their colleagues.

“I want to take advantage of the advice and experiences they have,” says Rachael Overland, ’18, a business administration major with a concentration in finance.

They know it’s out of their hands
Overland acknowledges that she can prepare how she talks and acts, but in the end, she can’t control the decisions an interviewer makes.

“I’ve learned that interviewers appreciate honesty about potential shortcomings and about my desire and willingness to learn,” she says. “The last thing that I want is to be hired for a job that I have minimal qualifications for just because I stretched the truth.”