Internship hunting is like dating...

So I've finished interviewing with a few really great positions that I was interested in, but unfortunately no dice.

What I noticed was I tried too hard and got nervous during all the interviews for the ones I liked. The one's I'm less excited about I stay chill and end up progressing.

Anybody else have this problem? Advice?

7 Comments
 

Depends on your dating style as well: personally I'm all in 100% percent and that's where I get ahead. When I don't care or I'm not certain about what to do or if it's a good idea or possible or whatever....I choke. Everyone's different I guess.

But yeah, it's like dating

Get busy living
 
Best Response

It can be tough. The worst part of being passed over is when you don't know what you did wrong. I don't have the best GPA due to a bad first year and no clubs and from a shit stain of a school, but I know that I'm at least as smart as 90% of the people who get these internships. It's frustrating.

The only reassuring thing is to read the stats which I can't remember (e.g. 1/20 applicants gets an interview and then 1/10 interviewees gets an offer). I just got turned down for another job that I really wanted and I just want to give up. But whatever, working at Walmart can't be that bad right ?

"History doesn't repeat itself, but it does rhyme."
 
streetwannabeIt can be tough. The worst part of being passed over is when you don't know what you did wrong. I don't have the best GPA due to a bad first year and no clubs and from a shit stain of a school, but I know that I'm at least as smart as 90% of the people who get these internships. It's frustrating.

What makes you so sure that you're smarter than 90% of these people?

 

Its similar in the sense its a numbers game, but on the actual interview if you come across as super eager and enthusiastic and a bit try hard (this does not mean your a nervous wreck and forget everything) thats a lot more likely to get you hired than if you show up with i dont give a shit attitude.

You are confusing correlation and causation OP. Interviews which you were relaxed for and didnt really care is because you did not rly want the job,likely because you were way overqualified or it wasnt particularly good anyway), you got that because you were overqualified not because you didnt give a shit during interviews.

you were nervous during interviews you really wanted to get (i.e. competitive stuff you werent neccessarily superqualified for)

 

I know there will be people who disagree, but I have found that setting the right mindset helps me the most in these situations. I found myself being overly nervous about interviews until I began thinking (like others are saying) I am just as smart as others interviewing I calmed way down.

I know it sounds super cliche but if you have a positive outlook and truly believe that you will get the job I believe it will drastically reduce the stress of interviews. Thats my two cents anyway.

 

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