Is It important to Declare a Major Before Starting College

Is It important to Declare a Major Before Starting College As a high school senior applying to colleges, its common to not know what you want to major in quite yet. At the same time, you may have classmates who are already sure of what they want to study and plan on picking a major early in college. Either way works, depending on your situation. Here are several factors to consider when deciding whether to apply undecided or to declare a major. If you have experience with a certain subject, declare a major If you already feel passionate about a certain subject, go ahead and declare it as a major on your application (you can always change your major later if you wish). Keep in mind that if you do so, readers of your application will pay more attention to related courses youve taken in high school and look for evidence of your commitment to the subject. If for example, you declare a journalism major on your application, admissions officers will likely look for good grades in your high school English courses, and perhaps note if you participated in student newspaper. If you dont have good grades to show for, or did not take related classes when you could have, this might reflect poorly on your application, depending on the competitiveness of the program. So, consider both your interest in the subject as well as how well youve done in related classes. If you arent excited about a field of interest, dont declare a major On the flip side, if you dont feel strongly about a specific area of study, dont force it. Its okay to apply undecided; many colleges know that students often come in not knowing what they want to study, or even that students will explore and possibly change majors once in college. If you apply undecided, definitely put your best foot forward: emphasize your academic success where you can, as well as your extracurricular activities and leadership skills and roles. If you have a few different strong interests in multiple fields, its a great idea to speak to those in your application essays. Demonstrate to the admissions officers why its hard for you to narrow your passions down to one single major. If youre applying to a particular school within a college, declare a major Some colleges require you to apply to a specific school or program within the college, like the school of arts and humanities, the business school, or the architecture program, depending on your intended major. If so, it may behoove you to declare a major on your application to show your interest in the field. Some schools go even further and may actually require you to declare the associated major. These types of colleges often work well for students who feel very committed to their intended major, as they will be able to focus their studies greatly on this area of interest and gain a lot of knowledge about it quickly. If you are undecided about a major, apply to the most general school within the college, or look for colleges that do not require you to apply to a specific program from the get-go. [RELATED: How to Design Your Own College Major] Looking ahead, if you end up applying undecided, it doesnt necessarily mean youll have a disorganized path of study when you get to college. What this means is that youll want to intentionally explore different topics your first year to begin narrowing down majorsand what better place to explore various interests than a university? Remember that college career centers, as well as academic advisors and professors, are great resources to ask for advice about selecting a major and learning more about a specific field.

Addictive Habits to Avoid If Youre Stressed at Work - Introvert Whisperer

Introvert Whisperer / Addictive Habits to Avoid If Youre Stressed at Work - Introvert Whisperer Addictive Habits to Avoid If Youre Stressed at Work Many introverts struggle with how to deal with excessive workplace stress. Events like staff meetings, work parties, or retreats can leave you dreading work way more than your extroverted colleagues. Add in normal stressors like inadequate staffing, lack of time to complete work, and tense coworker relationships, and you can find yourself feeling downright frazzled.     All of this tension can cause you to turn to habits that you know aren’t good for your overall well-being. Here are three habits you should avoid and ways to counteract the urge when things get stressful at work: Heading to a Smoke Break It’s no secret that smoking causes negative effects on the body. Tobacco, nicotine, and other chemicals like tar and acetone in cigarettes can cause long-term lung problems such as cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and bronchitis. But did you know that smoking can damage more than just your lungs?     Smoking increases your risk of other serious health conditions such as heart disease, erectile dysfunction, and infertility. It has also been proven to increase the risk of some cancers of the blood. Smoking even a few cigarettes each day can cause dependency, which makes it harder to quit. Many people turn to cigarettes to help them cope with negative emotions like stress and anxiety.   Pouring a Cold One Opening a beer or pouring a glass of wine after a long, stressful day at the office is a common practice in many homes across the nation. Having a limited amount of alcohol can help you relax, but when drinking becomes excessive, there can be many adverse consequences. For men, five or more drinks at one time are considered a binge, but drinking 15 or more drinks in a week is known as heavy drinking. Since women’s bodies are a bit different, it only takes four or more drinks to be considered binge drinking and just eight or more in a week constitute heavy drinking.   Too much alcohol can increase your risk of long-term health effects such as high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and liver disease. Many people think that having a binge from time to time isn’t as dangerous as heavy drinking. However, even occasional binge drinking can lead to liver disease, alcohol poisoning, and unintentional accidents. Dozens of people die each year because of crashes that involved a driver impaired by too much alcohol. Turning to drink as a way to cope with stressors at work can leave you with dangerous side-effects that can damage your health, relationships, and even your ability to hold down a job.   Making Poor Food Choices Sometimes a greasy hamburger just sounds good, especially when you’re stressed. During the day, you might tell yourself that you deserve a candy bar or chips from the snack machine to deal with workplace tensions. While treating yourself from time to time is okay, you may start to suffer consequences if poor food choices become the norm.       It’s critical to know that eating poorly deprives your body of nutrients and vitamins it needs to be healthy and work properly. The consequences of poor eating habits include damaged hair, dental problems, change in your bowel habits, and feeling tired all or most of the time. Of course, too much food or making excessively poor choices combined with no exercise can also lead to weight problems, including obesity.   Try This Instead Workplace stress can be challenging. Many introverts keep to themselves, which can be useful for things like steering clear of workplace drama. However, when it comes to coping with stress, it can leave you feeling alone and struggling to find healthy habits. Here are three healthy habits you can try the next time you’re tempted to reach for a cigarette, alcohol, or bad food choices: Rest Up Dealing with workplace stress can make it difficult to rest at night. Some experts feel that there is a connection between insomnia and increased levels of stress. If you’re looking for healthy ways to combat workplace tensions, try going to bed at the same time every night. Spend a little “winding down” in which you stop all work, phone calls, or other stressful activities. If you have trouble falling asleep, try playing relaxing music or diffusing essential oils that can help you relax. Manage Anxiety If you live with overwhelming feelings of anxiety at work, it might be easy to turn unhealthy lifestyle choices. Controlling stress can be done by creating healthy habits that give your body time to rest and restore after stressful situations. Try a few strategies for managing anxiety like eating well, practicing yoga, or making an appointment with a mental health professional.   Give Your Time Feeling stressed out can cause you to forget about the most important things in life. Reconnect with family and friends and ask them to volunteer with you at a local homeless shelter or charity event. Reminding yourself of all the good things you have in life can help ease the tension and put things back into perspective. If you’re looking for a place to volunteer your time, look for events or organizations close to you.   Kicking Bad Habits High-stress levels can make bad habits look good. Don’t beat yourself up over a few bad choices that happened after workplace stress. Come up with a plan to change your bad habits to get yourself back on track and then use these three strategies to kick your addictive habits to the curb. By: Frankie Wallace Frankie Wallace  is a blogger from Boise, Idaho and a recent graduate from the University of Montana. Wallace contributes to a variety of different blogs online and focuses on writing about career advice. Image Source: Unsplash Go to top Bottom-line â€" I want to help you accelerate your career â€" to achieve what you want by connecting you with your Free Instant Access to my 4 Building Blocks to Relationships eBookâ€" the backbone to your Networking success and fantastic work relationships.   Grab yours by visiting here right now! Brought to you by Dorothy Tannahill-Moran â€" dedicated to unleashing your professional potential. Introvert Whisperer

Should I Graduate College Early

Should I Graduate College Early The decision to graduate early from college can be a pivotal one in your young adult life. There are many factors to consider before you can fully understand if this plan is the right fit for you. When asking yourself if you should graduate college early, examine if your college experience will still feel complete, if you will be prepared for the next steps, and if you are doing it for the right reasons. When deciding if you should graduate college early, its important to be honest with yourself on how the pros and cons will impact you. Keep reading to learn if you should graduate college early. Graduate college early if youre certain your college experience will still feel complete Yes, college is primarily about academic growth and earning your degree. But its also about more than that. The college experience is about learning to be independent and about finding your niche. Its important to take this time to explore any interests you may have and to learn where you may see yourself in five years or so. If you feel that you can gain this knowledge in three yearsgo for it. Graduate college early. This is a very personal decision; just because it takes someone else four or five years to get the full experience doesnt mean it will take you that long. Set aside some time to reflect on what you want to get out of your college experience, and then determine what timeframe will fit you best. [RELATED: 5 Myths About the Last Year of College] Graduate college early if you feel prepared for whats next A significant advantage to the time you spend in college is that its the perfect time to get experience in your desired field. You have resources and a network of professional connections right at your fingertips. While in college, its key to utilize these as best you cancomplete internships, develop engaging senior projects and portfolios, and build your network of connections. There will hardly be another time in your life when you have so many opportunities in a variety of fields and interests right in front of you. If you are planning on graduating after the fall semester as opposed to the spring, you could take advantage of the opportunity to interview for jobs in the off-season. Typically, the rush of new candidates comes in the spring; therefore, you may have a higher chance of getting the job you want if you have the ability to interview before the busy season arrives. If you feel you can take full advantage of all of these opportunities in three yearsgreat! On the other hand, if you are planning on going to graduate school once you finish your undergraduate degree, graduating early could be a good option as well. Its important to examine all requirements for whatever program or school you are interested in, to make sure you can meet them in three years. In order to be admitted, some may require that: Certain work requirements be met A specified number of internship hours be completed You maintain a particular GPA Dont rush through three years just to end up with a lower GPA than desired and less experience than required. If you can finish your undergraduate degree in three years and feel prepared to apply for graduate school, then graduating early may be right for you. [RELATED: A Guide to Weighted vs. Unweighted GPAs] Graduate college early if you transferred many credits from high school Oftentimes, high school students are able to take dual-credit courseshigh school classes that allow them to gain college credits. Some students are even able to start college with enough credits to technically make them sophomores or second-semester freshmen. What this means is that students who enter college with a substantial number of credits may be more likely to have the opportunity to graduate in three years, without the stress of fitting four years of classes into three. However, if you enter college in this situation, you may want to explore the option of double-majoring. This will depend on your interests and future career path, of course, but you may be able to double major without too much excess stress in the typical four years. Make sure to examine these options closely and to figure out what works best for you. Dont graduate college early if youre afraid of missing out on experiences As previously stated, your time in college is about more than just academics. If there are certain things you hope to experience or achieve before you walk across that stage, graduating early might not be the right fit for you. Examine what you hope to get out of college, and be honest with yourself on what you dont want to miss out on. If there is a dream internship you have always had your sights on, make every attempt to land it. If not graduating early is what will allow you to have a fulfilled experience, there is nothing wrong with that decision. Dont graduate college early if it causes you to feel overwhelmed Sometimes, fitting four years of schooling into three years can be overwhelmingespecially if you didnt transfer many credits from high school. If you are dedicated to graduating early, make a plan early on of how you can fit all your requirements into the timeframe you desire. Even then, though, things can quickly become overwhelming. You may have to take more classes per summer than you feel comfortable with, and not allowing yourself any breaks can have a negative impact elsewhere in your life. If you begin to feel overwhelmed, its not too late to add an extra semester and spread things out a bit. Know yourself, and be honest if your school work becomes too much. [RELATED: Stress Management Tips for Busy Students] Dont graduate college early due to impatience Most importantly, dont decide to graduate college early because you are ready to start adult life. College is a great time to try as many new experiences as possiblefrom studying abroad with your classmates, to playing an intramural sport you never thought you would like. You have the flexibility to pursue as many new interests as youd like and really learn where your place in the workforce will be. If you feel graduating college early is the right decision for you as an individual, then dont let anything stop you. Educate yourself on the pros and cons, and be honest about what you want to get out of college. If you do these things, the right decision will be easy to make. Any topics you want to know more about? Let us know! The Varsity Tutors Blog editors love hearing your feedback and opinions. Feel free to email us at blog@varsitytutors.com.

Is Your 9-to-5 Draining Your Creativity

Is Your 9-to-5 Draining Your Creativity Suzy S. OK Go  is known for their creative music videos, and their most recent release is definitely on par.   After all, why stand on stage playing instruments (yawn!), when you can use a car with retractable arms to play the instruments for you?   These guys are either insane or genius decide for yourself.   (Click here to watch the video for Needing/Getting!) Musicians are usually creative by nature.   But sometimes especially if music is something you do in your spare time, instead of as your career it can be all too easy to get caught up with the routine of life.   Maybe you have to stay late at work, and the last thing you want to do is practice scales and etudes when you get home.   Maybe your goal is to write a song, but the lyrics just arent coming to you.   Maybe youve practiced your heart out, but the idea of performing in front of people makes you break out in hives.   But why give up on something you were once so passionate about? Being creative is something that needs to be exercised, just like a baseball player exercises certain muscles.   So if the daily grind is starting to get to you, its time to take action.   Shake up your routine and jump-start your creative mind.   Even if the initial activity doesnt involve music, it may awaken parts of your brain that will help you in music later on.   Need some ideas?   Here are 10 ways to rejuvenate your creativity, courtesy of Lifehack.com: 1. Surround yourself with creative people. Hang out with writers, musicians, poets and artists. Often, just being in a creative environment will inspire you and refresh your creative mind. 2. Start somewhere. Whether it’s creative writing in Word or sheet music, the brain will eventually loosen up and it will be easier to break through the barrier and come up with ideas. 3. Expose yourself. Expose yourself to new art â€" books, music, paintings â€" all the time. If you’re a rocker, listen to funk. If you’re a crime writer, read fantasy. If you’re a productivity writer, read something about slacking off. 4. Do something new. Play chess. Read a book if you usually watch television and watch television if you read. Go outside. Sing in the shower. 5. Meet new people from different walks of life. Gain insight into their perspectives on life. Strike up a conversation on the bus. 6. Shut out the world. Instead of sucking in new information, sit quietly, go to sleep or meditate. Stop thinking and clear your mind so that the clutter doesn’t get in the way of your thoughts. 7. Don’t be a workaholic â€" take breaks. Your mind needs a chance to wind down so it doesn’t overheat and crash. 8. Experiment randomly. What does a flanger sound like on a vocal track? Like Lenny Kravitz, of course. 9. Exercise every day, before you sit down to be creative. If you exercise afterward, you’ll get the creative burst â€" just too late. 10. Spend time with your children. Or someone else’s. What other ideas have you tried when you feel your creativity dragging?   Share your thoughts below! Like these posts?   Sign up to receive daily updates right to your inbox!   Click here to subscribe. Photo by:  flattop341

SIX TIPS TO MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE!

SIX TIPS TO MAKE COLLEGE MORE AFFORDABLE! For many students and their parents, the arrival of a college acceptance letter is a time to celebrate the years of hard work that it took to prepare for higher education - and a cause for concern over how much it's going to cost. Year after year, at most colleges and universities across the nation, expenses for tuition, fees, books and lodging have increased, and according to most experts that trend will continue. Fortunately, the total amount of student aid available, including grants, loans, scholarships, work-study programs and other sources has also increased, making college more affordable than many students and families realize. Here are some tips for tracking down the support that will put your child's dreams within reach. Step One: Talk with school counselors. Advising students on financial aid options is one of the most important roles of school counselors. They should know about the different types of aid available and guide you and your child through the application process, which can be daunting. Counselors can also provide information on grants and loans from your state government, and those offered by the colleges and universities you're considering. Step Two: Make sure your child is eligible for most types of available aid. To qualify for financial aid, your child must be a U.S. citizen or an eligible non-citizen. If your son would like to receive federal aid, he'll need to register with the U.S. Selective Service when he turns 18 (Selective Service registration is in fact required for all men aged 18 to 25). All students must also graduate from high school or earn a GED before receiving aid. Step Three: Order the FAFSA. Most of the available aid comes from the federal government, and to acce ss it you need to fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). You'll use the information from your tax returns to complete the FAFSA, which you can submit by mail or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The FAFSA site is a good source of information about all of the federal aid available, and it includes a link to the financial aid offices for most states as well. Step Four: Understand the full range of federal aid options available. Grant options include The Pell Grant and the Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, which are offered to students from families in the lowest income brackets. Loan options include the Federal Stafford Loan, which has a variable interest rate, and the Federal Perkins Loan, which has the lowest fixed rate of any federal student loans. You can also consider Federal Work-Study programs, which provide jobs that pay minimum wage or above. If you show significant financial need, your child might also qualify for a Subsidized Stafford Loan, which does not start accruing interest until after you graduate from college, saving you a considerable sum. If you don't show enough need, your child may be eligible for an Unsubsidized Stafford Loan, which isn't based on need. Unsubsidized loans begin accruing interest as soon as the money is disbursed, which means the debt will grow while your child attends college, although interest rates on student loans are generally very low. You can learn more about Stafford Loans at www.staffordloan.com, and about many more loan and grant options at the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Student Aid Web site, located at: studentaid.ed.gov. Step Five: Pursue the full range of available scholarships. Many scholarships are available to students interested in a particular field of study, which makes them perfect for students who already have careers in mind. Having an athletic or artistic talent can also open the door to scholarships for students who earn special recognition for thos e talents. Awards are also available for those in underrepresented groups, such as Hispanic and African-American students, and those who will be the first in their family to attend college. Many scholarships are based on academic merit, but others - from businesses, civic and religious groups and corporate and financial organizations - are awarded based on family income or demographic factors. Creating a checklist of your child's talents, interests, and demographic factors will help you both hone in on the various angles you can pursue. Step Six: Remember the value of high achievement. Many loans and grants are increasingly based more on academic merit than financial need. This is one more reason your child should develop good study skills and get extra help to address any issues that are impacting grades. It's also important to raise the bar as high as possible by taking Advanced Placement, honors or other advanced courses. Good performance in these courses is especially crucial i f your child is hoping to receive aid from colleges and universities because it shows decision-makers that he or she is well-qualified for college-level work - and well positioned to ensure the institution's financial investment pays off.

How do I apply for university

How do I apply for university Sarah C is an ex-deputy Headmistress in the independent sector and specialises in helping students apply for university.   With a wealth of experience, Sarah shares her knowledge of university applications and how best to apply for university. University is the final destination in the long journey which is your child’s education. Important decisions need to be made and many people feel like they don’t know where to go for the right kind of help. Everyone is aiming high and the pressure to succeed is enormous, pressure from school, teachers, the media, prospective employers. You want your child to have the best possible opportunities available and your plan may well include an elite UK university such as one from the Russell Group. This is a group of 24 universities which are widely accepted as being amongst the best in the UK and it includes Oxford, Cambridge, Warwick, Edinburgh, UCL, Bristol and York, to name but a few. When it comes to choosing what to study for the next three or four years, however, some students spend less time than it would take to prepare Christmas dinner! And often this is at the last minute. University really does set us on a certain path in life and so it warrants some very careful attention. The Personal Statement: The application can be a source of great stress for students and a real mystery for parents. The main reason for this stress is the personal statement, a brief document aiming to convince admissions tutors that they should give a place to your child. It has to show that the student is interested in the chosen subject and has the academic potential to cope with studying it for three of four years. It’s challenging to get it right. So, even before students put pen to paper, they need to research their subject in order to be certain that it really is something that they want to study. I really try to get students to appreciate the importance of this stage and of starting it early, so that if they change their mind, it’s not too late to do another round of research. I have taken a student from Art History to Japanese Studies in a matter of days, having made her look very thoroughly at what would be taught on an Art History degree. We realised quickly that she, like many students had chosen the subject simply because it was the subject that she did best at in her A levels. But being good at something does not automatically mean your child should study it intensively for three years. Some digging around and a lot of talking can really help to find the right fit. I often find that as students investigate their subject more and more, they realise how broad it is and many want to undertake further research. For those interested enough to do this, it can be useful to speak to a teacher at school or an external tutor who can steer your child through a supported piece of research on a topic of their choice. It is a good option for those students whose school does not offer an opportunity to study for the Extended Project Qualification. As well as extending their subject research and, therefore, their interest, it can be an excellent source of discussion for an interview if it is mentioned in the personal statement. The personal statement which the students dread so much should not be a simple list of achievements, books and work experience placements; the best ones will map out the journey which the student has undertaken in order to arrive at the decision to study the chosen subject. Did they read about it? Go to lectures on it? Visit museums, galleries, buildings related to it? Have they genuinely made attempts to engage with it and understand it? With evidence of that journey, students are halfway to convincing admissions officers that they deserve an offer. Once a student has made a genuinely informed decision to study a subject, the entire application process becomes less challenging. They are asked to consider the skills required in their chosen degree subject and helped to reflect on how they can evidence these. The Aptitude  Tests A further area of concern for students is the prospect of sitting one of the aptitude tests which more and more universities are seeking to use in order to differentiate applicants. They are required by some universities in addition to A levels and they can be complex and daunting because many students will not have had an opportunity to think in the very lateral way which these tests require. It is important that students take time to practise these tests regularly. My experience in sixth forms has taught me that the best applicants are the most prepared. Those who leave this to the last minute just do not obtain the offers which they want, because the lack of preparation shows. I suggest that students start thinking about university soon after their mock exams and in any case, no later than the Easter holidays of the Lower Sixth. I try to give students the tools to produce something truly excellent for their application, to encourage self-reflection and careful consideration of the subject which they have chosen to study; the very best personal statements are from students who have done these things. So, what help is available to make the best application? Within the independent sector, schools tend to have a fairly comprehensive system of support for students, with staff holding their hands through the entire process, overseeing things such as the production of a successful personal statement and offering interview practice and preparation for tests such as LNAT and BMAT, for example. Over and above what the school can do, many parents will also look for additional help from external sources such as tutoring agencies, such as Tutorfair  where you search to find University Advice Tutors, Oxbridge Admissions Tutors as well as BMAT tutors and LSAT tutors. Carefully chosen, some of these can be a great source of advice but often parents seek them out quite late in the process. The best applications are made by those students who have thought ahead and spent a considerable length of time planning their applications. By planning, I do not only mean the structuring and drafting of the personal statement but the reading and research which can help a student to gain a better understanding of the subject which they want to read at university Sarah C is a an ex-Deputy Headmistress who specialises in helping students apply to university. She mentors students through their time at school, guiding them through the ups and downs, acting as an independent source of support when things are challenging, whether personally or academically. Looking for tips on how to apply to university? Visit www.tutorfair.com to find a tutor who can help. You can search for local tutors by subject, level and your postcode. Tutorfair will show you search results with the top rated tutors at the top!

5 Quick And Simple Brain Exercises

5 Quick And Simple Brain Exercises Here are some quick and simple, but very effective brain exercises that will help your mind to process information more quickly and efficiently. Your brain is capable of some quite amazing things. But you need to train it like a muscle. And yes-the more you exercise, the stronger it becomes. So, boost your brain power right now with these simple exercises: 1. Count backwards from 100 to 1 as fast  as you can. 2. Say the alphabet  and come up with a  word for each letter (A an apple, B a bee,  etc.). Do it as fast  as you can. If you are thinking of some letter more than 30 seconds, skip it. 3. Quickly say 20 female names  and count each of them (1-  Mary, 2-Patricia,  3-  Linda, 4- Elizabeth, etc.). 4. Then do the same thing with male names (1- Stuart, 2-  Nick, 3- Oliver, 4-  Luke, etc.). 5. Pick  a letter of the alphabet and then quickly name the 20 words that start from it. Count every word. If you really want to be a successful person get your brain ready for… learning. Find  a patient and creative tutor  with experience on TutorZ.com. And success is guaranteed!

How To Stand Out During Your Second Interview

How To Stand Out During Your Second Interview Image via: www.pexels.com In an interview with Forbes Magazine, Chantal Verbeek-Vingerhoed, the head of enterprise talent for ING gave an exact description of how in-depth the second interview will venture: “They dig deeper into your technical skills, and make connections about how you’d add value and solve issues in the department.” Needless to say, the second interview is a pretty big deal and to be successful, you must be as prepared as possible. Even though the invitation for a second interview is a call for some serious bragging rights, you can’t get too cocky. Remember, you are still a name on a list of applicants. The best thing you can do to completely blow away your interviewers is find a way to stand out from the crowd. Make your name and resume one to remember. Make yourself more than just a name tag and an email correspondence. Use the second interview to leave a lasting impact on the workplace, so much so that they can’t fathom ghosting you or not offering you a position. But how? You might ask. That’s what we’re here for. Keep reading for ways to stand out and blow away your interviewers during the second interview. Infographic by Tamiera Vandegrift Get Prepared Like in many aspects of life, failing to plan is planning to fail and the same principle applies for preparing for that second interview. You probably spent days reading articles about questions employers ask and probably begged your parents, your roommate, and your goldfish to run through practice interview questions with you all in preparation for the first interview. Now, even though you have passed that, you still need to prepare yourself for everything that the second round will have in store. First, the interview style itself will have likely changed into something different from the first interview. If the first interview seemed like more of an information session or a presentation, expect something like a QA panel or overall assessment for the second interview. If you interviewed with one or two people for the first interview, you should prepare to interview with a larger group of people in the second interview and vice versa. In order to stand out during your second interview, you need to be able to demonstrate that you can roll with the punches and do thorough research when necessary which leads to the next point. If you haven’t done extensive, thorough research on the company you are interviewing with to the point that you know your potential supervisor’s favorite color, then you definitely haven’t done enough. While we don’t encourage the actual stalking of your potential supervisor, it is important that you know everything you possibly can about the company and the position. The ideal candidate for a job is one that is actively passionate and interested enough in a position to use their free time to learn more about it and what they can do to fulfill that role. Plan to use the research and knowledge you’ve done to showcase the time and consideration you have put into the position. After all, wouldn’t you want your interviewers to put the same time and consideration into you? Lastly, you will definitely want to make a plan of what you want to talk about during the interview. Moments of awkward silence could hurt your chances of being memorable. Plan to talk about the thesis work you’ve completed in college. Make notes of the philanthropy activities you participated in with a Greek organization. Talk about any leadership roles you might have served. The more information you can provide to your interviewer, the more interesting you will seem and the more memorable you will stay. Build a Connection Interviews can be so scary and intimidating that we often forget that everyone in the conference room is still human. At some point during the day, we’re all going to trade our blazers and dress shoes for sweatpants and fuzzy socks. While you definitely don’t want to get too comfortable during an interview, you still want to find ways to build a genuine human connection with the people you’re interviewing with. For instance, when I was invited back for a second interview for a job in human resources, I noticed that one of the interviewers was an alumna from Florida State University, where I currently attend. I instantly struck up a conversation about her experiences at this university and all of a sudden, the ice was broken. I was no longer just a random applicant coming in for a quick interview session; I was a fellow Seminole at Florida State University. You can definitely bet that after I was hired, we would exchange a quick “Go ‘Noles” every time I passed her office or spent my lunchtime with her. While we aren’t all part of the garnet and gold family, there are tons of ways to build this sort of connection with your interviewer. Ask them questions about their background and life outside of work. You will still want to keep the questions appropriate and professional. For instance, ask them what university they went to or what they were involved with. If you’ve done research on your company and potential coworkers (which you definitely should have!), you should already know a little bit of background about your interviewers and if you feel comfortable enough, feel free to show that you’ve done your research by asking questions about the information you’ve discovered. They will be flattered that you took the time to get to know them on a deeper level than just an interviewer and they will be more likely to remember you as the candidate who cared. Image via: www.pexels.com Ask Questions Speaking of asking questions, another great way to stand out is to have heavier questions that have in-depth answers. While you are trying to impress your interviewer during this process, you also need to make it clear that you are looking for ways that this position can benefit you and your career goals (without sounding too self-centered of course!). You want to ask questions that show that you’re interested in the position, not just the idea of having a position. For instance, you could ask about the company culture, the work-life balance, what a typical day would look like, why is the position open, and anything else that can give you a little bit of a hint as to what the atmosphere of the workplace is like. Doing this will serve two important purposes. First, it will definitely show your interviewers that you have put serious thought and consideration into the position and how you would fit into it. Second, it will give you the answers you need to make a well-informed decision about whether or not this position is right for you. It’s a win-win situation that will definitely benefit both parties. Bring a notebook and a pen to jot down your answers (Employers dig organization!) and ask away! Market Yourself If there’s anything more valuable than having enough experience to be considered for an interview, it’s having an excellent plan to market those experiences for an interview. During the first interview, the recruiters probably took a very quick glimpse at your resume just to make sure that you had the years of background necessary to qualify for the position. For the second interview, the recruiters will want to ask more in-depth questions and will expect more in-depth answers. For the sake of this, you will want to read up on your resume ahead of time and jot down any notable memories and experiences that you can recall during the interview. You might be surprised at how much of your career and volunteering experience could be notable and applicable towards a position. This is the point in the interview process where you need to thoroughly explain to your interviewer(s) how your previous experience can translate to the needs of the position. For instance, if the position you are interviewing for is calling for someone who is proficient with Microsoft Office products, use the interview as an opportunity to talk about how you kept track of your schedule or your club’s activities using Microsoft Excel. If the position you are interviewing for calls for a strong team player, tell your interviewers about your experience working as a summer camp counselor and how you worked with other counselors to make a worthwhile experience for kids. Any and all experiences, no matter how small they may seem, contribute toward a larger professional goal. Even the content you market on social media is significant. Don’t sell yourself short and don’t be shy. Now is your time to show what you’ve got and tell your interviewers why you would be the best match for t his position. However, you definitely should not fabricate information. Whatever you present to employers should be able to be backed up in some tangible way, whether it’s confirmation from a former coworker and/or employee or written and/or visual evidence of the work you’ve completed. Image via: www.pexels.com Be Flexible While it’s definitely important to walk into the interview room feeling as prepared as possible, you also have to prepare to feel unprepared. Sometimes, employers will try to test their applicants by blindsiding them with difficult questions. This is done so that employers will see how well their applicants can think on their feet with little to no time to think. With modern workplaces becoming more and more fast-paced, it is important to prove to your interviewers that you can handle things on short notice without becoming flustered. This will also allow your true personality to shine through, which is really what employers crave the most. It’s also important to remember that there is a strong possibility of being asked the same questions multiple times. Keep in mind that not everyone you speak to during the second interview will be informed of what happened during the first interview. Answer the questions with kindness and patience no matter how many times you have been asked them. Don’t give a short answer or redirect them to the person you spoke with before. Remember: every person you speak to during these interviews is another person who can vouch for you when it is time to decide who is on the hiring block and who is on the chopping block. While you might walk into an interview feeling like you have done everything to prepare, you need to prepare to be flexible and go with the flow above all else. There is no telling where an interview will lead, so it’s important to roll with the punches and do your absolute best. When you get your invitation to return to a company for a second interview, rejoice. A potential employer has reviewed you and decided that you could be an excellent fit for their team. To stand out and succeed in impressing your interviewers, you need to make sure that you leave enough substance to be remembered by. Doing so could land you a spot in the next round of the hiring process, or even better, a spot on the newly hired list. Good luck!