Amplify’s Best Job Interview Advice!

In honor of welcoming our spring 2024 class of Amplify Mentees, we have a few tips to help YOU prepare for your next interview. Read on for insider information about what impresses Team Amplify when we are going through the mentee interview process, and what to do if you mess up. Because guess what – it happens to the best of us!

Response time

You’ve been working diligently on your application, and finally hit “submit.” It can feel like the hard work is over, but it’s important to stay diligent by checking your email and listening to your voicemail for next steps. Once you receive a request for an interview, following up in a timely manner is both respectful of the interviewer, and demonstrates your enthusiasm for a position. When it comes to Amplify, we start by contacting applicants over the phone to schedule an interview, and follow up with an email if we haven’t heard back in 48 hours. Applicants who don’t respond to an interview request within 5 days are no longer considered. 

Timeliness and rescheduling

Arrive a few minutes early to your interview, even if it’s virtual, so that you can begin on time. If something comes up and you must reschedule, call the interviewer with ample time in advance (at least 24 hours, if possible) to ask if rescheduling is an option. If you are late to an interview, maintain your composure and sincerely apologize for your tardiness – DO NOT make excuses! Saying you were busy is disrespectful to the team or individual conducting the interview. Everyone is busy, and it demonstrates more maturity if you simply take responsibility for your actions.

Attire

Dress professionally to make a positive impression. Even if the interview seems like it will lean towards a casual conversation, throwing on an ironed button-down shirt or a blazer demonstrates that you have put in extra thought and effort to prepare, and that you wish to be taken seriously. Here at Amplify, we understand that professional attire can be cost prohibitive. If you’re not ready to buy a brand new interview outfit, thrift stores can be excellent places to find lightly used business clothing at an affordable price. You can also search for local programs that offer free or affordable professional attire to low income individuals

Know your surroundings

If your interview is virtual, make sure that your background is neat and tidy, or utilize the blurred background filter offered by most virtual meeting platforms to minimize distractions. We have seen MANY unmade beds during our time interviewing mentee candidates! While we would never use this to rule out a candidate for our program, it can send a message of untidiness and disorganization.

Tell your story

The purpose of an interview is to get to know you. However, properly answering interview questions requires you to strike an appropriate balance. You should share enough information to showcase your knowledge and experience on a subject without over or under-sharing. From an interviewer’s perspective, it makes for a challenging conversation if we receive a short, five-word answer to every question. On the flipside, sharing excessive details about a particular person or role, especially if they involved a negative experience, is also inappropriate. But what if you don’t know what to say? If a question is about a topic and not specifically about you, it’s okay to say “I don’t know the answer to that – can I do some research and get back to you?” You can also pivot your answer to talk about something more in your wheelhouse. For example, “I haven’t specifically researched that topic, but I did write a paper about (XYZ topic)...”

Follow up

A simple thank you email or phone call goes a long way after an interview. This should show gratitude for the time of the individual or team who interviewed you, and also affirm your interest in the position you interviewed for. It also sends a final positive impression before a decision is made about the selected candidate(s).

So you forgot about your interview…

Maybe you forgot to put it on your calendar, or the meeting invite went to your spam folder and you missed your time slot. Good news – it’s not the end of the world! However, it is important to take steps to make amends, especially if you want the chance to interview or be considered for a position in the future. As soon as you realize your mistake, call or email the interviewer, sincerely apologize, and ask if it’s still possible to be considered for the position. When this happens for the Amplify Mentorship Program, we will attempt to reschedule with individuals who reach out and respectfully request another opportunity. If we are unable to reschedule, we’ll ask those candidates to apply again for the next session of the program. Rude behavior or demanding to reschedule won’t get you anywhere. Even if you don’t get the answer you were hoping for, taking responsibility for mistakes is an important life lesson to learn, and helps to build character.

Looking to grow your career in the Thoroughbred industry? Check out our Mentorship Program, or visit our job and internship listings!