"The Interview" Part 3: The Checklist to Cracking the Interview Process
So you made it to Part 3! Here’s where I give you a rundown of everything you’ll need to crack the interview process and get one step closer to your dream of becoming an optometrist.
There are 5 crucial points to keep in mind if you want to walk in feeling prepared to become the next [Insert Your name here], O.D.
Remember how your parents told you that first impressions are very important? Well…it doesn’t get more real than here because this is the opportunity for the admission teams from each school to meet who you really are. So, it’s best that you don’t dress in your casuals clothes. And please, no smelly gym clothes. You got to dress to impress. You got to dress as if you’re going to sell them something, and that something is you. So, make sure you dress in your business attire on the day of your interview because they like to see professionalism in their presence.
To add some flare to your nice suit and tie, I recommend that you bring a portfolio to your interview. Have you guys ever seen the anime Black Clover where everyone is a wizard who has a spellbook? Well… think of a portfolio as a spellbook and the contents you put in it (pen, notepad, resume, CV, research papers, extra recommendation letters) are the spells for your upcoming battle. The more content you put into your portfolio, the more prepared you’ll be in case your interviewer throws you a curveball. Since a portfolio comes with a notepad, use it to jot down questions and notes that you can ask your interviewer(s). If you don’t know where to get one, check our your school store! Repping your school’s logo on your portfolio proves to your interviewers that you have school spirit and will hopefully rep them one day too!
Have you ever heard the quote “Big Brother is watching you” from the book 1984? Well, think of the whole school as “Big Brother” on interview day. A lot of people will be watching your actions the moment you step on campus, not just the interviewers during your interview. Think of the custodians, students, and even the cafe’s cashier as undercover agents. So try not to do anything rash and be on your best behavior. Again, the admission team wants genuine and professional students, not fake pricks at their school.
For my cocky pricks out there (yes, you know who you are), it will be best that you actually read this and chuck your cockiness into a nearby trash can because nobody wants any of your cockiness, especially not the admission teams. I still remember one time at Texas Optometry Association (TOA) where the public relations representative for NOVA Southern University talked to us about how NOVA interviewed one student who had a strong application, but they decided to reject that student due to his “attitude” (*cough* he was a cocky prick *cough*). So basically, even if you have amazing content in your application, something as small as your attitude can get you dinged. The admission team still factors in their impression of you so…. behave.
What’s so important about knowing the school? Well… What’s YOUR reason for even applying for there? For most schools, your interviewer(s) will ask you why them? So, it’s best that you try to know the schools first so you can give them a proper answer if/when the question is asked.
How do you get information about the school? You could always look up their website, but that’s too generic and the admission teams would know that you just regurgitated their about page. The website is a great place to start, but that just scratches the surface. You got to know the DEEP STUFF about the schools too.
I already mentioned this earlier in my post Joining your Pre-Optometry Organization, but another reason to join POPS is to listen and take notes about the benefits that the guest speakers have to say about the optometry school they represent. Buttttt…. Don’t just listen and take notes. ASK those guest speakers about their school. Use those opportunities when they’re in front of you to know what they loved about their experiences there, what do they miss? If you joined a Pre-Optometry Organization already, then GOOD! Make sure you take advantage of their time and squeeze as much information out of them as possible (I mean this figuratively, unless you just want to give them a bear hug to thank them) .
If you haven’t joined your local Pre-Optometry Organization yet or forgot what you learned from the guest speakers, then IT’s OKAY. There’s another way to get the “deep stuff” about the schools and their interview process - the Student Doctor Network (SDN) forums. SDN is basically like your pre-health field version of reddit where you have students share their knowledge/experience about the schools you’re currently applying to (or you could just use reddit). Trust me. I’ve used this forum before my interviews and I got a lot useful information about the schools and their interview process.
I mentioned earlier from Part 1 of this blog series regarding how the interviewer(s) will ask stuff about your application. I talked about why it’s critical to know your application and yourself. But, long story short, the interviewer(s) want to see how well you answer their questions about your application no matter how good or bad. They want to see what type of person you are based on how YOU respond to them. And it’s more than just the words, it’s your tone, your eye contact, your body language - the whole kit and caboodle. Again, the whole interview process is mainly just for the interviewer(s) to get to know you better and see if you are fit for their school. So, before you go to your interview, make sure you go over your application, and maybe do some soul searching.
Woo! You made it! Now you know the 5 keys to cracking your interview. Before you finish reading this, make sure you get a good night sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast before the big day. Also, to show your appreciation for the interview, make sure you write an email or a thank you card to your interviewer(s) because he/she/they took time out of their lives to meet with you. Remembering a bit about your conversations (and most importantly who they were) will go a long way! Letting people know that you appreciate their time is something that should happen all the time so make sure you thank these wonderful people. Anyways, that’s all that I have for you future applicants. Best of luck! Go and kill it!
Disclaimer: Nguyening Lifestyles is not a registered educational service provider and does not give educational advice. All information in these posts are for entertainment purposes only. Nguyening Lifestyles is not liable for any actions or outcomes that transpired after your reading of the following post.
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