BEST LEARNING EXPERIENCES = BIGGEST FAILURE BY JACK SHERLOCK

The goal of every interview and networking is to stand out in some way. Every career fair and spring ice event I constantly debate how can I be different how can I stand out. Employers talk to 10s of students every career fair and have a group of 100 students to chose from for sometimes just one position. It is extremely competitive and so I ask myself how do I stand out as a sophomore who feels compelled to stick to the guidelines of finance, but at the same time bring something unique and new to the table.

The most common questions asked at those events and interviews typically pull from my experiences, why I was interested, and what makes me a capable applicant for the position. Through my experience I have identified certain questions that come up in multiple conversations and interviews:

What is the best experience that you have had?

What are your strengths?

What are your weaknesses?

What is the best learning experience that you have had?

Once they ask the questions you have no more than 30 sections to impress the employer and keep them engaged in the rest of your response. I strive my best to beat those 30 seconds with having a quick and powerful first response. My best example pulls from the question, “What is your best learning experience you have had?”

Anytime I receive this question I open with that my biggest learning experience is also my biggest failure. I immediately go into my story about creativity city during my freshman year. It ties in my strengths as a leader, how I respond to failure, how I work in groups, and communication skills in painting a picture. I take a simple question, make an impactful first sentence, and go on in a response that demonstrates leadership and effective response to failure.

Do your research, know your employer, and make sure you walk away remembered.