Not all jobs are created equal

Something that I noticed while we did practice interviews on Tuesday was how philosophy of getting into medical school is so different from a lot of jobs' interviews. Medical school interviews are more about getting to know the applicant and ensuring their is a good match between the applicant and the school. Yes, there are still questions that ask why the school should accept me and why I want that particular school (job), but I felt like the job interviews in class were much more pointed and intimidating than the two medical school interviews I have already attended. The experience on Tuesday taught me the importance of knowing the field and the audience. Preparing for a medical school interview is different from preparing for a job as a chemical engineer or a pilot. Knowing what the interviewer is looking for is essential to having a great interview and getting the job. My biggest advice would be shape your preparation towards the company and your interviewer. It may be completely different than what you would do for another company but giving the interviewer what he/she is looking for will increase the probability of obtaining the job offer. I felt like my hours of preparation helped me know what to say and how to say it (strength) but I still get nervous and speak before I can think which can potentially lead to major problems (weakness).