Highlighting the internship in the interview

By Harish Athreya

Lata was really in a fix as she wanted to impress her interviewers with the proper explanation of her project when they ask her about it. She doesn’t want to fumble as it’s a project which gave her a satisfying result and fame in her college.

She went to her brother Rakesh asking for help.
Rakesh patiently explained all about the impressive presentation of her project before the interviewer.

“Lata, listen! When the interviewer asks you about your project, you’ve to tell him how well you managed your time, prioritised tasks and worked on a schedule to meet deadlines. You should know how to describe a project so it’ll help you effectively answer the question while highlighting your knowledge and skills.”

Lata asked, “Why is it important to explain my project well ?”

Rakesh answered this question, “ ok, let me tell you why it’s important.
● It showcases the skills: It represents your technical knowledge and the ability to apply knowledge in a practical way.
● Highlights Problem-Solving Abilities: Shows how you approach challenges and find solutions.
● Proves Communications Skills: You can express complex ideas with clarity and concision.
● Reflects Teamwork and Collaboration: Indicates your ability to work with others and your role in a team.
● Builds Credibility: Shows that you are a serious candidate who can contribute effectively to the organization.”

Now Let’s look at the steps on how to explain your project and to communicate important details to the hiring manager.

1. Introduce the project

Start by summarising the project to the interviewer, including what the project was and why it was important. Explain your reason for completing it and why you selected this project to discuss. This overview will give the interviewer the basic information about the project. It also tells them what you consider important or an achievement.

2. Describe the project modules

Describe the project effectively by explaining each of the modules. Modules are individual segments or phases of the project that depend on each other for completion. This makes it easy for the hiring manager to learn about the project’s more complex details.

3. Detail the purpose and function of the project

After you have explained the different modules and their purpose, describe how they work together to contribute to the primary function of your project. You can create a presentation or visual aid that can help you convey the information in a clear way. You can even use a flow chart to show how each module relates to the others and clarify the project’s main goal.

4. Talk about the tools you used

Mentioning the tools, resources and platforms that helped you to complete your project shows the interviewer your experience with using different tools to complete a task efficiently. This can be especially beneficial if the employer expects the candidate who gets the job to use the same tools in their new appointed role. Talk about how the technology and methodologies you used helped the efficiency and increased productivity.

5. Explain your contribution to the project

After you describe the tools you used, explain about your contribution to the project. Consider describing your specific tasks, any additional work you did and the impact of each of your responsibilities. Explaining your individual role in the project shows the employer your specific skills and knowledge.

6. Mention challenges and how you overcame them

Projects often come with challenges, and the hiring manager likely expects you to have faced obstacles when completing yours. Some candidates hesitate to talk about challenges because they see them as weaknesses, but it’s always good to explain how you overcame them showing that you consider them as a learning experience. Mention an instance when you faced an unexpected issue and explain how you resolved it. This shows the hiring manager you have the motivation and problem-solving skills to work efficiently under pressure.

7. Highlight your teamwork skills

After you have highlighted your personal contributions and successes, emphasise your teamwork skills by describing the dynamics of your group. You do list the individual roles that made up the team, the tasks you completed to help your colleagues and the problems you solved as a team throughout the project. This shows the hiring manager that you can work efficiently on your own and collaborate successfully with a team to work towards a common goal.

8. Note the duration of the project

Remember to mention how long you worked on the project and its total duration. Depending on the requirements for the job, the employer may be looking for a candidate who has experience working on short-term or long-term projects. If it was a short-term project, you could emphasise that you were able to work quickly and accurately to complete it. If it was a long-term project, you could explain that you have the ability to commit to an extended timeline.

9. Address the benefits and disadvantages of the project

Finish explaining your project by summarising the benefits and potential disadvantages of the result. You might share whether the project led to the expected result and whether it was the optimal outcome. You can then explain how you could address it to make it more efficient if you had the opportunity to do so. This shows hiring managers your analytical and problem-solving skills.

There are some points to remember when describing a project you completed in an interview.

● Be clear and specific

If a hiring manager asks you to tell them about a project you completed, using specific details allows you to explain the project thoroughly. Ensure that you include pertinent information about the important aspects of the project, but avoid describing them in excessive detail that may cause confusion or distraction.

● Have a positive attitude

Highlighting your challenges and the potentially unfavourable outcomes of your project allows you to show the hiring manager that you acknowledge mistakes and areas where you can improve. When you do this, be sure to follow up with a solution or an explanation of how overcoming the obstacle enabled you to perform better in your role. Having a positive attitude about your strengths and challenges shows your willingness to continue learning and developing professionally.

● Speak kindly of your previous employer

When you talk about a project you completed in your current role or in a previous job, use positive language to refer to management and colleagues. Employers know you are looking for a new job for a reason, but speaking unkindly about an employer can seem unprofessional. Even if the challenges you faced during the project resulted from issues such as miscommunication or poor management, you can focus on how you worked through these problems and how the experience benefited you. This may make the hiring manager feel confident that you would treat your new employer with respect.

You can also apply the STAR method to explain

● Situation: Set the scene by describing the context or problem your project was trying to solve.
● Task: Describe what you specifically did in the project and the responsibilities assigned to you.
● Action: Describe the actions you took in planning, developing, testing, and implementing.
● Result: Highlight the outcomes, emphasizing measurable results and impact.

Some more actual preparations will make you confident, like;

○ Rehearsal: Practice explaining your project numerous times. This helps you refine your narrative and become more confident.
○ Mock Interviews: Do mock interviews with any of your friends, family members. You can ask for feedback like clarity, confidence, and the explanation areas.
○ Recording: Record yourself talking through the project and then play it back. You can rectify and fine tune yourself by observing how you presented the talk.

Prepare to Be Questioned

● Avoid Unexpected Questions: Think in advance about the typical questions the interviewer can possibly ask.
● Prepare Answers: Be clear and to the point with answers to these questions. Be prepared to drill down into any area of a project if asked to do so.
● Stay Calm and Composed: If you don’t know an answer, stay calm. It’s okay to admit you don’t know something but express your willingness to learn or how you would find the solution.

Some Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Lack of Preparation: Not reviewing your project details beforehand can lead to unclear or incorrect explanations.
2. Overly Technical Jargon: Avoid using too much technical jargon without explaining it, as it may confuse the interviewer.
3. Vagueness: Be specific about your contributions and the project’s outcomes. Vague answers can make it seem like you weren’t actively involved.
4. Neglecting the Big Picture: Focusing only on technical details without explaining the project’s overall impact can make it difficult for the interviewer to see its value.
5. Ignoring Challenges: Failing to discuss challenges and how you overcame them can make your explanation seem incomplete and less realistic.

Lata was rest assured now about her preparation for the interview. She thanked Rakesh profusely before she left for the interview.

 

9036709599

dwijodaya@gmail.com

www.denhym.com