Professionalism is becoming a lost art among our modern generation. The growing mentality among the current generation is to leave business skills – interview tips, career readiness, etc. – to the adults. After all, they’ve already got everything in hand, right? The bitter truth, however, is that one day these businesses – these empires – that former generations have built up for our betterment will fall into our hands. We can either be prepared for it, or we can accept the inevitable crash of lost progress when that mantle’s passed to incapable hands.

Does the above quote sound familiar? Find yourself relating?

Here’s the thing; all industries need passionate young people to carry on whatever specific mission they feel called to. There are common factors, however, that will determine your success in any chosen field; how will you communicate with customers, teammates, or those in authority? How will you obtain a job in the first place? All of these questions have the same answer: professionalism. And by starting at a young age, professionalism is not only attainable, but influential in setting you apart from your peers. And where does professionalism start? With the interview. If you’re ready to make yourself a contender in the business world, you’ve come to the right place: my 5 Interview Tips for Teens. 

1. When you step into the workplace, everything is an interview.

Don’t let this one overwhelm you. It’s not a pressure point; rather, it’s the awareness that your behavior impacts the level of respect people give you. If you’re preparing for an interview, them calling your name after you’ve sat for a while isn’t your cue to put on a good face; it’s when you walk through the door. Current employees, potential references, bosses, or even owners notice you and observe, intentionally or not, how you interact with others. The air with which you carry yourself, whether or not you smile at fellow customers, and the habits you display in public all play into whether you’re initially expected to be a joke or a contender.

2. First impressions aren’t everything, but they do set the bar on the following conversation.

You might wonder why I didn’t list this as one of my first interview tips; after all, it is about FIRST impressions. This refers to the initial moments, however, when you’re actually speaking with someone. How firmly you shake their hand, your eye contact, and how you introduce yourself all help determine the respect people give you in the conversation. It is possible to recover from a negative first impression over time, but having a positive foundation will save you the trouble of working from the bottom-up. 

If you stumble on a word or make a mistake in the first few minutes, don’t worry; experienced employers have seen plenty of nerve cases before (chances are, worse ones than yours). Just recover as smoothly as you can, be genuine, and they’ll be able to tell the difference between prepared nerves and unprepared insecurity.

3. ‘Dress to Impress’ is baseline; you’re not exempt from it because you’re young.

Going right along with first impressions, having professional or business casual dress in your closet is a must. Even as a young person, having a well-kempt presentation shows that you take professional situations and your reputation seriously. It also improves your chances of obtaining your set goal, especially in a world where business-prepared youth are a rarity. 

Don’t know where to start? Indeed.com, a site specifically designated for job searching, posted this guide to How to Dress for a Job Interview.

Side Note for fellow ladies: Professional dress can demand respect of any party while still being feminine. There’s a stigma surrounding women in the business world that says clothes must be unflattering or masculine to be professionally acceptable. Don’t be afraid of the blazer or dress guidelines; slap some heels on with those dress pants, and you become as much of a contender as any man in the room while never denying the fact that you’re a woman. For more ideas, check out TheBalanceCareer’s article, The Best Interview Attire for Women.

4. Never apologize for taking the time to say something.

I’m not referring to the people who ramble endlessly about nothing then give a half-hearted apology afterwards; I’m referring to the trap that many of us fall into where our insecurity of what others think shows itself in subtle ways. Simple lines like “I know you’re probably tired of hearing from me, but…” or “I hope I haven’t annoyed you too much with this” give us away every time. They tell your audience that their opinion disqualifies the importance of your message, and, therefore, you have no true authority in the matter. By eliminating these subtle confessions of “my idea isn’t worth your time,” however, you demand respect from others while gifting yourself with confidence in your ability and ideas.

On the other hand, if you take this confident step, be sure that your thoughts truly aren’t rambling or a misuse of your audience’s time. Prepare your thoughts beforehand, and know why what you’re saying is important. If you have to apologize for the time you require, you probably don’t have a coherent enough thought to be speaking of yet.

5. ‘Teen lingo,’ baggage, & private agendas all wait at the door.

Let’s be real – I’m no stranger to the ‘teen lingo’ trap. I’ve accidentally said slang terms during customer interactions or let my professionalism slide. Anyone in the workforce who claims to bring their A game 100% of the time clearly hasn’t worked in a hardcore job with real people where real life happens.

With that said, practice not letting slang take over the rest of your language. You have something important to say; make sure you can disclose your thoughts eloquently and successfully. Through this effort, you will earn the respect of those around you – coworkers, supervisors, and customers alike. And I have a feeling YOU will feel more confident in what you bring to the table as well. 

Just like leaving slang at the door, personal baggage and private goals very rarely need to enter the workforce. This first revolves around maintaining respect for yourself; your personal business is NOT other people’s business. Furthermore, the work place is very rarely the right place to divulge your darkest secrets to the coworker who’s just trying to eat their tuna sandwich in peace. Hold yourself to a high standard in both speech and conduct. This requires practice, so don’t worry if it takes time to get into these habits!

These tried-and-true interview tips have been some of my most reliable strategies throughout various interviews and professional meetings I’ve experienced. And the best part: there’s more where that came from! Ask a trusted adult you admire how they got their “foot in the door” when they first started, and see what you learn. I bet they’ve got some pretty good tips that will help you as you embark on your own interviews, meetings, and lifelong professional journey.

“How can you expect to do a great thing well when you half-do the little things? These are the stepping stones to great things.”

Orison Swett Marden

Enjoyed these interview tips, or have a few of your own that you’d like to share? Send me an email! I’d love to chat and share some of your stories. Until next time!

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