4 Lessons About Authenticity, Interview Prep, and Owning How You’ve Grown

It’s all about cultivating confidence.

Presented by Generation Hired x Neutrogena®

This is a sponsored feature. All opinions are 100% our own.

It’s no secret that the past school year has been one for the books. Whether you started online classes or began interviewing for internships virtually, you’ve grown a lot this year, and it’s time to celebrate your hard work. From interview prep to skincare tips, Generation Hired presented by Neutrogena® wants to help you shine as you head into your next chapter — and help you celebrate how much you’ve grown.

To empower you to start your career with confidence, Generation Hired presented by Neutrogena® brings you exclusive webinars featuring leading experts in skin health, science, innovation, marketing, and more! We recently kicked off the series with Own How You’ve Grown in the Last Year, where Her Campus Media co-founder and president Windsor Western spoke with Her Campus employees about authenticity, interview prep, and important career lessons learned.

In case you missed it, be sure to check out the replay HERE! In the meantime, here are four valuable lessons we learned from the webinar:

Going the extra mile can help you stand out from the crowd

Whether you’re networking or interviewing for your dream role, it’s important to showcase your personality and demonstrate to employers that you’re ready to grow your career. Stephanie Shih, the New Business Marketing Junior Associate at Her Campus, recommends being creative and letting your personality shine during the interview process. “It can be really difficult to let your personality shine through the screen,” she says. “However, there are aspects of virtual interviewing that you can use to your advantage, for example, using what’s in your background to give your interviewer a glimpse into who you are!” 

During her interview for Her Campus, Stephanie used her background as a conversation starter: “I have a lightbox behind me, and before my interview at Her Campus, I changed the message to say fun, personalized things, like ‘Hi, Her Campus team! Nice to meet you,’ and added the interviewer’s name.” Stephanie ultimately landed the role, and I love how she used creativity to her advantage! For your next virtual interview, consider getting creative with your background and be sure to send a personalized “thank you” note after your interview — these details and small gestures can help you stand out from the crowd! 

Boost your confidence with an interview prep routine

“Interviews are all about confidence,” says Lara Von Linsowe-Wilson, the Influencer Marketing & Community Manager at Her Campus. “For me, confidence starts with feeling good about myself. One of my favorite ways to make sure I’m feeling my best each day is starting the day with a good skincare routine!” Currently, Lara uses Neutrogena’s Hydro Boost Hyaluronic Acid Serum, which helps her prep for a big day of video calls and recordings. “It makes my skin dewy and glowy all day,” she says. “I’m a firm believer that when you look your best, you feel your best — and that starts with skincare.”

Polish your online presence

“You can really get to know someone from the content they create,” says Windsor, who frequently interviews candidates for her team at Her Campus. “If I’m interviewing a candidate who has their social handles listed, I look at them immediately. Let your social media platform be a connection point, especially if you’re interested in a communication or marketing role.” And if getting creative on social media isn’t your jam, that’s okay — just make sure your online presence is true to who you are. Chances are, potential employers will research you during the interview process, and you want to ensure your online presence is professional and authentic.

Dedicating time to social media became a strength for Stephanie, whose art-focused Instagram profile helped boost her portfolio, and ultimately land a job at Her Campus!  “Even though it started as a passion project, it ended up strengthening me professionally as well,” she says. “Through creating content and managing the account, I was able to refine my artistic eye — which I now use when designing for proposals,” she says. “Lean into your interests and do what you love, because transferable skills will come as a result.” 

Past lessons can help inform your future

Mollie Guerrero, the Influencer Marketing & Community Coordinator at Her Campus, says that one major lesson she learned over the past year was learning how to prioritize self-care. “With more time at home, I’ve learned to prioritize self-care, whether it’s doing something I love every day, listening to my favorite song, or going to sleep a bit earlier,” she says. “There’s nothing worse than going into work with a clouded mind, and being able to take care of myself helps so much in every realm in my life.”

Honestly, I couldn’t agree more. Honoring lessons from the past year can be super helpful in tackling your career goals, and this was the case for Stephanie, who took advantage of work-from-home life to establish clear routines and boundaries. “It’s so important for your mental and physical health,” she reminds webinar attendees. “This past year, life slowed down a little, and I took advantage of that. I now wake up early, work, and set aside time for self-care. When your mental health is good, your physical health is good, it translates to your work.” 

We loved hearing from Windsor, Lara, Stephanie, and Mollie during Own How You’ve Grown in the Last Year presented by Neutrogena®! They had tons of wisdom to share, and we hope you learned some valuable lessons, too. In case you missed it, be sure to catch up on the event replay here and let us know what you’re most excited about for your career journey!