I met with UpStart Commerce at my university's open house in April 2024. It wasn't a proper formal interview at the office per se, but never the less still an interview (walk-in). This was my first encounter with the business sphere. I went there leisurely. The HR representative was welcoming and asked me to be at ease and consider it a conversation. It was my first ever interview, so, naturally I was perplexed. The interviewer did not really go too easy on me, but that's good, I realized a few things. I did not have a specific role in my mind, about to graduate, I had my interests in different disciplines. As it was more of an impromptu experience I did not have any time to research the company.
The interviewer asked a series of questions, the type of a normal professional interview. Unprepared, I did stumble and lost my train of thoughts. He handled the interview calmly and was not pushing it on me, honestly.
In the end he gave me few key insights on areas I need to improve on including having a clear direction on what I want to achieve in a job, the role, discipline, and the outcome expected. To have researched the company in full; it's prospects, aims/objectives, it's operations, work structure. To have a more confident drive and well processed answers to the questions raised. To never lose your calm in any situation.
All in all, it was a learning experience. I did get a bit put off and retreated, but I pulled my self together and the next few interview at the same job fair were a fruitful experience.