My Top 10 Interview Tips
Congratulations on getting the interview! When you’ve cleared this hurdle, you move to the next key stage of job hunting—interview prep. Follow my 10 tips to help you prepare and enter every interview with confidence.
1. Re-read the job description thoroughly
You read the job description when you applied, but now you need to dive deeper into the specifics. What are the core competencies listed in the description? For every required competency, come up with at least one detailed example of how you used that skill to improve outcomes.
Consider a sales position emphasizing customer relationship building. A job seeker who shares how they kept long-term clients during an economic downturn will stand out from the crowd. A job description for a software engineer may emphasize the importance of soft skills, such as the ability to collaborate or manage multiple projects at once. Here, a candidate should give examples of their non-tech skills at work.
Use the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method to develop clear and thoughtful answers demonstrating how you’ve used the essential skills effectively.
Review the experience requirements as well, focusing on where your history doesn’t align with the expectations. Be prepared to share work challenges that illustrate how your agility and problem-solving skills make up for the missing experience.
2. Prepare great answers to the definite questions
You can expect a handful of specific questions at each interview. These questions are an opportunity to shine because you can prepare fully in advance. Some of the most common interview questions include:
What drew you to this job?
Why are you leaving your current role? Or, why did you leave your last role?
Why are you interested in working for our company?
3. Practice answering interview questions out loud
The more you practice your answers out loud, the more comfortable and confident you will be in the interview. You can practice answering questions in front of a mirror, or record yourself answering questions with your phone. Even better, have a friend or interview coach ask you questions. This lets you work on your body language and eye contact, and practice answering unexpected questions. This process can feel awkward at first, but keep at it until you feel more at ease. Like any skill, getting better at interviewing takes practice.
4. Study the company website, particularly the career pages
Get to know the company well. You should become familiar with their history, their product or service, and their customer base. Search for news stories on the company to find out if they’ve faced any recent successes or challenges. Additionally, use the company’s career pages to learn more about their values and what they bring to the table. Make sure their values align with your own—this is a vital element of job satisfaction. Then think through examples of how you embody those company values in your work and life.
5. Seek out connections and insider knowledge
Do you know anyone who works at the company, either currently or in the recent past? Speak to them to gain a deeper understanding of the company from an insider’s perspective. If you don’t know anyone first hand, look for secondary connections on LinkedIn. Finally, check out Glassdoor to see what other candidates say about the interview process.
6. Research your interviewers
Take a look at their LinkedIn profiles and scroll below the top few items. Read the recommendations they received from colleagues who worked closely with them. Check their Twitter accounts—some people share their professional and workplace expertise on the platform. With this research, you can learn a little about their career and possibly pick up a few talking points, such as a shared interest or involvement with corporate social responsibility programs.
7. Test (and triple-check!) your technology
For the foreseeable future, most interviews will be virtual. To avoid unnecessary stress:
Check your equipment and test your video conferencing software in advance.
Schedule a virtual meetup with friends or family and ask them if your image and voice come through clearly.
Troubleshoot any issues that arise, and consider upgrading your wireless speed, if necessary.
8. Check out how you look on camera before the call begins
Check the lighting and camera position — no one wants to speak to your chin! Set up the computer so that your head and shoulders are in view and interviewers can see your face clearly. No need for a ring light, but watch that the lighting doesn’t cast shadows. Other things to check in advance:
Your interview outfit. Go for a professional ensemble that looks great on camera. Avoid busy patterns that may cause video glitching. Your interview-day clothes should help you feel ready and confident.
Your backdrop. Your interviewers will see whatever is in the camera’s view. Clean the space behind you, remove any distracting elements, and make sure it conveys professionalism. Consider using a virtual or blurred background if the call is on Zoom or Google Meet.
9. Prepare 3 to 5 strong questions for the interviewer
Thoughtful questions and genuine curiosity help you stand out from other candidates. And coming up with questions should be easy since you understand the position and have already done your research. You can ask about:
The company’s direction following a merger
The interviewer’s unique career journey
Day-to-day details not covered in the job description
The company culture
10. Follow through on these tips!
All too often job searchers skip these essential steps, or give them only passing attention. Your readiness for interviews puts you ahead of the curve. It also demonstrates that you pursue your career goals with commitment and attention to the important details.
All the best in your search!