Key Takeaways:
- Understanding how to prepare for an interview can make a major difference in advancing your career.
- Strategies include researching the company and creating a list of questions to ask.
- After an interview, reflect on your performance and follow up as needed.
Ninety-three percent of job seekers feel anxious before meeting with a potential employer.
But knowing how to prepare for an interview, what questions to ask, and ways to make a strong first impression go a long way toward easing your nerves – and this blog covers it all.
Types of Job Interviews
When pursuing a new role, you’ll likely go through a few rounds of interviews. The process often combines several types, including:
- Phone: Used by employers early in the hiring journey to screen candidates. They cover basic topics within a half an hour that help the company get to know you and determine whether you meet the position’s minimum requirements.
- Video: Conducted remotely via platforms such as Zoom or Microsoft Teams. They typically last 30-45 minutes, and employers utilize them during mid-to-late round interviews, particularly for remote positions or applicants who live far away.
- Face-to-face: Held in person at a business’s office. They occur during the last stages of the interview process and take at least an hour, giving employers a chance to assess your professional demeanor and fit with the team.
- Skills-based: Test an applicant’s competencies related to a role, such as a writing assessment for a copywriter position.
No matter the format, these conversations benefit you as a job seeker too by providing:
- Deeper insights into the position and the expectations for it
- An opportunity to evaluate the company culture
- Time to assess whether the role aligns with your career goals
How to Prepare for an Interview
Once you confirm how, when, and where your interview will take place, follow these four steps to ace it.
- Research the company and position
Reread the job description to understand what strengths and experiences matter to the business.
Beyond those basics, you should also explore its competitors and values.
Lastly, search LinkedIn and the “About Us” section of the company’s website to learn more about who will be interviewing you. Make a note of any shared interests and think of ways to naturally bring it up during your conversations to build rapport. - Understand how to promote your qualifications
Looking into a position offers insight into what employers may bring up during an interview.
For example, if they value problem-solving, prepare a specific example of how you resolved a conflict or overcame a challenge.
Pull numbers or facts that showcase your achievements in previous jobs or internships to further support your claims.
You’ll likely be asked a few questions that help an organization get to know you as well, such as:
- Why you applied for the position
- How you prioritize your work
- Where you see yourself in five years
- Practice your answers out loud
Hearing yourself speak reveals how you really come across, including pace, structure, and confidence.
Strong responses lead with the answer, reduce filler words, and end cleanly.
If your delivery falls short in any of these areas, you can refine it before the actual interview. - Create a list of questions to ask during the interview
Hiring teams usually reserve time at the end for what you want to know.
Use this opportunity to show your curiosity about the role and company. Arriving with no questions will leave a bad impression.
How to Make a Good Impression During an Interview
Alison Agnew oversees student engagement at Portage Learning, an accredited institution that offers online, self-directed college courses.
When she adds a member to her team, Alison wants someone who relates well to others.
“In our department, we’re very external-facing – constantly going to events, talking to students, giving advice, and answering questions about Portage Learning,” she explains. “So, I’m looking for whether that candidate has presence and poise. Are they looking me in the eye? Are they easy smilers but not fake smilers? Do they have that ‘X-factor’?”
Other ways a candidate can stand out during the process include:
- Arriving early: Show up 10-15 minutes ahead of time so you don’t arrive flustered.
- Dressing appropriately: Wear clean, well-fitting clothes.
- Listening actively: Use open body language, avoid interrupting, and demonstrate genuine interest in what the interviewer shares.
- Answering clearly: Plan your responses using the STAR framework, which stands for situation, task, action, and result, and helps you provide a detailed answer that shows your value.
What Should You Do After an Interview?
Within 24 hours of an interview, send a message, either via email or a handwritten card, that thanks the people you talked to.
It should be brief, mentioning a specific detail from your conversation and reiterating your enthusiasm for the position.
Hiring teams often provide a time range for the next steps or a decision. If you don’t hear within three business days of the promised date, or one week past the last interview, send a short, polite check-in email referencing the role.
Reflect on your performance, too. How did you answer the questions asked? Do you need to work on anything ahead of the next one?
Turn Interview Nerves Into Confidence
Meeting with a potential employer might make you anxious – and that’s OK. The majority of job seekers feel similarly.
However, most of those nerves can go away when you think through the conversation ahead of time.
“Your interview is going to come down largely to the amount of preparation you put into it,” Alison states.
It’ll require an hour or two.
But that investment pays off when you walk in ready to showcase your strengths.
Still looking for answers?
Check out the FAQs about this article below.
