Interview Preparation

Visit the company’s website, read their mission statement, consider following them on LinkedIn or other social media, and check recent press releases or news articles to understand their goals and current initiatives. Don’t plan to ask people any questions that you could easily find the answer to online!

Be ready to sell the interviewer on you as the perfect fit for them from the first moments of the interview! Practice your response to “tell me about yourself” – the one question you can almost guarantee will be asked in some form during your interview. Think about what core experiences, skills, and interests led you to become the perfect fit for this organization at this time in this role, and paint a compelling picture of you as the obvious choice for them. And…do all of that in under 2-3 minutes! It’s difficult and takes practice – but it’s much better than a boring recap of your resume.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure answers for behavioral questions, like “Tell me about a time you faced a challenge at work.” Prepare 7-10 stories and examples from your experiences so far that best demonstrate your strengths, skills, knowledge, and personality, and practice using them to answer a variety of possible interview questions.

Ask about team dynamics, upcoming projects, or what success looks like in the role to demonstrate your interest and insight. If you know in advance who is interviewing you (ask your contact if they don’t tell you proactively!), research them on LinkedIn and consider preparing a question or two more specific to their background and experience with this company and any previous ones.

Opt for business attire such as a blazer and dress shoes, even if the company has a casual dress code—first impressions matter!

Within 24 hours, thank the interviewer for their time, mention something specific from your conversation, and reaffirm your enthusiasm for the role.