How to prepare for an interview
Before the interview:
Research the company's profile and background
Start by looking into their future goals and plans. Make sure to learn as much as you can about the company through their website, or former employees if possible. Be ready to talk in depth about the industry, the organization, and the position you are applying for.
Think of questions to ask your interviewer
It's a good idea to come prepared with at least three thought-provoking questions to ask your interviewer. (Avoid asking anything that could be easily answered through a quick internet search, or you will simply come across as lazy.)
If you have a friend who is also preparing for an interview, consider preparing together. Not only will this give you a way to structure your preparation, but it will also help you get comfortable with giving answers, telling anecdotes, and using appropriate terminology. Practice giving concise, complete answers and maintaining eye contact with the interviewer(s) while you give them. Make sure you aren't speaking too slow or too fast and that your answers are stated with confidence.
Anticipate questions from the interviewer. It’s best to prepare for a wide variety of questions by thinking about your own career goals, long-term plans, past successes, and work strengths, but you should also brace yourself for the deceptively simple questions that most employers like to throw at their interviewees. (see Interview questions section).
During the Interview
Attire: Attire is very important when you interview. For more info, see interview attire section.
Show courtesy to everyone during the interview. This means everyone from the reception staff to the interviewer herself. You never know who has input in the hiring process, and you can only make a first impression once.
Be honest. Many people think that an interview is the perfect time to embellish. While you want to structure your answers so that your best, most qualified aspects take center stage, you don't want to deceive or outright lie. Companies do perform background checks, and lying about your experience is simply not worth it.
Keep things simple and short. Stick to what you know well, and keep things short and sweet.
After the interview
Send a thank-you letter or email to your interviewer and/or the liaison. You can say something like:
Before the interview:
Research the company's profile and background
Start by looking into their future goals and plans. Make sure to learn as much as you can about the company through their website, or former employees if possible. Be ready to talk in depth about the industry, the organization, and the position you are applying for.
Think of questions to ask your interviewer
It's a good idea to come prepared with at least three thought-provoking questions to ask your interviewer. (Avoid asking anything that could be easily answered through a quick internet search, or you will simply come across as lazy.)
- Ask questions that reflect your interest in the future. “Which are new markets the company is planning to explore in next couple of years?” or “What are the chances for professional growth in this job opportunity?”
- Ask questions to bond with the interviewer. Inquire about his/her position and background or how long (s)he has been with the company.
If you have a friend who is also preparing for an interview, consider preparing together. Not only will this give you a way to structure your preparation, but it will also help you get comfortable with giving answers, telling anecdotes, and using appropriate terminology. Practice giving concise, complete answers and maintaining eye contact with the interviewer(s) while you give them. Make sure you aren't speaking too slow or too fast and that your answers are stated with confidence.
Anticipate questions from the interviewer. It’s best to prepare for a wide variety of questions by thinking about your own career goals, long-term plans, past successes, and work strengths, but you should also brace yourself for the deceptively simple questions that most employers like to throw at their interviewees. (see Interview questions section).
During the Interview
Attire: Attire is very important when you interview. For more info, see interview attire section.
Show courtesy to everyone during the interview. This means everyone from the reception staff to the interviewer herself. You never know who has input in the hiring process, and you can only make a first impression once.
- Look everyone in the eye and smile.
- Speak clearly and say "please" and "thank you." Make sure the people you talk to during the interview can make out what you're saying. Talking audibly, with good enunciation, tells people you're confident, while good manners tells them you're considerate of other people.
- Don't be on your phone while waiting. In fact, leave it in your car. Even though it's practically acceptable, playing around on your phone can communicate boredom. Review your notes while waiting.
Be honest. Many people think that an interview is the perfect time to embellish. While you want to structure your answers so that your best, most qualified aspects take center stage, you don't want to deceive or outright lie. Companies do perform background checks, and lying about your experience is simply not worth it.
Keep things simple and short. Stick to what you know well, and keep things short and sweet.
- Structure your answers so that you're talking in 30-90 seconds. Any less and you're likely to seem unqualified; any more and your interviewer is likely to lose interest in what you're saying.
- Don't use slang or off-color humor during your interview. It's important not to say "awesome" or "cool" during an interview.
- Don't criticize your former employer. When you're talking about your past experience, be courteous about your former places of employment.
After the interview
Send a thank-you letter or email to your interviewer and/or the liaison. You can say something like:
- "Dear [interviewer's name], Thank you for the opportunity to discuss my qualifications with you. I remain very impressed by [interviewer's company], and invite you to contact me if you have any further questions. I look forward to hearing from you about this position.
- "Dear [interviewer's name], I interviewed at your company [at such and such date], and am still interested in the position if it hasn't yet been filled. I'd greatly appreciate any information you might have about my candidacy. I look forward to hearing from you."
