How to Successfully Prepare for an Interview

Interviewing for a new job can feel daunting, and every individual has their own process. No matter your style, we can all agree that the more prepared you are, the better the outcome. Job interviews are a chance to show your qualifications and make a good first impression. The overall outcome of preparing for an interview will give you the opportunity to practice and improve your skills to raise your chances of getting hired for your dream job.

When you are preparing for an interview, there are many important things to consider. What do you know about the company and the job? Do you have outstanding questions that you need clarified to make an informed decision? Do you have a plan or outline prepared to ensure you highlight yourself to showcase your skills and value? Answering these questions for yourself will provide the confidence you need to be successful. Let’s break down these questions into actionable steps.

How to Be Prepared for Your Interview

1. Know the Job Details

Before you can show your interviewer why they should hire you, you need to understand what they’re looking for. Reach out to your recruiter to get a copy of the full job description and keep it close by during the interview. What skills and experiences are they highlighting? What challenges will you need to solve in this role? These are the things you’ll want to emphasize during your interview.

2. Confirm and Prepare for the Interview Environment

Companies conduct different types of interviews – such as via phone, video, or in person – so ask your recruiter what to expect. You may be asked to participate in multiple, one-on-one interviews with different people. While other companies may have you meet with a panel of multiple people. Maybe there is an expectation that you give a presentation. Asking your recruiter and investing time to become familiar prior to your interview will help you be prepared. Remember to dress to impress and, if the interview is via video conference, find a quiet, bright, professional space to take the call (or set an appropriate background filter).

3. Familiarize yourself with the STAR method:

Whenever you’re answering interview questions with a story, make sure that story is well organized, and the takeaway is clear. Give the interviewer any context they need to understand what happened while still answering the question clearly. The STAR method will ensure your stories always have a beginning, middle, and end. STAR stands for: Situation, Task, Action, and Result.

• Situation – briefly describe the scenario using just enough details for the interview to understand the story’s full scope
• Task – discuss what your role was in the story
• Action – explain the actions and steps you took to resolve the issue and why
• Result – what was the outcome and what did you learn?

4. Research the Company

Spend some time learning about the company’s mission, vision, and values on their website. Does the company culture fit with your desired culture? Talk to people in your network to find current and previous employees, read current news releases, and spend some time researching on Google. Websites like Glassdoor.com are great resources for employee reviews and can give you some additional insight into company culture. Often, candidates just look at the information a company is pushing out on their website and social media, not realizing they’re missing out on other valuable information that can be learned through networking and research. Take the time to reach out to your network and get a more in-depth picture from what others are saying. By doing this you will get a bigger picture of the company, be prepared to talk about why you want to work there, and be able to articulate what you can bring to the table. If you’re able to relate yourself to the company, the hiring managers will really see that you want to make an impact on their organization.

5. Prepare Questions

At the end of an interview, the interviewer may ask you if you have any questions. Asking questions can help you learn more about the role, show your interest in the company, and make a good impression on the interviewer. No question is a bad question and leaders want to hire individuals who aren’t afraid to ask clarifying questions. Take notes during your interview and write down your questions in advance. You can also include a few typical questions, such as:

• What does “a day in the life” look like in this position?
• How do you measure success for this opportunity?
• What are the next steps in the hiring process?
• What is your timeframe for filling this position?

Overall, confidence is the key to successful interviewing. By creating a plan for your interview, it will help you feel confident and ready. Going into your interview with confidence is one of the best traits you can bring. After reading this, plan and take away what you need to in order to crush your next interview and land your dream job!