How to Prepare for An Interview

A Google Doc of this How to Prepare for an Interview Guide webpage is available for printing or preferred study method.

Interviewing gives you the opportunity to expand on the qualifications and experiences you described in your cover letter and resume to convince an employer you are the best candidate for their opening.  But this isn’t a one-way street.  An interview is also your chance to learn more about a position and company to see if it is the right fit for you.  Preparing for an interview, on top of actually completing one, can be nerve-wracking.  But with the right guidance and practice, you can feel confident to ace the interview in order to land an internship or job.

Before the Interview

• Get as much information about the interview as you can, including the format and the names and titles of the individuals who will be interviewing. 
• Reflect on your experiences (in and outside of the classroom), accomplishments, strengths, and reasons for wanting the position you’re interviewing for.  
• Review the company’s website, mission, values, and organizational structure along with news articles concerning the company’s recent projects.  
• Search for and read the interviewers’ bios and professional social media pages.
• Locate media and other sources to find out about industry trends and best practices, including salary information 
• Practice answering potential interview questions with a Loeb Center advisor, friend, or with the Big Interview platform.  The goal is to become comfortable with the questions, but not to memorize your answer verbatim. 
• Review all of your application materials.
• Select a professional outfit for the interview.  If you are unsure of the company’s culture and have received no guidance on attire, err on the side of wearing something more formal.  
• Finalize your travel plans, whether that means air travel or taking public transportation, if your interview is in person.
• Locate a quiet space to conduct a phone or video interview where you are unlikely to be interrupted or distracted.  Refer to this guide to learn more about about to prepare for one-way and two-way video interviews.
• Brainstorm appropriate questions to ask at the end of the interview.

During the Interview

• Be mindful of your body language: How you speak during an interview is as important as what you say.  Give each interviewer a firm handshake and maintain eye contact when introducing yourself and when answering questions.  Strive to keep your voice calm and confident with minimal filler words (i.e., um’s, uh’s, like’s) and with an appropriate level of enthusiasm.  Minimize your hand movements when speaking and sit upright; no slouching or fidgeting.  
• Listen and be mindful of how much space you take up: Listen fully to the interview question and pause before answering to gather your thoughts, if needed. Allow the interviewer to guide the conversation instead of trying to dominate the conversation.
• Keep your answers complete but brief: Your answers should be focused, concise.  But you want to be specific by illustrating your point with a story.  Utilize the S.T.A.R. method to structure your responses.
• Takes notes during the interview: Keep track of questions that come to mind over the course of the interview and any details you might want to reference in a thank-you note afterwards.

After the Interview

• Ask for business cards and/or contact information for everyone who interviewed you.
• Send thank-you notes to your interviewers within 48 hours after the interview.  Reference specifics from the interview to personalize the thank you and establish rapport.
• Contact the employer to briefly reiterate your interest in the position and inquire about next steps, two weeks or after the timeframe you were given by the employer regarding when you would be updated about the status of your candidacy.