Preparing for the Interview

What happens before the interview is just as important as the interview itself.

Preparation Makes Perfect

Interviewing can be scary, but there are steps you can take ahead of time to make the experience easier.

Keep Reading to Learn:

Steps to prepare for interviews
What to take care of in advance

Before your interview, you should:

Step 1: Research

Employers often complain that they interview students who don’t know anything about their organization, and Karen’t prepared. That shouldn't’t be you!

The Job Description

Review the job description. Highlight or write down key responsibilities and skills.

The Organization

Learn about the organization and be prepared to talk about why you want to work for them!

Questions to Ask

Think about what questions you want to ask the interviewer at the end of the interview. Have 3-5 questions prepared, and should always ask what the next steps in the hiring process will be.

Step 2: Practice

Practice makes perfect, and interviewing is no exception! Even though you can't be certain what questions an employer will ask, you can prepare some good answers in advance.

Talking About Yourself

Be prepared to tell the interviewer about yourself: a little bit of personal, educational, and professional information is great!

STAR Stories

From your research, you'll know about key skills and responsibilities you'll need to demonstrate competence in. Prepare and practice your STAR stories in advance.

The Outfit

Pick out your outfit 2-3 days before your interview so you can ensure it is clean and wrinkle-free. Choose comfortable shoes in case you need to walk for an office tour, or end up parking a few blocks away.

Considerations

Always be modest and err on the side of being overdressed, but feel free to include some pieces that show your personality. An interesting tie, hijab, or piece of jewelry is a good choice!

The Details

Review interview details – is it virtual or in person? If in person, make a plan to get there early.

Next Steps

Reference resources in Related Links to jump start your preparation on how to:

Research the employer
Prepare for behavioral-based interview questions
Schedule an appointment with the Career Development Center for a practice interview