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Let’s face it: job hunting—however rewarding in the end—can be a stressful experience. Whether you’re scouring job boards or networking like crazy, it’s tough to feel let down…until you get the interview.
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Scoring an interview is the first step toward getting the job of your dreams, so it’s important to do as much preparation as possible to stand out. I’ll lay out the dos and don’ts to consider before the interview, during the interview, and after the interview—all from my own personal experience.
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These tips were created with an in-person interview in mind but you can also adapt them for a phone interview or virtual video interview.
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In the days before your job interview, set aside time to do the following:
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It’s super important to do the proper research on the company you’re interviewing with beforehand. Why? Because it shows them you already know what they’re all about and that you’re committed to pursuing the position.
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Take some time to browse through their company website and careers page. Look for when the company was established, their mission statement, who the CEO is and their other leadership, what their company culture is like—anything you think would be valuable to know during the interview.
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You should also know about any recent news or PR events the company has had. Type the name of the company into a Google search bar and click "enter." Then hit "news" and you'll see any recent mentions of the company in the news.
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This might be a little tricky but research whatever information you can find about their company culture. Review their careers page, check the company out on social media like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. And you can even check out sites like Glassdoor.com and InHerSight.com to see what the employees are anonymously sharing.
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Lastly, if you know someone at the company already, see if you can have a quick informational interview with them prior to your interview to learn more about the company.
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You should know what the company does, what they sell, who their clients are, etc. And if you can test them out ahead of time, like subscribing or trying a product, even better. It's super impressive when a candidate has done allll their pre-interview homework.
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Review the job description in detail! Have a thorough understanding of what skills the job is asking for and the responsibilities. Even better, go through and make a list of how your experience relates to what the job is looking for. Write out why you applied for the job and why you're specifically interested in this role.
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I know this is a lot of homework but it will really help you crystalize your reasons and better sell the recruiter and/or hiring manager during the interview.
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Using the job description, go through each item it list and write out what qualification you have. Consider adding notes with examples of work that you could share or tell a story around if needed.
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The interviewer will usually start by asking you to tell them about yourself. This is your time to shine so make it count. Craft an introduction that's brief and to the point—you don’t want to bore them with unnecessary details or filler words.
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Prepare your answer to the common question: “Tell me about yourself, and why are you interested in this role with our company?” The idea is to quickly communicate who you are and what value you will bring to the company and the role—it’s your elevator pitch.
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Especially if you're nervous or lack some confidence when it comes to job interviews, I highly recommend having a mock job interview with a friend. I did one of these in college and it was so helpful. Plus, if you videotape it—as I did—you can watch any nervous body language you do.
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Another important factor to take into consideration pre-interview is what you are going to wear. By browsing through the company website, you’ll probably get a sense of the company culture, which can help you determine how you should dress.
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If you are applying for a position at a financial firm, for example, you might want to wear something more formal, like a business suit. However, if you are applying for a more creative position, you might want to wear something more—for lack of a better word—creative.
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If you're unfamiliar with the interview location, drive there the day before so you can familiarize yourself with the route. And on the day of your interview, give yourself plenty of time to get there! It’s always better to be 20 minutes early than 20 minutes late.
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Almost all interviews end with "Do you have any questions for me?" You may find that you naturally have questions based on your conversation during the interview, but play it safe by preparing some in advance. Here are some questions you may want to consider asking your interviewers:
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– Can you explain some of the day-to-day responsibilities this job entails? – How would you describe the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role? – If I were in this position, how would my performance be measured? How often? – What departments does this teamwork with regularly? – How do these departments typically collaborate?
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As far as what to bring to your interview, always come with a few copies of your resume, a pen and paper, and some printed copies of your previous work or a portfolio (if applicable).
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Some other ideas include a mirror for quick touchups between interviews, a snack in case the interviews run long, a bottle of water for obvious reasons, and an iPad if you want to share examples of your work digitally.
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You should already be in interview mode when you arrive. Walk in with a smile on your face to show that you are excited to be there. Don’t forget to take a big deep breath—that will definitely help calm your nerves—and maybe even listen to a couple of minutes of bass-heavy music before getting out of your care. It'll help you feel more powerful.
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I’m sure you’ve been told to do your research before interviewing for the job. But I’ll be the first to admit, despite all my research, when I’m nervous I forget my eloquent statements about why I'm perfect for the job. And that is why I bring along a cheat sheet.
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Here's how it works: I make bullets about the points I want to cover when speaking to my interviewer and write them on the same page where I take my notes. That way, if I feel I’m stumbling or at a loss for words, I have a few lines to get me back on track. Furthermore, the preparation itself works as a security blanket for me. I innately feel more confident with my cheat sheet in hand.
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In the event that you arrive and do meet more people from the team than you were expecting, don’t hesitate to either hand those people your business card (if the timing feels appropriate) or leave some along with copies of your resume at the end.
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Tell your interviewer that you’re happy to answer any questions anyone from the team has and that they can contact you at the address on your card. While this might not happen, better to be prepared!
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After you’ve spent time preparing, you can be successful on interview day by practicing these tips:
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Don't even be tempted by the distraction of your phone. If you need to have it on for emergencies then turn off the ringer and leave it on the table but share that information with the interviewer upfront.
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From the valet to the receptionist to the recruiter, treat everyone with kindness and respect. This should be a no-brainer.
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While the length of the interview will depend on how many people you're speaking with, assume you'll be there for at least an hour. When your interviewer greets you, give them a nice firm handshake. It can be difficult to remember names (especially if you are meeting with multiple people!).
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Try repeating a name immediately after the introduction. For example, when the interviewer says “Hi Samantha, I’m Mike,” respond with “Hi Mike, nice to meet you.”
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One of the best ways to communicate confidence is by making eye contact. You don't need to do a deep stare. Find the happy medium (eye contact about 70 percent of the time) that will demonstrate your emotional intelligence without scaring anyone away.
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Body language and tone of voice can communicate a lot. And it goes back to confidence. Watch that you don't twirl your hair, slouch, fiddle, or slump in your chair. Check your posture, pull your shoulders back, and keep you chin up
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After running through your personal pitch, you will be asked questions about your previous work experience, what you know about the company, why you would be a good fit for the position, and so on. Be prepared to answer typical interview questions like “Where do you see yourself in five years?”, “What are your biggest weaknesses?”, or even “Why are you looking for a new job?"
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If you are unsure of an answer to a question, it’s okay to say that you don’t know. It’s counterintuitive, but trust me—they would rather have you be honest than get off track with inaccurate answers. The most important thing to remember during the interview is to be yourself. Be as honest as you can, and they will respect you for that.
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After I complete an interview, I like to take a few notes about what the interviewer and I discussed, their name, role, and any other details like an interesting interview question. This comes in handy when you have lots of interviews and for what happens after the interview.
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If you want to take notes during the interview, that's fine too. I would just recommend letting the interviewer know you'll be doing that but don't take constant notes.
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Don't forget to actually ask questions! Even if you cover a lot of ground in your interview and think you don't have any questions to ask, don't skip this! Interviewers look for candidates who are curious, engaged, and have questions for them!
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Even if you hate your boss and your workplace is toxic, now is not the time to go all negative and spill the tea. Try to spin anything negative into a more productive conversation.
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Verbally thank the interviewer for their time and ask about the next steps in the interview process. You can also ask them about their hiring timelines, which will help you gauge when to follow up.
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Once the interview is over, make sure to say thank you and ask for their business card. This way you'll have their contact information for later.
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When the interview is over, give yourself the best chances of moving forward by doing the following:
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Many people think they don’t have to do anything after the initial interview. Wrong. Always, always, always send a thank-you note, whether it’s handwritten or through email (preferred). Employers will really appreciate that you took the time to do that, and that’s why it’s important to get their business card after your interview.
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Remember to keep your thank you note short and to the point—it will make sure you leave a great impression!