Interview Best Practices
You've secured an interview for a job you really want. Congratulations! This is an exciting opportunity to share why you’re a great fit for the company and to learn more about whether the company is a good match for you. Follow these steps to help make the best impression and secure yourself a job offer.
1. Do your research
Research the company and the job. Read everything you can about the company, including the website, news articles, profiles of employees, and any tidbits on LinkedIn. Research the organization’s main services, products, values, structure, and culture—these are typically found under the “About Us” section of the company’s website. You should also familiarize yourself with recent news regarding the company and the field of work generally, as well as its notable leaders. (Google search the company and click on the “News” tab.) If you or your friends know employees at the company, ask if you can speak to them about the company, its culture, and its goals. You should be able to articulate what you have learned and demonstrate your understanding of the company’s mission and philosophy.
Show that you are a good fit. Once you've completed your investigation, you need to determine how the company ties into your own career path and interests. Be sure to also review your application, as your interviewer will likely draw many questions from materials you submitted.
Figure out how much you should get paid. There are several helpful online salary tools that can give you a rough gauge of how much to negotiate. For example, take a look at Indeed.com to figure out what is the typical salary for the position.
Research your interview/interviewer. Find out who is interviewing you and whether you’re scheduled to meet multiple people. The Human Resources contact should provide you with this information. It’s important to know generally how long you’ll be interviewing, and whether or not you will be interviewing with a panel or individually. This information should be provided to you, but if not, you can look it up or ask. Regarding your interviewer, stick to information available on the company website and on professional websites such as LinkedIn. Do not reference any of their social media pages.
2. Get your interview look ready
When dressing for an interview, you want to look professional and leave a good impression on the interviewers! Click here to dress for success, literally.
3. Prepare for the interview
Prepare responses to common interview questions. Check out the Repository of Common Interview Questions/Answers and information on how to prepare an Elevator Pitch. If you’re prepared, you will likely feel more confident, but just be careful not to sound rehearsed. When crafting your answers, focus more on what you can do for the company rather than what the company can do for you.
Practice the STAR method. The STAR method is used to clearly communicate answers to questions where you are asked to provide an example of your thinking and behavior in work situations. The STAR method provides a framework to help you offer a compelling and easy-to-understand answer. STAR stands for:
Situation: Describe the situation
Task: Highlight your specific task or responsibility
Action: What action did you take?
Result: The result of your action
The following example from Snagajob shows how to use the STAR method.
Question: Tell me about a time you had to deliver excellent customer service following a complaint.
Answer: “(Situation) I once had a customer call and complain that they waited over two weeks for a reply regarding their order. (Task) I needed to address the customer’s complaint and figure out what went wrong with their order. (Action) First, I apologized and got their order details. Then, I passed the information along to my manager that contacted them within the hour. I investigated why no one followed up about the order, it was the combination of a wrong cell phone number and email address. I let the customer know and we offered her a discount on her next order. (Results) In the end, the customer was happy with how we resolved the situation. She not only continued ordering from us, but posted a positive review online.”
Plan ahead. Planning ahead will help you stay relaxed on the day of the interview. Depending on the type of interview plan the following:
Directions: Make sure you get directions and determine the parking situation or public transportation route ahead of time. If possible, it's a good idea to do a practice run a day or two before the interview.
What to bring: Print copies of your resume ahead of time and make sure you have a folder, portfolio, and a professional bag large enough to fit a resume. Ask your career coach about getting a portfolio from DFSWDC if you don’t have one. You should plan to bring a pad and pen, and a list of questions. If you are not interviewing in person, you may also want to have your application and resume printed for easy reference.
Technology: Download any of the technology needed for your interview the day before in order to make sure there are no technical issues. You should also familiarize yourself with the technology and make sure it works. Sometimes even with all your planning, things can go wrong. It’s important to have a back-up plan. Can you borrow someone else’s device? Also, make sure the interviewer has your phone number and you are prepared to interview by phone if necessary.
Plan the space: For a phone or video interview it is important to find a quiet, private, location where you can interview. For a video interview, try to find a room or area that is well lit and can offer a clutter-free background. Avoid lounging in comfortable chairs or sofas, and pick a place where you can sit straight up (like a kitchen chair) and focus. Make sure the lighting is in front of you and directed toward your face, not behind you (which will create a shadow). Use a stand, or stack of books to make sure your camera is at face level and relatively close to you. If you find that seeing your own reflection on the screen distracts you, put a post-it in that place on the screen.
Think about questions you have for the interviewer. Remember, an important part of the interview is to determine whether the company is a good match for you. Asking the interviewer thoughtful questions shows you are interested in the company and helps you determine if you’d be happy working there. Check out the Repository of Questions to Ask the Interviewer for some ideas.
Practice the interview. Our career coaches are excited to help you conduct a mock interview. If possible, we will conduct the mock interview in the same format as the real interview. It’s also a good idea to use this as a dress rehearsal. Make sure the outfit, makeup, accessories, and hairstyle work for you. For a video interview, this will help make sure your choices look great on camera. It is also important that your outfit is comfortable and makes you feel confident during the interview. Check out the Mock Interview Procedure and Mock Interview Review Checklist for more information.
4. Ace the interview
General interview tips:
In-person interview tips: Be sure to give yourself extra time and arrive at least fifteen minutes early to the interview. There’s a saying: “If you arrive on time, you’re actually late.” This is absolutely true of interviews; you don’t want your interviewer to feel rushed. You should have on hand a copy of your resume, a pad and pen, and a list of questions. Take time to compose yourself when you arrive. The minute you step into the reception area, the interview has begun! Make sure your phone is on silent. Greet everyone in a friendly and professional manner; often receptionists and other staff are asked their opinion of candidates. Greet the interviewer by name, with a smile, using direct eye contact. Be sure to offer a firm, not bone-crushing, handshake.
Phone interview tips: Try to find somewhere quiet and use headphones to reduce background noise. You can also use your device to reference your resume or other material. It is especially important to remember not to speak too quickly on the phone. Answer the phone clearly to indicate you are ready to start; try, “Hello, this is [say your full name].”
Video interview tips: Make sure you are in your pre-planned quiet space, and check that your phone is on silent. Be sure to close any unnecessary web browser tabs and applications and go to your Settings to temporarily turn off any notifications. You need to maintain absolute focus. Remember to look at the camera to engage the interviewer.
5. Follow-up
Congratulations on completing your interview! Check out the Follow-Up Thank You Emails Best Practices for guidance on how to make a lasting impression on your potential employer.