How to Prepare for an Interview
You’ve been offered an interview! Congratulations! Now what?
An interview is a chance to share who you are as a candidate and learn more about the opportunity and organization. It’s your chance to build rapport, connect with your potential colleagues and supervisor, and explore how your education, skills, values and experiences align.
Body language and nonverbal communication are key whether the interview is by phone, Zoom or in-person. Check out resources within our office, with your professors and externally like Amy Cuddy’s TED Talk on power poses. Remember, an interview is a conversation about you ensuring the role and company is right for you as much as you are right for them. Come with examples of your work, questions and a genuine interest to share about yourself and learn more about their mission, team, culture and goals.
- Research the company or organization. Review their website to learn about their values, mission, projects, and more. This demonstrates you’ve done your part to learn about them and show alignment between your values/skills and their needs.
- Arrange an informational interview (if you can). Talk to someone at the company or someone familiar with the interview process for that position to get insider knowledge. You can find individuals on LinkedIn or LMU Connect.
- Do a mock interview. Use Big Interview to practice your answers and receive immediate feedback on your verbal and nonverbal cues at any time for free.
- Look the part! Stop by our CPD Mane Apparel to rent professional attire for free.
- If you’re interviewing online, check your technology to make sure you have good Wi-Fi and a clean background. If you are doing a phone interview, be sure to take the call standing up, not in a car or a place with noise or outside distractions.
- Use the STAR method. This is an easy way to keep your answers direct, concise, and tell a story to show how you think and behave.
- Ask them questions too. This is your chance to learn more about them and ensure fit! Get curious, bring a list of questions and avoid saying, “I don’t have any questions.”
- Send a follow up thank you email to each person you met with, 24-48 hours post-interview. It also provides an opportunity to reinforce or mention anything you didn’t highlight during your interview.
- Give them time. Allow employers time to review their interview notes and possibly interview other candidates. Ask during the interview about their hiring timeline so you know when to follow-up.
- Celebrate your accomplishment! Interviewing is not easy, congratulate yourself with self-care or a reward to honor your hard work. Connect with a CPD coach to debrief or get feedback for next time.
