Interview Preparation

Your interview experiences will vary widely depending on the industry, type of position, company type, and the person interviewing you. As such, it is impossible to cover every possible interview scenario or give blanket advice that will work in 100% of your interviews. This page should equip you with resources to make informed decisions in each phase of the interview process. 

When you're applying to jobs it is highly likely that at least a few of the positions you've applied for will call you (a phone screening) before they extend an official interview invitation. A phone screening could come at any time, so it's important to be prepared for one as soon as you submit your first application. Some general guidelines are outlined below: 

• Make sure your voicemail greeting is professional and up-to-date. The goal is, of course, to answer the phone. However, if you're in a meeting, at the gym, or without your phone, you'll want to be sure that the message the employer receives reflects positively on you. 

• Get in the habit of answering your phone professionally. When applying for jobs, you should do your best to always answer the phone. When you answer, make sure your greeting is positive and professional, something like "Hello, [your name] speaking."

• Be in, or quickly move to a quiet place. You want to be able to hear the employer and you want the employer to be able to hear you clearly. If you need a moment to get to a quiet place, it's okay to say that. 

• Follow the vocal recommendations in the "confidence" section below. The employer obviously can't see you during a phone screening, but your voice gives away more than you may realize. It's important to speak slowly, enunciate, sound engaged and passionate, end your sentences with a falling tone, and cut out the filler. 

• Take physical notes (pen and paper). Taking physical notes can be a helpful way to calm yourself, appear engaged, and have a record for future reference. You should consider taking notes at each stage of the interview process. 

Confidence is key in any interview.  Luckily, confidence can be signaled to others through relatively small changes in body language and speech that are easily learned. When you picture a confident person, what do you see? Can you hear confidence in the way someone speaks? The following suggestions can help you be perceived as the confident applicant you are. 

1. Make eye contact. You should make eye contact with your interviewer while listening and while speaking. We usually find it easier to make eye contact while listening, so don't forget to focus on eye contact while answering questions as well. 

2. Take a power stance. The "power stance" or "power posture" is a common idea in public speaking and usually refers to a standing position that is grounded and takes up space. We less often think of the importance of a power stance in a seated position or in a virtual space, but it's just as important in these situations! Don't make yourself small - you are worthy of taking up space and you can signal that through your posture. Keep your arms open, your hands visible (when appropriate), and sit up straight. Putting your hands in your pockets, crossing your arms, and folding your hands all signal nervousness and uncertainty. 

3. Offer a strong handshake. You've heard this a thousand times and that's because it's good advice. You want a handshake that is not too soft, not too hard, not too short, and not too long - a Goldilocks handshake. Your grip should be firm and last between two and five seconds. Practice with a friend!

4. Don't fidget. Most of us know that in order to appear more confident we shouldn't fidget, but fidgeting can be extremely hard to avoid because of the time we don't even know we're doing it. We typically think of fidgeting as physical, but I would lump nervous giggling in this category, as well. If possible, conduct a mock interview with a friend or through Career Services and record the whole thing. Make note of your general body language throughout and make note of specific fidgets that you can avoid in future interviews. It's usually easier to rid yourself of these small habits once you've been them for yourself. 

5. Pay attention to your facial expressions. You should practice keeping a calm, positive, interested facial expression for sustained periods of time. Don't forget to smile!

6. Project and enunciate. Don't mumble or shout - you want the person interviewing you to be able to easily hear and understand you throughout the interview. 

7. End phrases on a falling tone. "Upspeaking" makes you seem unsure. You can create a full vocal stop by ending phrases with a falling tone.

8. Speak slowly. It is very common to speak quickly when you're nervous, so it makes sense that to appear confident you'd want to do the opposite. Speaking slowly helps to ensure that your brain keeps up with your mouth and that you get your point across clearly. 

9. Cut out filler. Avoid filler words and phrases like "um," "like," and "uh." If you need a moment for your brain to catch up with your mouth, simply don't speak.

10. Pose questions. You can signal your attentiveness and interest in the position by asking engaging and insightful questions when appropriate. Don't get so in your head about appearing confident that you forget to pay attention!

11. Follow up after the interview. Keep it appropriate, short, and specific. 

People give people jobs. People love stories. In an interview, we often find ourselves telling stories about previous experiences - when done well, these stories can really make an impact. The STAR Method of interviewing gives you an easy-to-apply format for storytelling. Star stands for: 

Situation: Set the scene and give the necessary context.
Task: Describe your responsibility in the situation.
Action: Explain exactly what you did.
Result: Share the outcomes of your action. 

Focusing on these four components of a story can help you distill your experience into the most important and relevant parts. 

It's a good idea to practice the STAR Method at home before going into an interview. Some of the most common questions that you can use the STAR Method to answer are: 

Give me an example of a time you had a conflict with a coworker.
Tell me about a time you made a mistake.
How do you handle pressure at work or school?
What is your proudest accomplishment?
Tell me about a time you showed initiative.

Dress code expectations vary significantly from industry to industry. No one dress code is going to work for every interview. Mostly, it's important that you've put thought into the clothes you wear to an interview and what they say about you. Ask yourself the following questions when thinking about what to wear.

• What is the dress code for employees at the company? Look at the company's website, visit the company in person (if appropriate), or simply ask the person you've been communicating with. Generally, it is a good rule of thumb to dress one step up from the employee dress code. For instance, if the company is casual and employees typically wear jeans and a t-shirt, you might want to wear nicer-looking denim and a button-down, or non-denim pants with a simple cotton top.

• Where will I be interviewed? Is your interview in-person or on Zoom? Will you be inside or outside? On sight or at a coffee shop? Prioritize your physical comfort in person (bring a sweater if you'll be in cool air conditioning, wear comfortable shoes if you're touring the building, etc.). 

• What do I want my outfit to say about me? The clothing you choose affects the way you are perceived by those around you. In an interview environment, you want to take control of that narrative. At a minimum, make sure your outfit is clean, wrinkle-free, and fits you properly. 

Your job search may or may not include technical interviews. Below are some general tips for how to succeed in technical interviews and a wide array of resources that may be useful in the process of preparing for a technical interview. 

• Ask the recruiter/interview contact what type of interview it will be. You should explicitly ask if it will be a technical interview if they have not already told you.

• Understand the required skillset for the position and practice accordingly.

• Practice with different modalities. Practice working through technical problems on paper, via Zoom, and on a whiteboard. While they may seem similar, it's best to be prepared for every situation. When using a whiteboard, remember: (1) Handwriting matters, (2) Use the full space - start in the upper left-hand corner, (3) Erase if you need to. 

• Practice. A lot. Mock interviews are important for any type of interview and can be extremely helpful for technical interviews. Practice with friends, classmates, and using online tools. 

• Make sure you understand the problem. Ask lots of questions to ensure that you understand the problem and the problem behind the problem.

• Be explicit. Clearly communicate your thought process out loud and in writing and clearly answer the question asked.