do homework before an interview

Doing Your Homework Before a Job Interview

Being prepared for a job interview is arguably more important than the interview itself. One of the worst feelings to have when in an interview is being asked a question you flat-out don’t know how to answer. There’s a simple way to avoid that feeling entirely – do your homework! Just because you already got your degree doesn’t mean you’re done studying. We understand job interviews can be extremely stressful. Here are some of the most popular interview questions, and assignments we can give you to answer them properly.

Question: Did you have a chance to check out our website? Assignment: This one’s pretty easy – ALWAYS check out the website!

• Make a note of their “vibe.” The larger headings may give you insight into what’s most important to them, and their verbiage could be a tell-tale sign of the company vision and culture.
• If they have an FAQ section, there’s a great place to find some company-centric questions YOU can ask at the end of the interview (we’ll touch on that later).
• Create a short list of 2-3 things in your head with some things you like about the company. This may involve leaving their home page and delving in a little deeper to what they do. Don’t just say “yep, your website looks great!” and move on from the question. Propel the conversation forward by noting an interesting project they’ve worked on, a charity they work with, or a special service they offer.

Question: Can you tell me a little bit about yourself? Assignment: As the great wordsmith Dr. Seuss once said, “There is no one alive that is youer than you!” Don’t let this question freak you out. If ever there’s a place in the interview process – from submitting your resume to your first day on the job – to show your personality, here it is! Think of the answer in advance.

• Something important to note about this question: the interviewer most likely cares less about your answer to this question, and cares more about the confidence and enthusiasm (dare we say “wit”) you approach your answer with.
• If you really want to focus on being succinct, consider answering this question by starting out with “I can summarize myself in three words.” (Try to avoid pulling a Dwight Schrute .) Don’t pick the overused buzzwords we see so often on resumes i.e. detail oriented, results-driven, successful, responsible and the like. Take some inventory on yourself and pick three words that can accurately summarize you.
• For a slightly more long-winded answer (but still not too abstract), try prefacing with “Those who know me best say I’m …” or “A quotation I try to live my life by is…” so you can have a jumping-off point. Homework is easy to do on these – just ask someone close to you to describe you (in a professional capacity), or recall your favorite quote and figure out why it speaks to you.
• If you’re a confident person who’s not waivered by nerves (and you’re confident the interview has started off well already), consider “Well, I googled myself today, and this is what I found…” or “The compliment people give me most frequently is…” These don’t necessarily require a predetermined answer, so make sure your head is clear if you approach the question this way.

Question: What’s your biggest strength? Assignment: Say what you mean, and be able to give some evidence to back it up.

• Talk about a strong quality or skill you have. It doesn’t have to be too specific, but if it’s a very general buzzword (organized, motivated, etc) be sure you can really speak to that quality. Give concrete examples of how you employed that skill in past roles you’ve been in (and if you’re a new grad, how you employed it in school) and bring it full-circle by telling your interviewer how it will apply to the role you’re in contention for. It’s like writing a paper for English class – you can’t just put a quote in your paper and move on! Give it some evidence and analysis to show you really know what you’re talking about.
• It’s always important to stay on track in an interview and keep all your answers relevant to the job at hand (unless otherwise asked). Don’t tell your interviewer that your biggest strength is being able to play FIFA for 36 hours without eating, or that the fudge brownies you bake are award-winning. Your interviewer will become frustrated if you veer too far off course.

Now that we’ve finished discussing some of the tougher interview questions that can leave you scratching your head, let’s talk about perhaps the toughest one of all: when your interviewer asks you “Do you have any questions for me?” Check back next week to get some awesome tips on the best questions to ask the person interviewing you. (Spoiler alert – when asked if you have any questions, the answer should NEVER be no!)

How to prepare for an interview (steps & tips)

Get ready to ace your next job interview with these essential tips! Learn how to research the company, practice your answers, and more.

Preparing for an interview can be nerve-wracking, but with the right mindset and a few key strategies, you can set yourself up for success. Whether you're applying for your dream job or just looking to improve your interview skills, there are a few steps you can take to make sure you're fully prepared and confident on the big day.

1. Research the Company

Before you walk into an interview, it's important to have a good understanding of the company and the role you're applying for. Spend some time researching the company's mission, values, and culture, as well as any recent news or developments that might be relevant to your interview. This information can help you tailor your answers and demonstrate your interest in the company.

2. Review the Job Description

Make sure you thoroughly review the job description and understand the responsibilities and qualifications required for the position. This will help you prepare thoughtful answers that align with the company's expectations and demonstrate your fit for the role. It's also a good idea to think about any relevant experiences or skills you can highlight during the interview.

3. Practice Your Answers

One of the best ways to prepare for an interview is to practice your answers to common interview questions. This can help you feel more comfortable and confident during the actual interview. You can find lists of common interview questions online and practice answering them aloud or with a friend. Be sure to focus on answering the question directly and succinctly, while also demonstrating your skills and experience.

4. Dress Appropriately

Make sure you dress appropriately for the interview, taking into account the company's culture and dress code. It's always better to err on the side of dressing too professionally, rather than too casually. Make sure your clothes are clean and wrinkle-free, and that your hair and makeup (if applicable) are neat and tidy.

5. Arrive Early

Plan to arrive at least 10-15 minutes early for your interview. This will give you time to check in with the receptionist, use the restroom, and calm your nerves before the interview. If you're unsure of the location or parking situation, do a test run ahead of time to avoid any last-minute surprises.

6. Bring a Copy of Your Resume

Make sure you bring a copy of your resume, along with any other relevant documents or certifications. This shows that you're organized and prepared, and can also help refresh your memory if you need to reference any past experiences or accomplishments during the interview.

7. Follow Up

After the interview, send a thank-you note or email to the interviewer. This shows that you're interested in the position and appreciate the opportunity to interview. You can also use this as an opportunity to reiterate your interest in the company and emphasize any relevant skills or experiences that you may have overlooked during the interview.

Interview Prep Tips

Listen carefully.

Listen carefully to the interviewer's questions and make sure you understand them before answering. Take a moment to gather your thoughts and give a clear, concise response. If you're unsure of the question, ask for clarification.

Be Authentic

Be yourself during the interview and let your personality shine through. Authenticity can make you stand out from other candidates and help the interviewer get a sense of your fit with the company culture.

Show Enthusiasm

Show enthusiasm and passion for the position and the company. This demonstrates your commitment and can make a positive impression on the interviewer.

Follow Professional Etiquette

Follow professional etiquette during the interview, such as greeting the interviewer with a firm handshake, maintaining appropriate eye contact, and avoiding interrupting or talking over the interviewer.

Practice Good Posture

Maintain good posture during the interview to convey confidence and professionalism. Sit up straight with your shoulders back and your feet firmly on the ground. Avoid fidgeting or slouching, which can convey nervousness or lack of confidence.

Showcase Your Accomplishments

Don't be shy about highlighting your accomplishments and successes during the interview. Use specific examples to illustrate your skills and experience, and explain how they would be beneficial to the company.

Research the Interviewer

If possible, research the interviewer ahead of time to gain insight into their background and interests. This can help you build rapport and establish common ground during the interview.

Be Prepared for Behavioral Questions

Be prepared to answer behavioral questions that ask you to provide specific examples of how you've handled certain situations in the past. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

Be Prepared to Address Weaknesses

Be prepared to address any weaknesses or gaps in your experience or skills. Provide honest, constructive feedback on how you're working to improve, and demonstrate a willingness to learn and grow.

Show Gratitude

Show gratitude throughout the interview process, from thanking the receptionist to expressing your appreciation to the interviewer. This demonstrates your professionalism and leaves a positive impression. After the interview, follow up with a thank-you note or email to reiterate your appreciation.

In conclusion, preparing for an interview requires a bit of research and planning, but it's well worth the effort. By following these tips, you can demonstrate your skills and experience, showcase your interest in the company, and ultimately land your dream job. Good luck!

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• Job Interview Tips

12+ Job Interview Tips & Tricks (Verified Expert Advice)

Job-seeking is a beautiful mess.

You struggle with articulating your experiences and achievements. You get all worked up about finding the perfect answer to pretty much the same 10 interview questions. Then, you have to figure out if you’re a cultural fit, only to compete with hundreds of other people with very similar backgrounds.

Ah, the price we pay to afford our instaworthy vacations and endless supply of athleisure.

The good news is that interviewing doesn’t have to be that hard. In this article, we’ll give you 12 quick interview tips to help you prepare, know what to expect, and how to act and react on the spot.

This article was written with help from professionals in different roles and industries who have one thing in common: they’re connected to the HR industry, they’re passionate about hiring the right candidates, and they already helped numerous people land the jobs of their dreams. Special thanks to Vukasin and Michael for sharing their expertise with us. 

You’ll learn:

• Why and how you need to research the company
• How to make a list of your proudest accomplishments
• How to anticipate interview questions so that you always know what’s coming
• How to tactfully answer tricky questions

Don’t waste days compiling overused interview techniques. Get original answers to every single question you could expect.

Bonus Tip: Nurture Professional Connections

Before we begin with specific interview tips, here’s an important tip to make the job search easier in general: build meaningful connections .

I spoke to Vukasin Vukosavljevic , a Marketing and Growth advisor who interviewed countless candidates and hired 60+ people for different companies and industries. Vuk sees hiring people as assembling a football or a basketball team. He has certain candidates in mind before the position is open — and that’s because he has established a connection with them.

Why is this important to you?

When you build and nurture a network of relevant professional connections, you’ll see magic happening. Recruiters and hiring managers will reach out to you about job opportunities before they’re even advertised. This will automatically make you the most attractive candidate.

You can become this candidate by building connections and standing out in your industry:

• Optimize your LinkedIn profile and stay active (share insights and engage with other people’s content)
• Create and share actionable content (LinkedIn, social media, your portfolio, and video materials)
• Participate in relevant industry discussions (on LinkedIn, forums, webinars, and in-person events)
• Reach out and offer to contribute guest articles to relevant websites, platforms, and blogs
• Work on your network and focus on the quality, not quantity of connections (be in touch regularly, exchange useful resources, recommend people for jobs, support them in their professional efforts)
• Build in public: share your work, growth, failures, thoughts, and experiments

If this sounds like too much, pick one or two from this list — for starters, starting being active on LinkedIn is enough.

Being approached by a recruiter or recommended by someone will create this positive bias towards you, and it’ll be easier to stand out and charm the interviewers with the tips below. 😉

Tip #1: Do Your Homework

Research the company to make the most of your interview.

Find information on the company’s history, work culture, recent news, and industry trends. If possible, get some basic information about the person you’ll be interviewing with.

How to do it:

• Research the company’s website. Look at their history, career page, mission and vision, values, ideal client, and industry.
• Google the company for relevant news and events.
• Find the company’s social media accounts to get a feel of their voice and be in the loop with announcements.
• Check out their LinkedIn page to research the person you’ll be speaking to.
• Check Glassdoor and similar platforms for reviews and first-hand employee experiences.
• Search forums like Reddit or Quora for public opinion and first-hand experiences with the company.

✅ Pro Tip: Not sure who you’ll be interviewing with? It’s perfectly fine to email HR and ask.

All of the above will help you with 3 things:

• Anxiety: You’ll know who you’re speaking to, what to expect, and what the company is like, which will ease your nerves.
• Culture fit: You’ll have a stronger sense of whether or not you fit in.
• Asking relevant questions: You’ll ask tailored questions to you obtain valuable info and come across as prepared and resourceful.

For more information, learn How to Prepare for an Interview (Best Tips) .

For more tips on company research, read The Job-Seeker’s Guide to Company Research .

Tip #2: Make a Bulleted List of Your Key Accomplishments

Most candidates stink at doing this. The ones who execute it well are almost always the ones who get the job — even if someone else is more qualified.

The key is to pick out the proudest accomplishments of your career and write them down in a list. It’ll help you prove your competence and skills.

“Experience is important. We all want the person who knows what they’re doing and will make their boss’ life easier,” said Vuk. And what better way to prove you’ve got what it takes than to have a list of your top achievements at hand? So, know your accomplishments and be ready to speak about them.

Let’s see how this works.

Meet Jane. At her previous job as Customer Happiness Officer, she scored three significant wins:

• Increased average customer satisfaction scores from 79% to 95% by redesigning user surveys and implementing a new reporting system for the product team. This shows her creative problem-solving skills, analytical skills, and communication skills.
• Reduced response time by 29% by tweaking the ticketing system and introducing and optimizing automated responses for common queries. This, in turn, contributed to increased customer satisfaction. Jane displayed efficiency in process optimization, strategic thinking, and customer focus.
• Initiated a Proactive Customer Support Program with her team, which resulted in a 22% decrease in customer support tickets for basic inquiries. The program provided customers with tutorials, tips, and best practices for maximizing the use of the product. This showed Jane’s and her team’s strategic thinking, proactiveness, and communication skills.

So now, whenever they ask Jane about “a time you had to solve a problem” or “a time you had to work collaboratively,” she has her answers ready. Better yet, backed by verifiable evidence.

Here’s how you can do this for yourself:

• Look back at your experiences and use the PAR (Problem-Action-Result) formula . Did you solve a problem at work? What action did you take to solve it and what was the result?
• Think of the frequency of your work. How many initiatives did you finish per day/week/month/quarter? For example, you resolved 50 customer tickets/day, wrote 7 long-form pieces of content/month, or booked 10 demos with clients/week.
• Think of the scale of your work . How many people you managed, how big the budgets you handled were, or how many international markets your team operated on.
• Make your accomplishments SMART: Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.

To learn how to talk about your accomplishments, read “What Accomplishments Are You Most Proud Of?” 6 Examples .

If you want to know more about how to come up with accomplishments for your resume, read Achievements and Accomplishments for a Resume: Examples + How to List Them . The majority of the tips are about accomplishments on a resume, but you’ll also find invaluable tactics to come up with measurable accomplishments.

For more tips on how to practice these specific stories, check out the video below:

Tip #3: Always Have Questions Prepared for the Interviewer

Your interview is coming to an end. You’re feeling pretty confident so far.

“Do you have any questions for us?” they ask you.

“No, I’m good.”

“Okay, we’ll call you.”

(They never will.)

Not asking the interviewer any questions kills your chances in an instant. So does asking generic, unimaginative ones.

“For me, one of the key soft skills a candidate needs to have is curiosity . Curiosity can be reflected in different ways, but the one I focus on the most is asking questions . The right candidate needs to ask relevant questions, as that will show me they are ready to challenge the status quo, explore alternatives, and be dedicated to continuous learning and development.” , said Vuk.

So, to stand out, prepare several thoughtful, open-ended questions (aim to ask 3 but have a few more, some of your questions may be answered before you get the chance to ask). Make sure it’s something that you can’t find the answer for on the company website, by googling, or looking at social media.

Here are a few interesting questions to ask about the company, its culture, or the role:

• How would you know you’d hired the right person after the first 90 days in the role?
• What do new employees often find surprising after they start?
• If you had a magic wand and could change anything here, what would it be?
• Can you tell me a bit about company values and how you put them into practice?
• What’s the performance review process like here and what is a possible growth trajectory for someone in this role?

Modify the questions based on the company, industry, latest industry/economic circumstances, and other relevant factors.

⚠️ Don’t just ask questions to try and make a good impression. Ask about what you genuinely want to know to help you decide if the company is the right one for you. Otherwise, a month or two down the line, you might realize that you don’t share company values, don’t like your coworkers, or get zero opportunities for professional development.

For a full list of questions to ask at the end of the interview, as well as for tips on how to come up with them, read 40+ Smart Questions to Ask at the End of Any Job Interview .

Find more inspiration (and questions) in the video below:

Tip #4: Arrive Early

This seems like a dead giveaway, but messing it up could cost you the job.

If you plan to drive, make sure you know the area and have a place to park your car. Take into consideration unpredictable situations like traffic or bad weather.

Plan your commute and make sure you arrive 10–15 minutes early to give yourself the time to find the right building, office, and room.

If the interview is a virtual one, test your setup 10–15 minutes before the call and enter the call a few minutes earlier.

Coming a bit earlier will not only show good manners, but it’ll help you feel more comfortable and relaxed. You’ll have some time to compose yourself and get used to the surroundings.

Much better than rushing into the office or a call breathless and a few minutes late, right?

Tip #5: Greet Your Interviewer with a Confident Handshake and a Smile

A fairly simple one, but you’d be surprised at how it sets the tone of the interview and how much of a difference it can make.

Displaying a positive attitude and being respectful and confident will make you look trustworthy, well-adjusted, and reliable. It also displays solid communication skills — particularly important if you’re applying for a role where communication is vital (let’s be honest, it’s a valuable skill for pretty much any position).

In case you interview online, come to the call with a smile and politely greet the interviewer. This will have the same effect.

For more simple tips on how to leave a good impression, read about 9 Ways to Sell Yourself in an Interview (+ Examples) .

Tip #6: Make Your Behavioral Answers STAR-Based

Remember questions like this?

• “Tell Me About a Time You Failed”
• “Tell me about a time when you faced a difficult problem at work”
• “Describe a situation where you faced a conflict?”
• “Tell me about a time you had to lead and motivate people.”
• “Share a rewarding team experience.”

They’re behavioral interview questions looking to assess your past behavior at work, to help the interviewer predict your future actions.

✅ Pro tip: Before the interview, try to anticipate some of the behavioral questions you might get. They are usually closely related to key skills needed for a position. For example, if you’re applying for a Customer Service role, expect questions about handling a difficult customer, resolving a conflict, or finding a solution to a problem. For Sales, it might be something about your communication skills, a time when you had to convince someone to see things your way, and a rewarding experience when you built a meaningful relationship with a client.

When answering these behavioral interview questions, use the STAR method. 

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. It’s a framework for you to tell a story about how you displayed a certain skill or discuss an event they asked you about. It’s the best way to tell a compelling story that’s interesting and provides proof of your abilities.

Let’s see how the STAR method works in practice:

Interviewer: Share an example where you had to give a presentation or a speech.

Situation: Two years ago, I landed my first serious job in a company I liked. At the end of my second quarter there, they asked me to give a presentation.

Task: I had to update my team and team leader about the progress of my projects and performance. I was fairly new to the team, so I was extremely anxious.

Action: To try and relax, I started practicing like crazy. I created a nicely structured presentation and highlighted key points with a clear agenda. I asked my manager to check it out, so when she suggested a few improvements, I felt like the outline was perfect. I then worked on the visual elements to back up my claims and keep the team interested and engaged. I practiced for a full week in front of my girlfriend and friends, and they gave me feedback on my intonation, breathing, body language, and other details. I got better and less nervous, so a week later, my presentation was well-received.

Result: My team and my manager gave me positive feedback and it was a big confidence boost. After that, I realized that preparing and practicing is the key to successful presentations. I started doing it regularly and immensely improved my presentation and public speaking skills. I don’t have to spend as much time practicing and I’m not nervous anymore. On the contrary, I regularly volunteer to give presentations.

✅ Pro tip: The Situation part needs to take up about 15% of your answer. Task — 10%. Action needs to be the longest part, about 60%. And the results should take up around 15%. This is because the Action part needs to outline, in detail, how exactly you completed a task, displaying the most important skills.

For a detailed guide, head here: The STAR Interview Method: How to Answer + Examples . And if you want to see another example, check out the video below:

A more detailed guide on how to answer behavioral questions below:

Tip #7: Use Appropriate Body Language

In 1971, a famous Mehrabian study suggested that spoken words only constitute 7% of the overall “message” when we communicate. The rest goes to our tone of voice and body language.

And while some of those findings have been debated (after all, “meaning” can hardly be measured in percentages), modern-day research across vastly different fields also suggests that non-verbal cues are more important than words. If you’re interested, check out studies like this or this .

Knowing how much of our communication is non-verbal should make you careful about your body language in a job interview and help you leave the impression of a calm, confident, competent candidate.

💡 Sit up straight, facing the interviewer. Keep your arms open, don’t cross them.

💡 Maintain a steady amount of eye contact. Don’t stare constantly, but don’t avoid it!

💡 Smile politely when appropriate, like when speaking about pleasant things.

💡 Control nervous habits. No clicking of a pen, no leg shaking, no nail-biting.

✅ Pro tip: Practicing your answers in advance will help you with appropriate body language and nervous habit control. You’ll have your answer, know exactly what you want to say, and you’ll be more confident. Your mind won’t need to self-soothe by shaking your leg. See? As always, preparation is the key to everything. 😉

Here are more body language mistakes you can easily avoid:

Tip #8: Prepare for the Most Common “Basic” Interview Questions

Some interview questions are considered “classics.” These are very common questions that aim to get to know you. You’ll 100% hear at least a few of them in your next interview, so it’s better to prepare for them.

Here’s a list of questions and detailed guides to help you prepare:

• “Tell Me About Yourself” 20+ Sample Answers + How-to
• “Describe Your Current Job Responsibilities:” Sample Answers
• “What Accomplishments Are You Most Proud Of?” 6 Examples
• What Are Your Strengths (and Weaknesses): Example Answers + Bonus Tips
• What Is Your Greatest Weakness? (Sample Answers + Tips)
• “Tell Me About a Time You Failed”: How to Answer + Examples
• “Why Did You Leave Your Last Job?” Top Reasons, Examples, How to Answer
• “What Can You Contribute to the Company?” How to Answer
• How to Answer “Why Do You Want to Work Here?” (Examples)
• How to Answer “Why Are You Interested in This Position?”
• How to Answer: “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?” (+ Examples)
• Why Should We Hire You? Best Answer Examples
• How to Answer “What Are Your Salary Expectations?” (+3 Templates)

Don’t worry — interviewers don’t expect you to read their minds or give scripted answers. The guides above will explain the intention behind each question and best practices for answering, so you can create and modify your answers in the best way possible.

And if you get blindsided by an unexpected question, here’s how to handle it:

Tip #9: Manage Your Nerves and Understand You Can’t Avoid Them

It’s normal to feel nervous before your job interview. It’s an important occasion and you care about leaving a good impression.

Interviewers know this and they generally expect you to be at least a little bit nervous — don’t worry, it won’t disqualify you.

You can take some steps, though, to be more prepared and less nervous:

• Prepare for the interview, research the company and the position, go through the most common interview questions, and prepare answers and accomplishments.
• Create an elevator pitch, a brief self-introduction you can use when they ask you to tell them a bit about yourself.
• Prepare the questions to ask the interviewer at the end.
• Try using visualization or positive affirmations.
• Move your body before the interview. A brief walk will help you clear your mind and regain a sense of control.
• Go to as many interviews as you can. It’s the perfect opportunity to practice and get desensitized to interview anxiety.
• If the nerves turn into something more serious that leads to panic attacks, seek help from a therapist or counselor.

For more information that will help you decrease anxiety and become more confident, read Interview Anxiety: How to Calm Nerves Before an Interview .

Tip #10: Listen Actively

You would be shocked by the number of people who don’t listen to everything the interviewer is asking. It’s the grownup equivalent of skimming over the test instructions. Don’t do this. Make sure you understand everything the interviewer is asking, so you can give your best response.

One thing that can help you is practicing active listening. Carefully listen to every question they ask you. Don’t expect it to 100% match the questions you researched and prepared for (so be ready to adjust your answers and don’t learn them by heart).

Don’t hesitate to ask for clarification if you don’t understand the question.

Finally, answer the questions truthfully. Don’t exaggerate or lie, as interviewers are trained to immediately spot lies and embellishments.

Tip #11: Don’t Badmouth Anyone

Naturally, you might get a question or two about your failures, reasons for leaving your last job, conflict with a coworker, and similar.

These are delicate questions and you could be tempted to play the blame game. Resist that temptation. Badmouthing your ex-company or coworkers will leave a terrible impression and raise numerous red flags about your integrity.

Here’s what Vuk had to say on this topic: “Ownership is a skill I really value. Many things can and will go wrong at work, that’s just the way it is. Accepting the unpleasant and taking responsibility for your part is what matters. The way candidates speak about failures and unpleasantries is telling of their values and stances.”

Therefore, be tactful. Choose your words carefully, make sure to show you’re objective and understanding of other people’s perspectives, and don’t put the blame exclusively on other people. Own your mistakes.

Generally, for questions like these, you’ll want to highlight lessons learned and focus on the positive.

For example, if you quit a job because of a crappy boss, don’t be that blunt about it. Instead, talk about the deeper issues on why your relationship didn’t work. This could be that you didn’t always see eye to eye with them or simply that you felt you were ready to grow and seek new challenges. Then highlight your gratitude for the experience, say what you learned from it, and move on.

If you get one of those tricky questions like “Why do you want to leave your job?”, here’s what to do:

Want to learn more about how to answer common interview questions and negotiate your salary? Sign up for our free course.

Tip #12: Send a Follow-up Email After the Interview

Follow-up emails are a nice way to stand out from the competition. A follow-up thank-you email should be sent to all your interviewers (separately) within 24 hours after the interview.

In it, you should:

• Thank them for their time.
• Restate your interest in the role and the qualifications that make you the best fit.
• Personalize by bringing up a topic you covered in an interview.
• Ask if they need any additional information from you.
• Provide a sign-off with your full name and contact information.

✅ Pro tip: You should send a thank-you email after each interviewing round. The deeper you are in the process, the more detailed the email should be (although it shouldn’t be too long). This means that the email after the initial phone call will be super short and general, the one after the first round (in-person or video) will be a bit more detailed, the one after the second round will be even more detailed, and so on.

For a detailed guide and different types of follow-up emails (in case you haven’t heard from the interviewer in some time), check out How to Write a Follow-Up Email After an Interview: 6 Templates .

Summary of the Main Points

• The less prepared you are for an interview, the more nervous you will be.
• Even if you’re fully prepared, it’s normal to be a bit anxious. Interviewers know this and it won’t affect your chances of landing a job if you’re the right candidate.
• To stand out, research the company and prepare relevant questions to ask the interviewer.
• Before the interview, make a list of your best accomplishments — it will help you answer common interview questions and prove you have what it takes to thrive in a new role.
• Arrive early, greet your interviewer politely, have a firm handshake, and make eye contact.
• Be mindful of your body language, don’t give in to nervous habits like leg shaking, and practice active listening.
• Don’t badmouth previous company or coworkers, focus on the positives and tactfully highlight lessons learned from negative experiences.
• Send a follow-up email within 24 hours after the interview.

______________________________________________________________

Need a hand landing your next job? Here’s how we can help:

• Watch a free webinar from Pam, our head career coach, on unexpected interview questions .
• Learn how to turn more job interviews into job offers here . (Rated with 4.9/5 by 1,000,000 users).
• Changing careers? Here’s 18 Career Change Interview Questions and Sample Answers .
• Want to polish up your resume? Try our Resume AI tool , the smartest resume software out there.

I’m heading to an interview now. What are the best last-minute tips?

Take a second to go through your elevator pitch and revise it. Make sure you summarize your relevant skills and experiences, and focus on how you can contribute to the company. Review your list of accomplishments, practice mindful breathing, and repeat some positive affirmations to yourself. Rehearse a few questions you’d like to ask the interviewer. Stay positive.

How to get better at interviewing?

“Interview more. Don’t be afraid to go to an interview just because you think you’re underqualified. Have a job that you like, but someone wants to scout you? Go to that interview even if you don’t intend to jump ship. The experience will come in handy whenever your next big interview happens,” said Michael Tomaszewski , CPRW, resume expert, and career advice writer and editor.

During interviews, the key is to adjust your approach to each company, research the company and the role, and understand how you fit in. Conduct mock interviews with friends or using specialized platforms, learn about common interview questions, get familiar with the STAR method, identify your key accomplishments (quantified, whenever possible) and get ready to discuss them. Improve your communication skills, practice active listening, be mindful of your body language, and make it a habit to send post-interview follow-up emails. Finally, learn from your experiences, stay positive and confident, and ask for feedback, as constructive criticism will help you improve.

How to convey my enthusiasm for the role during a video interview?

You can display enthusiasm by referring to the aspects of the role or company that excite you. You can also directly talk about your enthusiasm because of the alignment between your and the company’s values. Additionally, maintain a positive attitude, smile when appropriate (when greeting the interviewer or talking about positive things from your experience), and use hand gestures to prove your key points. Use a lively, engaged tone of voice when you’re speaking, and most importantly, ask engaging, tailored questions that reflect your knowledge of the company and interest in working with them.

What are some tips for phone interviews?

Phone interviews are considerably shorter and more general than in-person or video interviews. They’ll usually last between 10 and 30 minutes and be focused on your qualifications, reasons you want to change jobs, motivation to apply for this position, availability, and salary expectations. It would be best to prepare and practice your elevator pitch, some of your key accomplishments, and the alignment between the role and your experience in order to demonstrate why you’re motivated for the role. Have answers ready about your availability and notice period, and have a ballpark figure when it comes to your salary. Rarely, you can expect a few behavioral interview questions, so go through a few of them, just in case.

What are the best tips for panel interviews?

Expect various behavioral questions, especially the ones regarding your conflict-resolution skills, problem-solving, and leadership. Practice answering them using the STAR method. As usual, before the panel interview, research the role and the company, as well as all the interviewers that will be present (check out their LinkedIn pages, too), prepare a few achievements, and practice. Additionally, you can bring extra copies of your resume and hand them out to all interviewers. Look for different ways you can connect and communicate with all panel members and have outstanding communication skills: carefully answer questions, practice active listening, and have a positive attitude and body language. Make eye contact with everyone. After the interview, send a separate thank-you email to each panel member, and make sure to personalize each — don’t copy-paste and send the same thing to everyone.

Where can I learn some effective interviewing techniques?

Through online courses and webinars, books and guides, career centers and workshops, or interview simulators like Big Interview. You’ll find a lot of invaluable resources in blogs, YouTube channels, or podcasts. If you’re in the position to work with a career coach or consultant, you’ll learn the most. Spot mentorship opportunities and work on building your network, as it can provide you with practical insights and personalized guidance.

Maja Stojanovic

Fact Checked By:

Industry Expert Contributions:

Vukasin Vukosavljevic, Michael Tomaszewski

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Things to do Before, During, and After Your Interview

An employer will invite you for an interview if they believe that you have the skills to succeed at their company. In the interview, they will seek to evaluate your genuine interest in the company and the role, your preparedness for the position, and your potential to add value to their team.

Your answers to the questions they ask will help them assess your skills, experience, and motivation.

Below, you will find suggestions on how to prepare for the interview, show yourself in the best light during the interview, and follow up after the interview.

Before the Interview

Research the company and industry.

Employers gauge your interest and motivation by how much you know about their organization. Do your research on the position, company, and industry.

• Reread the job description and think how you can communicate why you would be a good fit for the position.
• Review the organization’s website and social media activity.
• Learn about current trends and events that might impact your future employer.
• Try to get insider knowledge of the organization by speaking with LinkedIn contacts, alumni, peers, faculty, family, or other contacts who may have a deeper understanding of the organization.

prepare the key points you want to communicate during the interview

Prepare responses around these themes so that you will be ready for a wide variety of questions. 

• Why are you interested in this position?  Evaluate how your past experiences (academic, professional, co-curricular, personal) have contributed to your interest in this role. Think about why you want to do this kind of work at this particular organization.

Why are you a good candidate for this position? Assess for how your work experience, personal qualities, academic accomplishments, and co-curricular activities make you qualified for the position. Identify the transferable skills and knowledge that you would bring to the position. Be prepared to demonstrate your skills with examples using the  SARA method (Situation, Action, Result, Application) . 

Practice your interviewing skills

Many people practice for an interview by writing answers to common interview questions . While organizing your thoughts on paper is helpful, you should supplement it with verbal practice, alone, or with a friend, mentor, or career counselor. You can schedule a practice interview with a career counselor to get feedback on your interview responses and presentation. We also host a Practice Interview Program  each semester that allows you to practice and get feedback from a Columbia alum.

For independent practice in a virtual format, we recommend Big Interview , which you have access to for free through our office. You can practice answering interview questions by industry or job function, record yourself, and use their tool for self-assessment or share any video with a mentor for feedback.

The interview is also a chance to learn more about the employer and the position. Think about what you’d like to learn more about the role, division, organization, and industry. Identify questions to ask the employer that will help you determine if this is the right position for you. 

Day Before the Interview Checklist

• Review your notes, resume, cover letter, job description, and company/industry summaries.
• For an in-person interview, know the route you will take to the interview location and how much travel time you will need. Build in additional time to ensure you will not be late.
• Prepare an appropriate interview outfit. Our Clothing Closet is a resource for students in need of professional attire for an interview, career fair, or professional networking event.
• Make note of the name and title of the interviewer or the person you will check-in with.
• Have the following items prepared: copies of your resume, a list of references, a notepad, and pens.
• Get a good night’s rest.

The Day of the Interview

Before the interview begins.

• Be on time! Aim to arrive at least 10–15 minutes early.
• Bring the supplies you prepared the night before your interview.
• Be considerate and polite to all staff members. 
• Put mobile devices on silent.
• Avoid any scents that may be distracting to the employer.
• Enter with a positive attitude.

during the interview

• Listen carefully to the interviewer and make sure you answer the question your interviewer is asking.
• Relate your skills, accomplishments, and objectives to the needs of the company.
• Provide specific examples when possible using the SARA method (Situation, Action, Result, Application) .
• Focus on the positive aspects of your training and experience. You don’t have to apologize for any perceived lack of experience or background.
• Use clear and direct language. Avoid using filler words such as “um” or “like.” Make your point and don’t ramble.
• Maintain eye contact with your interviewer(s). If there are multiple interviewers, remember to engage with all of them.
• Be aware of your body language. Convey confidence and engagement with your posture. 
• Observe the people and office space to get a sense of the company’s culture.
• If you do not have the interviewer’s contact information, request a business card so that you can send a thank you note.

After the Interview

• Send a thank you note within 24 hours of the interview. Check out a sample thank you note for inspiration.
• Evaluate your performance. Did any questions stump you? Consider how you can improve your answers for the next interview.
• Think about what you learned about the position and employer during the interview. Assess how the position would meet your priorities and goals.
• After a first round interview you may be called back for additional rounds of interviews depending on the employer’s process. Check out our resource on what to expect at a second round interview to help you prepare.
• If a job offer is provided on the spot, which is uncommon, it is appropriate to thank the employer and to tell them that you need more time to consider the offer. Ask about the company’s timeline and deadline for your answer. 
• If you do not hear from the employer after the hiring timeline they initially indicated, follow up once. Call or email the interviewer or human resources contact. Reaffirm your interest in the position and inquire about the new hiring timeline.

Related Resources

You Got a Second Interview! Now What?

Congratulations—you made it through your first-round interview! It’s likely that the first round interview was conducted by phone or virtually—now they want to meet you in person.

Common Interview Questions and How to Answer Them

Preparation is the key to interview success. We’ve included examples of the most common interview questions and how to answer them

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Your Career

How to Prepare for a Job Interview in 1 Hour or Less

Written By: Dan Clay, Gartner Account Executive

One of the things I’ve come to realize from conversations with friends, family members and acquaintances is that very few people know how they should prepare for a job interview.

Interviewing presents a natural challenge because it’s a skill that most people only use once every few years or so when they look for a new job. By then, they’ve long forgotten how they prepared for their last interview, so they have to start the learning process from square one and spend hours getting themselves back up to speed.

The fact that there are countless articles written on the subject makes it that much more difficult and time-consuming to cut through the fluff and get to the important stuff. You could — and many do — spend hours researching every last tip and technique to make sure you don’t leave out any details.

There’s just one problem: thinking that you have to remember every little detail puts tremendous stress on your mindset, which lowers your overall confidence — and confidence is absolutely essential to acing an interview.

Once you have the framework down, you can adequately prepare for a job interview in less than an hour in a way that will fuel your confidence and wow the people on the other side of the table.

Here are the four key areas to focus on when preparing for a job interview:

• Information about the company

Getting up to speed here does a few things:

First, it makes you comfortable with having a broader conversation about the space the company is in and how they bring in revenue, so if your interviewer asks you a question about their business model (which they probably will), you’ll be prepared to answer it.

Secondly, it helps you formulate intelligent questions to ask your interviewer when the time comes. This helps make the interview more of a two-way conversation rather than an interrogation.

Third, it shows your interviewer that you’ve done your homework and sets you apart from the scores of other people who haven’t.

Here’s an example of what the conversation might look like with someone who came adequately prepared with knowledge about the company versus someone who didn’t:

Not Prepared:

Interviewer: “So, do you have any questions for me?”

Sally Slacker: “Um … where are your other offices located?”

This is a poor question (although not the worst question you could ask) because it not only shows that she didn’t do the minimal preparation that would have surfaced this information, but it’s largely irrelevant to the overall success of the company.

Prepared Penny: “I took a look at your recent quarterly financial report and noticed that your costs have been increasing relative to revenues for the last year. Is this a concern for the company, and if so, what’s your strategy to reverse the trend of declining profitability?”

This is the type of question that will cause your interviewer’s jaw to hit the floor. Demonstrating this level of knowledge about the company and its current state is so uncommon that the interviewer will probably have to take a second to collect his thoughts before giving his response.

Bonus points for you if you throw in specific numbers to underscore your point (e.g., “$330MM revenues on $189MM costs in the last quarter”). Showing that you understand the company and its issues is so powerful because  it puts you in the shoes of an employee and gets you talking with your interviewer from the same perspective .

It completely changes the game — you’re no longer someone from the outside hoping to get a glimpse of the inner workings; you’re someone who already understands how things work and are interested in how you’re going to help them succeed. The mindset shift you’ll feel when you get to this point is palpable. You’ll both be more relaxed and talking on the same level.

So how do you go about gathering this information? Here are a few go-to sources I always check when preparing for an interview:

SEC Edgar Company Filings

If you’re interviewing at a publicly-traded company, there’s gold to be found in the financial reports that they’re required to release by law. The most useful is the 10-K annual reports, which list things like key differentiators, risk factors, competition, market size, financial performance, future outlook, and more. I like to jot down high-level figures like annual revenue, market cap when the company was founded, how many employees it has, and other key stats they may have listed. If you’ve never looked at one of these reports before, it can seem a bit daunting, but don’t be intimidated — for the most part, they’re written in plain English at an eighth-grade reading level.

Visit their company page for high-level info and to see what they’ve been posting about. At the bare minimum, companies will push their press releases through this channel, so you can use it to bring yourself up to speed on timely information. You don’t have to spend a lot of time here — a quick scan of the last few posts will be enough to get current.

Crunchbase  and  AngelList

If you’re applying for a job at a startup, these two sites will provide a massive trove of information that you’d otherwise have to piece together through Google searches. You’ll find everything from dates and amounts of their different funding rounds to recent headlines, key employees, sources of venture funding, other job openings, and more.

Google searches

Some companies will have fewer sources of available information than others, particularly privately held companies and startups. For these, a good old-fashioned Google search can help you stitch together the key facts you’ll need to build your understanding. Here are a few Google searches you can use to quickly gather that information, using Uber as an example:

“Uber financial performance”

“Uber company info”

“Uber funding rounds”

“Uber news”

“Dara Khosrowshahi interview” (Dara Khosrowshahi is the CEO of Uber as of January 2018, and watching recent interviews with the CEO can be an informational goldmine)

Glassdoor is a fantastic resource for getting the inside scoop on what current and former employees have to say about working for their companies. You can get a good sense of the pros and cons of working for a place by scanning the reviews section and looking for common threads.

For example, if multiple people say that the company does a poor job of developing their employees for advancement, you may want to ask a question about that in the interview. It’s okay to reference Glassdoor, too — it just shows that you’ve done your homework and are keeping your best interests in mind.

Take the negative reviews with a grain of salt, though. Employees who are disenfranchised or not performing well are generally more likely to want to air out their dirty laundry on Glassdoor than those who are satisfied and performing well.

Pro tip: Filter by the job title of the role you’re applying for and sort by date to surface the most recent reviews. You can easily spend over an hour reading every review if the company is large enough, so filter and sort to narrow the results to the reviews most relevant to you.

Once you’ve done it a few times, the process of gathering company information should only take 15 to 20 minutes. You should aim to build just enough knowledge to give you a firm grasp of the company’s fundamentals and ask intelligent questions of the interviewer. It’s easy to go down a rabbit hole when there’s a lot of information available about a company, so make sure you don’t fall into the trap of diminishing returns. Remembering a few insightful facts about a company and being able to speak to them confidently is far better than having dozens of random facts in your head that you’re unsure about.

• Information about your interviewers

After you’ve established a baseline level of knowledge about the company, it’s time to do a little research on who you’ll be talking to. This is the easiest part of the interview preparation process. All you have to do is visit the LinkedIn profile page for each person you’ll be interviewing with and jot down some key highlights. It’s helpful to know the following:

• Time in current role
• Career progression with current company
• Other companies they’ve worked for
• Where they went to school
• Places they’ve lived
• Common connections or interests

Knowing how long they’ve been in their current role, how they’ve progressed in the company, and where they worked prior to their current company will help you pose insightful questions from a career development perspective and show genuine interest in hearing about their experiences.

People  love to talk about themselves and giving them a chance to do so while listening intently to what they have to say will make them feel warm and fuzzy inside. You want this because when they go back to the interview committee and discuss the 10 other candidates they talked to with their resumes stacked on the table, they’re going to remember their strong positive emotions and their strong negative ones. If you’re responsible for the strong negative ones, you’re already screwed, but being in the middle of the pack doesn’t put you that much further ahead.

Show you’ve done your homework, convey genuine interest in learning about their career path, and you’ll be well on your way to rising to the top.

Let’s look at an example of a bad career question and a good career question:

Sally Slacker: “So, what do you like about working here?”

On the surface, not a bad question. The problem is everybody else is asking the same thing. You want to differentiate yourself, and you do that by demonstrating that you’ve done your homework and truly appreciate the information you receive.

Prepared Penny: “I noticed that before you joined XYZ company, you held an account executive role. Now you’re an account manager. Why did you decide to make this transition, and what were some of the biggest challenges you faced?”

This is a great question because it clearly shows that you’ve done your due diligence and it helps you gain valuable information about what you can potentially expect in the role you’re interviewing for. Ideally, you’ll tailor these questions to fit your personal situation, so if you’re currently an account executive interviewing for an account manager role, this question would be particularly relevant.

Once you’ve written down basic information about each person you’ll be interviewing with, formulate one question for each that you can ask at the appropriate time in the interview. Make it something you’re really interested in learning about and listen intently when they speak. You can get a strong vibe about a place just by reading their body language and the subtext behind their answers, so you want to be giving them your full attention.

Depending on the number of people you’re interviewing with, gathering profile information and formulating your questions could take anywhere from five to 15 minutes. If they don’t have a LinkedIn profile, do a Google search and see if you can find a Twitter account or something with a bio tied to it.

Don’t sweat it if you can’t find anything, though — your company research will be enough to show them that you’ve done your homework. You should still formulate a question for them, but without specific information about their career path, you’ll have to keep it more general.

I’m a big fan of the following questions because they can apply to anyone regardless of their role, and they go deep enough to potentially surface valuable insights:

• Which traits do the most successful people in this role exhibit that those who aren’t as successful do not?
• If you could change one thing about your current role, what would it be?
• What’s keeping you at XYZ company?
• If you only had three words to describe the company culture, what would they be?
• Why do you feel that your role as a [whatever their current role is] at XYZ company is the best place to be right now for your career aspirations?

These questions are highly impactful because they not only give you greater insights into how the role and company align with your interests; they can also provide a sense for any skeletons hidden in the closet so you don’t find yourself in a job where you’re dealing with a nightmare manager, unfair sales process, toxic culture or whatever else might make you want to steer clear of the opportunity.

Remember, you’re interviewing them just as much as they’re interviewing you, and the last thing either side wants is for you to be unhappy or ineffective in the role.

• Behavioral questions

Now that you’re prepared with company information and some basic background about your interviewers, it’s time to tackle the part that everyone hates: behavioral and situational interview questions.

Most people find preparing for these challenging because there is an infinite number of possible questions the interviewer could ask you. If you do a Google search for “behavioral interview questions,” you’ll be confronted with millions upon millions of search results. How can you possibly prepare yourself for that?

First, take a deep breath and relax. It’s much easier than you’d think and doesn’t involve a single example from the countless websites out there on the topic.  The key to preparing for behavioral interview questions is to reverse-engineer them from the job description of the role you’re applying for . This dramatically reduces the number of possible questions and allows you to prepare a handful of stories from your experience that are highly relevant to the traits they’re looking for in the role they’re trying to fill.

Let’s look at an example of a specific responsibility from a job description pulled from Glassdoor for a Performance Marketing Manager:

Analyze and synthesize performance data, and recommend appropriate actions based on findings.

This is one of the things you’d be responsible for in the role, so it makes sense that they’d ask you a question to determine your level of comfort and expertise in that area, right? So you might reformulate the responsibility into a behavioral question this way:

Tell me about a time when you used data to derive insights into a specific problem to determine a course of action.

Now you’re telling a story from your experience that lines up exactly with what they’re looking for. By going through each of the job description requirements one by one and reframing them into questions, you can prepare your responses and draw from them at the appropriate times during the interview.

Most jobs have no more than six or seven core result areas you’d be expected to deliver upon, so it’s typically not worth preparing any more than six or seven relevant stories to match them. The more you have to remember, the less likely you’ll be able to clearly and confidently articulate these stories in the interview. Like most things, quality over quantity is the name of the game.

Once you have your stories picked out, you’ll need to formulate your answers. Luckily, there’s an easy framework you’ll use for every single behavioral question they might throw your way, including ones you may not have prepared for. Make sure this is cemented in your memory — heck, write it on the inside of your wrist to remember it if you have to, because it’s the key to delivering your answers in a concise, logical manner without unnecessary rambling.

Ready? Here it is:

S/T  – Situation/Task: What was the problem or challenge you were facing? What role were you in and who were you working with? What were you expected to deliver upon?

A  – Action: What steps did you take to address the problem or challenge? Bonus points if it’s a particularly creative or innovative approach.

R  – Result: What results did you produce or deliver (good or bad)? What lessons did you learn? What wisdom did you accumulate from the experience?

This is commonly referred to as the  “STAR”  framework, and it’s referenced often for two reasons: a) because it works and b) it’s how interviewers expect you to frame your answers.

There’s nothing worse than rambling on and on without any direction or impactful endpoint to your story. By taking a second to think through your response using the STAR framework before you deliver your answer, you ensure a smooth flow that gets to the point. When you’re done providing your answer, take a pause and let the interviewer acknowledge the response and ask any follow-up questions.

You may think that answering every single behavioral question this way would get repetitive or redundant, but it doesn’t — this framework is simply the most effective way to communicate your key points in a way that allows the interviewer to most accurately assess your suitability for the role.

Another benefit of using the STAR framework is that once you have your core set of stories to draw from, you can use them for any other interviews you might be going through. If you’re interviewing for different roles, however, it’s a good idea to reformulate your behavioral questions according to the requirements of that specific role.

• Questions for the interviewers

At certain points in the interview process, there will invariably come a time when the interviewer asks if you have any questions for him. Most people are so relieved to be done with the often difficult and uncomfortable behavioral questions that they take their foot off the gas and feel they have a license to breeze through what they consider to be the “easy part” of the interview.

Don’t make this mistake!

Asking good questions can give you critical insights into the role and company to which you’re applying, as well as demonstrate your interest in the role and knowledge of the company and industry. This is where you apply your research on the company and interviewer from the first two sections to fill gaps in your understanding of the role. You should have questions prepared in three key areas:

• Role-related
• Company/industry-related

Personal questions help establish rapport with the interviewer and make them comfortable telling you things they may not have otherwise. An example of a good personal question would be “What are some professional goals you’ve laid out for yourself?” This puts you both at the same level and subtly implies that you’re both looking to achieve as much as you can in your careers. Asking questions like this also establishes a conversational cadence and removes some of the formality from the interview process.

Asking questions about the role will help you build an understanding of what you can expect should you land it. The interview process is just as much about you assessing whether or not the role is a fit as it is about the company assessing whether or not you’re a fit for the role.

Questions such as “What are some aspects other members of the team find challenging about this role?” help you piece together where you may run into roadblocks. It also demonstrates to the interviewer that you’re serious about your due diligence and cares about your long-term success. It’s not going to do either side any good if you go down in flames after only a few months on the job.

Finally, asking the company or industry-related questions shows you have a genuine interest in and understanding of the space. This is where you get to utilize the prior research you’ve done on the company and pose intelligent, curious questions. If you’re interviewing for Uber, for example, you might ask the following:

“The winners of the future of transportation are still very much uncertain. With partnerships like those between Lyft and GM, Uber and Toyota, rumors of Apple building their own car, and Tesla gaining a serious foothold in the market, where does Uber see itself fitting into the picture of what the future looks like? How do you distinguish between who may be a partner vs. a competitor in a way that ensures the company’s continued growth and success?”

Questions like this have a wide range of possible answers and are so thought-provoking and open-ended that you’re likely to get a really good handle on how the company is envisioning success. Plus, you get a glimpse into the interviewer’s thought process and how confident they are in the company and its future.

It’s important to ask questions that you don’t know the answers to; otherwise, you’ll be less inclined to pay attention and it will seem like you’re leading the responses. It’s a good idea to prepare at least one separate question for each person you’ll be interviewing with that covers different aspects of the company and industry. That way, you’ll have more pieces to fit into the overall puzzle of whether or not the company is a good fit for you.

Preparing in these key areas will build your confidence going into the interview and ensure you’ll make a good impression. Your conversations with the interviewers will flow more smoothly, you’ll be more relaxed and you’ll ultimately increase the chances of getting an offer.

Don’t fret if you don’t get an offer, however — there are a million potential reasons for this that have nothing to do with your skills or competence. I’ve been rejected for roles that I thought were a sure thing, and it doesn’t feel good. Everything happens for a reason, though, and as that door closed a few more opened, and I ended up landing the best job I’ve ever had.

One thing’s for sure: being well prepared for an interview certainly can’t hurt your chances of getting the job you want.

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Do Your Homework: 4 Things to Research Before an Interview

Showing up to a job interview  completely unprepared is a sure way to get your resume tossed into the trash bin. Before meeting face-to-face with a prospective employer, it’s important to do your homework. With a little research under your belt, you can respond confidently, ask smart questions, and set yourself apart from other candidates for the position.

Here are four things you should research before your next job interview:

1. The Company

Search the company’s website and LinkedIn profile to learn some basic information like number of employees, office locations, and annual revenue. Keep digging and try to uncover more specifics that will help you show during the interview that you’re excited for the job.

– Management : Read bios for the CEO and other top managers, particularly anyone who will be interviewing you. Learn as much as you can about their experiences, accomplishments, and if possible, their leadership styles.

– Mission : Try to find annual reports, press releases, or blog posts that help you better understand the company’s history, mission, and goals for the future.

– Reputation : Search for news stories that mention the company to learn what others think about it. This will give you ideas about how you can use your skills to help the company strengthen its weak spots, and the stories may also shed some light on the company’s culture.

2. The Interviewer

You want to find out as much as possible about the person who will actually be sitting across from you during your interview. Knowing more about your interviewer can calm your nerves, and it also helps you prepare to make small talk and ask smart questions.

Ask for the interviewer’s name and position. Then do some non-creepy online stalking. Review their LinkedIn profile; it should give you great background information about their work history and education, and it may also offer insights into their personal life (volunteer work or hobbies, for example).

3. Potential Questions

While it’s next to impossible to get a list of the exact interview questions you’ll face, you can do some research into what’s likely to come up. Search online for “interview questions for ___” (fill in the blank with your industry or job title). Then create a list based on the results. Also, talk to others in your industry about what they’ve been asked during interviews or what they would ask if they were interviewing you.

Don’t stop there. Once you have a list of potential questions, spend time coming up with winning answers for each of them. Go over your responses until you feel confident you’ll recall what you want to say when you’re in the high-pressure environment of an actual interview.

4. The Location

Don’t neglect this important step. Too often, candidates wait until they are in their car heading to the interview to figure out where they are actually going. If you rely on a last-minute GPS request to find your way, you could wind up one of the many people who miss out on a job because they arrived late or went to the wrong place.

Ask for the exact address (including any office or building numbers) where you’ll be interviewed. Be sure to also get the phone number and email address for your contact at the company; if you have an accident or another issue that makes you late for your interview, you’ll want to let this person know immediately. Also, if possible, drive by the location a day or more before your interview so you know exactly how long it takes to get there. Make your test run at the same time of day as the interview so you can take stock of traffic levels.

Doing a little research before a face-to-face interview can mean the difference between being a star and feeling like a spectacular failure.

Jodie Shaw is the chief marketing officer for  The Alternative Board    (TAB).

What Every Job Seeker Should Know About Work Assignments During the Interview Process

You’re progressing well through an interview process, and you think you’re close to landing that coveted offer, when the employer says, “One more thing—we have a little homework for you.”

This tactic is used by a lot of companies (especially startups), and with good reason: The hiring manager gets a firsthand look at your approach, creativity, quality, turn-around speed, and communication and presentation style and can gauge how serious you are about the position.

If you really want that job, your instinct will likely be to put your best foot forward and provide the most fabulous project the employer has ever seen. But there’s something else to consider: You may end up putting in many hours of work, creating an awesome deliverable—and at the end of it all, still not getting the job. There’s even a chance that the company will take the ideas you labored over for its own benefit, and you’re left not only without an offer, but without compensation for all that hard work.

It’s happened to me: Once, at the end of a second round interview, a hiring manager asked me for a list of quick-hit ideas on increasing user engagement for his consumer website. I spent almost half a day coming up with a list of 10 great ideas, including many examples from other sites. After I proudly sent over my recommendations, I didn’t hear from the company for over two weeks. When I finally got a response, he thanked me for all my hard work and said that the company decided not to pursue the position at this time due to “internal matters.”

Who knows if this really was the case; but to my surprise, I noticed a handful of my ideas were actually implemented within the next few months on their site. Maybe these were ideas already in motion and my assignment only confirmed what was planned, but I couldn’t help but feel that I had been somewhat “used” and regretted putting so much time and effort into this homework.

While there are times you may want to go to the moon and back for a job , it’s also important to be careful how you approach these homework assignments—especially if you’re investing your time into applying to multiple jobs. Here are some tips on how to handle this tricky situation.

1. Understand General Goals and Expectations

First, it’s important to get a sense of how this assignment will factor into the overall evaluation of your candidacy. Is this the final hurdle before the job offer? (It should be.) How will this be weighed with other elements of your interview? (You should get some positive reinforcement that the company’s very interested and just wants to get a sense of how you work.) How long will the assignment take? (Being asked to spend more than 2-3 hours on an assignment before getting hired is bordering on disrespect.)

Don’t be afraid to ask questions like, “Can you help me understand how this assignment will be evaluated?” “Are you looking more for big-picture ideas, or a detailed look at my recommendations?” “Roughly how much time do you recommend I put into this assignment?” It’ll help you understand what the company is looking for and how much time you’re willing to put forth.

2. Ask for Data

Next, remember that you have every right to ask for information that’ll help you better tackle the assignment and not start from scratch (if you were hired, that’s what you’d obviously do , right?). So, put some onus on the company to provide relevant data. For example, if the company is asking for your ideas on potential partners, ask questions that’ll point you in the right direction, like, “Who are your current partners?” “What types of partners are you currently pursuing?” “What are the key metrics that define a successful partnership?”

And if the company doesn’t provide any more information? Do your best, but also make sure you express where you’ve made assumptions based on lack of information—e.g., “Without knowing what your current metrics for successful partnerships are, I’ve made suggestions for partners that will boost both brand awareness and website traffic. Obviously, if the company has different goals, I would be able to adjust these recommendations.”

And then don’t worry—if the hiring manager doesn’t offer it, he or she will understand that you’re operating under lack of information and history.

3. Outline Main Points, Only Tease the Details

More often than not, the primary reason companies dole out homework is to get a better sense of your thought process, as well as how you structure and convey your thoughts and ideas. There’s not necessarily a “right” answer, nor is there a need to get way down in the weeds.

So, don’t stress about providing a ton of information—just outline the main points (bullets and numbered lists usually work well). You can tease out more details as you’re talking through your assignment in the interview without having to write down your specific plans and fully fleshed out ideas. Remember: You don’t want the hiring manager to have the blueprints for your fabulous ideas—you want him or her to hire you so that you can be the one implement them!

4. If You’re Worried, Get an NDA in Place

Depending on the type of job function and level you’re interviewing for, it may not be a bad idea to request a non-disclosure agreement. If there is any confidential information you do not want shared widely, your assignment involves using data from your current employer, or you just have a nagging concern that the company may steal your best ideas, take a precaution and get a simple mutual NDA executed (many template NDA forms are available online for download). Don’t make it too legally formal—the company may get turned off by this move—just let the hiring manager know you just want to make sure things stay confidential and you’d be more comfortable providing details with a simple NDA in place. If he or she refuses to sign, this may be another warning flag.

Knocking a homework assignment out of the park can be an amazing chance to show you’re the best candidate of the bunch, but you never want to get in a situation where you’re wasting your time or being used for free labor. Follow these guidelines, and you’ll be able to present a great deliverable while making sure you’re spending your time and effort the right way.

Photo of man working courtesy of Shutterstock .

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Interview homework before the interview.

Congratulations, you have an interview scheduled, but the real work begins before the interview called “Homework.” During an interview, the interviewer will determine if you’re a right fit for the company, and you want to make sure the company is a right fit for you. Landing a job is more than landing a paycheck; you need to ensure a job will add to your long-term career goals and add to your quality of life.

Many candidates feel the meaning of doing your homework for an interview is to just read up on the company and review their website, but in today’s market, you need to be the most prepared candidate they see. You need to know as much as you possibly can about the company, its mission, its problems, and how you can help make them grow and make money. It would be best to answer questions during the interview without hesitation; the more about the company you know, the more confident you will answer. Use every resource available to you before your interview, review the company and understand what their needs are so you can sell yourself. You need to approach the interview with a high level of thought and analysis to be super successful; the bigger the job titles, the more preparation you’re expected to do. It is appropriate to bring a list of your questions and copied research to the interview, as long it’s not an abundance of pages. Keep your notes and questions neatly on one side of your portfolio.

What to Research

You want to research different types of information about the company to get a better understanding of the entire company. This information will give insight into their business culture, history, and challenges they face so you can steer your answers to their question to their needs. It will also help you list important and meaningful questions you can ask them during the interview; this will make the interview more conversational than one-sided. Doing your homework will also help you answer the most commonly asked interview questions, which we review on our page Interviewing Questions.

• Company Website  – A company website will set the tone for how the company wants to be seen, but you can find a lot about its story, history, mission statement, and philosophy. On many company websites, especially if they’re public, you can find out names and information on their top-level executives; you might even come across someone who you worked with within the past. Many have a section (Press Room, Investor, or News) where you can find their latest annual or quarterly reports and news on the company.
• Google the Company – This will give you a list of sites with information on the company; many listings may be directly connected to the company’s website, so don’t just look at the 1st page of search results; review several pages. Take note of how old some of the information is on the Google search; you don’t want to ask many years out of date.
• Google Yourself – Review what a Google search reveals about you and be prepared to answer any questions the interviewer may ask if they did an online search with your name.
• Google Your Interviewer – When you are setting up your interview, get the title and name with the correct spelling of who will be interviewing you. Google these individuals to get their career history which can lead to someone who might know or who worked with them; it can also give an insight into the direction the interview might take. Also, having a conversation with the interviewer about where they came from and why they joined the company is an excellent topic to discuss.
• Linkedin & Facebook – Reach out to your network and let them know what company and who you will be interviewing with; you might be surprised how many will know the company or interviewer and can give you valuable information for your interview. If you’re still employed and looking to change jobs, you will need to be careful with this method, so your job search doesn’t get back to your current employer.
• Recruiters – If you are working with a recruiter, reach out to them; they want you to succeed. Ask them questions about what key items the interviewer and company are looking for. If other candidates are interviewed for the position, ask the recruiter what the company liked and dislikes.
• Blogs and Message Boards  – Read through any blogs or message boards for the company or industry to gain additional insight.
• Other Websites  – These sites can provide information about the companies you’re interviewing.

www.GlassDoor.com  – (free membership) Glassdoor will give you an overview of the company (choose company under search), it will also give you reviews about the company and interviews with them, but these are written anonymously by employees or job seekers. Each reviewer gives the company a rating and pros/cons about the company, similar to product reviews you find on items you research. You need to understand that sometimes disgruntle employees might unfairly lash out against the company for unjustified reasons, but take note of any trends with these reviews.

www.Vault.com  – (free and paid membership) Industry blog, discussions, newsletters company, profession, and industry overviews. Get the inside story with exclusive in-depth profiles of top employers. Employer rankings are the best to work for in your industry; employee reviews, survey respondents share their real-world experiences about your potential employer, workplace, culture, getting hired, and more.

www.Hoovers.com  – ( free trial, paid membership) A comprehensive insight and analysis about the companies, industries, and people that drive the economy. Offering proprietary business information through the internet, data feeds, wireless devices, and co-branding agreements with other online services.

www.BBB.org   – Better Business Bureau, find out what clients and customers a saying about the company.

www.forbes.com   – Review current business news articles on companies.

www.Bloomberg.com  Review company snapshots, news & press releases, key statistics,

financials, and the company profile and executives.

http://online.wsj.com/home-page  – Review current business news article on companies.

• Library  – Take a trip to your local library and speak to the librarian for assistance. Many libraries stock research resources that can give insight on companies and industries.
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How to Do Your Homework Before an Interview

Interview preparations are tricky. No matter how much you study, it seems that the interviewer will ask you exactly the one question you haven’t prepared for. So, here’s a checklist for you that will make your interview homework easy. Make sure you don’t miss out on anything on this list!

1. Your core subjects

To prepare for an interview, the first and the most important thing to do is mugging up your textbooks. There’s nothing more off-putting than not knowing the answers of technical questions. Leave no stone unturned in your preparation and go through each and every important chapter in your textbooks. You can also try out books from our interview special editions.

Take a look at our range of interview preparation books here .

2. General and common interview questions

There are always some common questions asked in every interview which seem to be easy, but are actually pretty tough and tricky to answer, mostly because there are no fixed “correct answers” to them. Preparing for these questions beforehand will help you perform better in any interview. Take a look into some of these tricky questions:

• Tell me about yourself.
• What are your weaknesses?
• Why should we hire you?
• Why do you want to work with us?
• Why did you quit your last job?

Here’s a book to help you further in your preparation. You can find all such commonly asked questions and suggested answers in the book.

3. Questions to ask the interviewer

Another super-tricky part of an interview is where the interviewer asks you: “Do you have any questions?” If you are unprepared for this question, you’ll definitely end up saying, “No, thank you” because that seems to be the safest option. But that’s actually one of the biggest mistakes you can commit. Whenever you’re asked this question, you should always answer positively. Here are some examples of what you can ask the interviewer:

• Why is this post vacant?
• What according to you are some of the most important skills to succeed in this job?
• How did I perform in this interview?

To perform well in an interview, you need the joint force of study and research. Use your research skills to learn as many things about the company as you can. Here are some things that you must learn before stepping into the interview room:

1. Company’s background, vision, and mission

Learn about the company’s background and the key people from the “About” page of their official website. Also learn about the company’s vision and mission to understand what values are important to the company, what their long-term and short-term goals are, and how you can fit into the company culture.

2. Company’s products and services

Another very important thing to know about the company is its primary and secondary business areas. Knowing thoroughly about the company’s products and/or services will not only help you answer related questions in the interview, but will also give you an idea about your future job role.

3. Recent events and news about the company

Has the company been the center of media attention lately? Is it for a good cause or a bad one? You need to know both.

 If the company has been in the news for some great achievements lately, and you are unaware of it, then the interviewer will think that you are not interested enough in the company. Recruiters will much likely hire someone who is more updated than you.

If the company has attracted negative publicity lately, you should be aware of that too, and make an informed decision whether to join them or not.

4. The person interviewing you

And lastly, you need to gather some information about the person interviewing you. The name of the interviewer will most likely be mentioned in the interview call letter itself. But if it’s not there, you can write to them and request to divulge the information.

Knowing about the person interviewing you will help you prepare in advance. You can find out about the person’s background and career records from LinkedIn, and knowing these things will help you converse with him better. If you are lucky enough, you can also find out about how that person is as an interviewer, and what kind of questions they ask, from websites like Glassdoor.

When it comes to success in an interview, no amount of preparation is ‘too much’. If you follow these 7 tips, you will definitely increase your chances of cracking the interview.

All the best for your interview!

Next up in this series: Top Tips for Cracking Your First Job Interview

Previous blog in this series: Understanding the Interview Process: Stages and Challenges

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5 Things to do The Day Before an Interview

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For those in any type of mid- or senior-level position, job searching and interview preparation are completely different than they were for entry-level positions.

By now, you have years and sometimes decades of experience under your belt, and the positions you are interviewing for will expect much more from you.

The interview skills of many mid-senior executives are rusty, even those who perform interviews for their current job.

These five tips have been compiled to ensure that you spend the day before your job interview preparing properly for your dream job.

Do Your Homework

Researching prospective employers is something any candidate for any position should do. However, it is absolutely critical in the case of upper-level positions. Hiring managers expect a high level of professionalism, which means a competitive candidate should never walk into an interview without doing adequate research.

Learn as much as you can about the company’s goals and trajectory, the position you are interviewing for and the hiring manager who will be conducting the interview. If necessary, compile a brief sheet of highlights the day before to glance over immediately before the interview.

Walking into an interview with a solid knowledge of where the company is headed will allow you to give the interviewer intelligent and informed answers. Researching the hiring manager or interviewer will also put you on more level footing, which can ease your nerves and translate into a more confident demeanor.

Review All Relevant Information

Once you have performed sufficient research on the company and the position you are interviewing for, it is time to move on to the next step: reviewing.

On the day before an interview, it is important to review not just your resume , but your entire relevant work history. Interviewers are going to ask tough questions about your failures, your weaknesses and your personal life, especially as you move up the corporate ladder. These questions are meant to be uncomfortable or surprising so the hiring manager can assess how you handle communicating about stressful or sensitive topics.

The best way to prepare for this is to review common interview questions for C-level executives, even if you are interviewing for a job a bit lower down the chain. These questions are going to be the toughest and most uncomfortable, so preparing graceful answers will make the actual interview significantly less stressful. Rehearse your answers the day before so that you can give a prepared and thoughtful, but not robotic, response.

Remember: This Is Not About You

Candidates for positions at all levels often make the mistake of walking into an interview with the mentality of, “What can this company do for me?” In reality, successful candidates realize that these interviews are intended to gauge what you can do for the company. There is a time and a place to ask questions for your own benefit and pass judgment on whether or not the company is a good fit for you , but that time is not during initial interviews.

Interviewers are looking for candidates who come with the attitude of a seller, not a buyer. You are the one being appraised. They will interact with dozens of candidates before and after you. The day before the interview, prepare statements that will show what unique skills and assets you can bring to the company’s current climate to help further their overall mission and long-term goals. Once you have been invited back, you can begin to focus more on what questions you would like to have answered.

Build A Strategy

Treating this job interview like a familiar process-building exercise. You have experience with creating successful strategic initiatives, so use that experience to your benefit. Outline goals for both the short-term and long-term interview process. What is the purpose of each step in the process? What tactics will yield the greatest success with this company and this specific hiring manager?

Once you have fleshed out your strategy, decide how to optimize your approach to achieve the goals you have laid out.

Craft Your Story

Striking the right balance of succinct yet engaged can be difficult. To help yourself find this balance in the midst of any nerves your might feel during the interview, set time aside the day before to craft the story you want to tell.

Interviews are the perfect time to share the human side of your personality that cannot be conveyed through a resume and cover letter. Hiring managers are people too, and if you can leave them with a warm impression of who you are as a person, you will be in the forefront of their mind when they are considering the best person for the job.

Think about your background. Where did you come from? Where are you heading? What sets you apart from your peers? Is it your superb communication abilities? Do you have a top-notch work ethic? Are you a leader who inspires confidence and loyalty? Whatever it is, be sure that this story is the central point of your interview and that your history and resume reflect it. Make it the driving force behind every question you answer. Be confident in your story and draw the interviewer into it as you talk. Make the company as interested in you as you are in the company.

Proper interview preparation is the only way to land a high-level position these days. Following these five steps the day before your job interview will ensure that you walk into the hiring manager’s office confident, composed and ready to tackle anything they might throw your way.

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Interviewing

During your job search, you will take part in many interviews. Some of the interviews will be informational and you will be the one conducting them (when reaching out to Baylor alumni or professionals in a position that you have an interest in learning more about). While other interviews will have you answering challenging questions meant to test your personality and confidence for the job. The Baylor University Career Center can help you with both types of interviews.

It’s important to do your homework before an interview. We will teach you how to use a process called “The 3 Whys” which will ensure that you’ve uncovered all the information you need to have. We will go over different types of interview questions (general, behavioral, or case) and how to answer them using the STAR method. The STAR method is a technique of answering behavioral interview questions in a structured manner by describing a specific situation, task, action, and result of the situation you are discussing. The STAR method helps you explain in a simple yet powerful way how you handled specific work situations and challenges.

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How to conduct a productive and positive job interview.

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To conduct a successful interview, the hiring personnel should create a relaxed and supportive ... [+] environment.

Interviewing for a job is a stress-inducing event. Job interviewees nervously anticipate and expect the interview process to be a form of interrogation. There’s an uncomfortable feeling of being scrutinized and evaluated on everything they say and do. Bracing for tough questions, it’s hard for job applicants to maintain their composure. They worry that they’ll inadvertently say something that will knock them out of the running.

Here’s an insider’s secret: the interviewer, who could be the hiring manager, human resources professional or recruiter, may be more worried than the candidate.

A job seeker can always walk away from an interview, whereas the hiring manager is under pressure to hire the right person. If they offer the job to someone who epically flames out, they will be forced to contend with the fallout and subsequent political ramifications. Top executives will question why they hired this disastrous person, and harshly judge any decisions this person makes in the future.

Misconceptions About The Job Interview

One of the main purposes of an interview is to assess a candidate's fit for the role. Interviewers typically ask about an applicant’s current and prior jobs, responsibilities, experiences and to share some success stories where they have made a positive impact. The interviewer also wants to delve into why a candidate wants this specific job at this specific company. Additionally, there is a bit of probing to discern if they would be a good cultural fit within the organization.

You might be surprised to know that the HR person or hiring manager wants candidates to do well in the interview. When an applicant succeeds in the interview process, it makes the supervisor’s job easier. They won’t have to spend weeks or months sifting through résumés and continually interviewing people, taking precious time away from their main job and responsibilities.

Unfortunately, too many interviewers feel that they need to come across as superior, tough, aggressive and combative. That may work if you’re interrogating someone, but it’s not necessary to bully, pull rank or act and speak in an arrogant, judgemental manner. That approach will usually backfire.

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Instead, the hiring professional should come across warm, caring, friendly, easy to talk to and excited to be in the room.

Over the last 25-plus years as an executive recruiter and business owner, I have conducted several thousands of interviews. The majority of the interviews were conducted with high-level Wall Street executives. In light of this cohort, you’d think that the interview would be cold and clinical. It would be reasonable to surmise that the meetings would consist of asking and answering questions as if they were a tennis match.

However, the reality of interviewing is to be gracious and act as if the person is a guest in your home. Rather than grilling the interviewee, which only makes things uncomfortable and contentious, hold an informal, low-key conversation. The goal is to make the job seeker open up and feel more relaxed to talk honestly and freely.

Do Your Homework

Before meeting with a candidate, the interviewer should collect data and intelligence about the person they’re interviewing. This includes checking out the person’s LinkedIn profile and social media posts on X, Instagram, Facebook and more.

This isn't considered stalking; it’s a convenient way to get a picture of the person. The more information you glean, the better the conversation will flow. From your due diligence, you’ll gain a sense of their personality, know where they attended college, what sports teams they root for and other tidbits. Once you're in possession of this information, you are ready to start a conversation.

I purposely say “conversation” in the context of the interview because it makes people more comfortable. When someone feels safe, they’re more apt to be honest and transparent. Rather than diving right in, start with an ice breaker such as asking about a sports game from the other night, the weather or some trending topic.

Make The Interviewee Comfortable

To conduct an effective job interview that makes the candidate feel at ease, it's important to create a welcoming atmosphere and establish rapport from the outset. To create a comfortable mood, an interviewer should start by engaging in small talk to put the applicant at ease. If you create a nurturing environment, the candidate will engage more, which will allow you to learn much more about the person as they become relaxed, comfortable and confident.

On the day of the interview, greet the candidate warmly with a smile and offer a glass of water, coffee or beverage. Small gestures like this can significantly ease nerves and create a bond.

When it comes to asking tough questions, introduce them gradually. Save more challenging questions for the middle or end of the interview, and give the candidate ample time to think and respond. This approach helps to avoid putting undue pressure on the candidate right from the start.

Ask open-ended questions so that the applicant can’t just say “yes” or “no.” You want the person to elaborate on their answers. As they share their responses, provide follow-up questions in a friendly, non-intimidating manner.

Actively listen to what they say. Then, reframe their answers to show that you’re paying attention. Make sure to maintain eye contact. Nod your head when the applicant is saying something so they know you are paying attention. Use their name a number of times, as it will perk them up.

Be confident in your approach, but avoid coming across as arrogant or intimidating. Throughout the interview, maintain a balance between being friendly and professional. The interview is a two-way process. You're evaluating the candidate, but they're also assessing whether the company and role are a good fit.

Wrap up the interview by asking if the candidate has any questions or would like to expand upon something they talked about previously. Thank them for their time. Since there are other applicants, it’s hard for the interviewer to definitely give an answer one way or another regarding their candidacy. However, subtly offer some tidbits to help the applicant get a feeling of how they performed and the likelihood of moving forward in the process. Offer your business card so that they can keep in touch with you.

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A guide to interview preparation for employers

Interview preparation is vital for effectively evaluating candidates, promoting the employer brand, and enhancing candidate experience. It involves crafting questions, understanding candidates, preparing responses, coordinating with interviewers, managing time, and honing selling skills. Proper preparation facilitates better hiring and a streamlined process.

Nikoletta holds an MSc in HR management and has written extensively about all things HR and recruiting.

When it comes to interviews, it’s good to ‘be prepared.’ Just like candidates spend time to research the company, interviewers should be ready to evaluate candidates properly and promote their employer brand. Good preparation takes time but it pays off: you’ll evaluate candidate skills more effectively and create a positive candidate experience. In addition, you’re more likely to win over the candidate you’ll eventually want to hire.

Here are six tips for interviewer preparation before an interview:

Prepare your interview questions

Interviewers who don’t prepare their questions beforehand are missing out on the chance to evaluate candidates effectively. To decide what you’re going to ask, first use the job description to determine which skills are most important and should be assessed during the interview (if you’re not the hiring manager, ask for help from the hiring manager or a recruiter). Then, build your questions around those skills. Here are two examples to evaluate communication skills and leadership ability :

• Communication: “How would you reply to a negative online review about our company?”
• Leadership: “In what specific ways do you motivate your team?”

Keep in mind that generic, overused questions like “what’s your greatest weakness” probably won’t help you evaluate candidates; they’re so widely used that it’s easy to find good sample responses online. Behavioral or situational questions are more effective because they encourage candidates to think on their feet and tell their story.

If you have enough time, ask more than one question to evaluate each skill. This will help you gain a better understanding of the skill level of each candidate. Make sure all your interview questions to candidates are appropriate and legal .

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Know your candidates

When interviewing candidates, it’s best to avoid asking for information they have already provided (e.g. with their application or during a screening call); you’ll lose valuable time and risk appearing indifferent or unprepared to the candidates’ eyes.

Instead, take some time to read candidate resumes, profiles or applications and make notes of key points concerning their skills and past experience. Then, you can use interview time to elaborate on these points or ask for the new information you need to help with your evaluation. When looking through candidate resumes, keep your interview questions in mind and ask yourself:

• Am I planning to ask for information the candidate has already shared?
• Is there anything strange or interesting in their past experience I’d like to explore during the interview?
• Are there any work samples available I could use to drive the discussion on their skills?
• Do I need to check the validity of what they claim?

Make some notes for each candidate, so you’ll remember who they are when you meet them.

Be ready to answer questions

Remember, interviewers and candidates are evaluating each other during interviews. On their part, candidates will try to determine whether the job can fulfil their aspirations and whether the company is a good place for them to work. So they might ask relevant questions which you should be able to answer. If you give pertinent, transparent answers, you’ll be able to create a better candidate experience and sell your company in a way that helps candidates decide if they’re a good fit. Preparing for these questions in advance may take some time, but you’ll need to do this only once before the interview phase begins.

Ensure you can talk to candidates about:

• The company’s strategy, mission and structure
• The team’s projects, direction and goals
• The perks and benefits tied to the position you’re hiring for
• The next steps of the hiring process
• What you like about your job and the team or company

For some of these questions, interviewers may need to consult HR. For example, are you allowed to divulge the pay range of the position? Which future projects can you mention if a candidate asks and which are confidential? If candidates ask something you don’t know the answer to, or aren’t allowed to disclose, prepare to say so tactfully.

Coordinate with other interviewers

If you’re conducting panel interviews, determine who will ask which question and in what order. Also, it’s good to know who will answer questions about which topic. For example, the hiring manager will be more suitable to talk about pay or the team’s direction, while team members can talk about culture and what they like about the team.

If there are several hiring team members who will interview candidates in a series of 1:1s, arrange a meeting to share the questions you plan to ask. Here’s how to interview candidates effectively as part of a team:

• All interviewers should assess the same skills . This means that you’ll be able to consider related feedback from multiple perspectives, making your eventual decision more objective and reliable.
• Interviewers should avoid asking the same questions to evaluate each skill . This means you’ll avoid tiring candidates or giving them the impression that the interviewing team isn’t well-coordinated.

Plan your time and agenda

If possible, clear your schedule at least 15 minutes before and after each interview. It’s best not to leave candidates waiting while you finish up a meeting, or having to rush them out if you have a meeting right after the interview. Giving them time and your full attention is more likely to earn their respect. If you’re doing a video interview, check your laptop, camera and microphone a few minutes before the interview so you’ll have time to correct any possible issues.

Also, plan a rough agenda for the interview. Completely unstructured interviews, where the interviewer improvises, are not effective. By having an agenda, you’ll be able to guide the discussion more efficiently and make sure you won’t forget to cover any important topics.

Determine how you’ll open the discussion and how you’ll close. Many interviewers make small talk at the beginning but this may introduce bias that will affect how you rate candidates’ answers . It could be useful to standardize the opening “small talk” questions as an effort to make your hiring more effective. Another approach would be to begin by introducing yourself and talking about a test or assessment candidates took as part of your hiring process. For example, if your candidates for an Editor role were given an editing exercise, ask them what they thought of it and discuss their performance.

Sharpen your selling skills

While you assess whether candidates are right for the job, candidates try to determine whether they want to work with you. If they’re convinced, they’re more likely to accept your job offer. Or they’ll still think well of your company, even if you don’t hire them in the end.

Prepare a checklist to sell your company and the position you’re hiring for. Here’s what you could go over:

• The main characteristics of your company culture.
• Any new developments or exciting plans (like new products, new offices etc.)
• Practices or techniques your company employs to keep employees happy and motivated.
• Challenges someone who works in the role you’re hiring for may face and how your company supports its employees (e.g. training, mentoring.)
• The place that this particular position has into your organizational structure and its contribution to your company’s success.

Also, listen to what candidates say that they’re looking for in their job to personalize your pitch.

All these tips will help you step into interviews well-prepared, but they don’t guarantee you’ll interview candidates effectively. Striving to become a better interviewer in the long run can involve more challenging tasks, like educating yourself on biases, finding ways to overcome them and practicing your interviewing skills in mock environments. These take time but that’s how you can ultimately improve your decision-making (and candidate experience).

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Given a 'homework' tasks on a job interview?

Recently I went to some interviews and on many I've had the 'some small projects' to do for homework. Usually in the small companies I see this as a practice.

It is not such a problem, but I've collected several projects and when I ask for a feedback it appears that the task grows with some extra requirements that are really time-consuming. Moreover I see the employers are not willing to help or to evaluate it with care. Should this be a red flag for the interview or the company?

Edit: Thank you for all your responses. You covered almost all the aspects of my question. As a conclusion I think the only task for homework that worth doing it is:

when the company is decent enough and you want to work there eagerly

the task is not supposed to take more than one day to complete

In the other cases I would apply somewhere else.

• interviewing

• 2 As an interviewer I've always wanted to see the candidate actually write code. No assignment will be as complex as the actual work, so I want to watch you work. I'm inclined to see the take-home as an attempt to apply this to a bulk lot of applicants in the hope that none will cheat. It's a bad sign. Unfortunately this practice seems to be getting more common, so ruling out companies just for running with the herd really cuts out a lot of possible paychecks. The flip side is they're likely just expect you to turn up and fit in, rather than thinking too hard. –  Móż Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 2:09
• I know this is really old, but another reason for adding extra requirements is to see how well your initial design was to see if it was well thought out and extendable. If it wasn't then you suffer. It it was, great. Then they have the 2 versions of your work and see what work you had to do to acquire the extra requirements. Possibly in their work place, requirements are always changing or the work place is high paced and they want to know if you will be able to adapt. –  TheOneWhoPrograms Commented Mar 25, 2014 at 11:54

7 Answers 7

As an interviewer, I face a number of challenges. If I just ask you about coding, I can rule out people who really don't know what they're talking about, but I might accidentally hire someone who "talks a good game" but writes horrible code - hard to read, insecure, bug-ridden, inefficient - or who is very slow, or who is rude to co-workers, or much more. So I ask you questions that aren't just about code, in the hopes I can learn enough about you to avoid a bad hire, but that isn't always enough either.

Some companies set coding problems in the interview, either on a whiteboard or at a computer. These are really expensive for the company because they add 30 or 60 minutes to the interview in many cases. A good programmer might do a bad job at these (so we recommend practicing for them) and a bad interviewer might misinterpret what happens during them.

As a result some companies think they will save money and time by giving you a sort of "take home test". They don't typically ask you to write something they want to sell, it's a way to see what you can do. Often it's a problem that was solved already so they can compare your solution to someone else's. There's still the risk that someone might help you do it, or you might spend far longer on it than you say, but they see it as a cheaper way to screen people. If you want the job, you'll invest the time in being screened, and if it's not worth it to do that, just decline the opportunity. This happens in other industries: cooks are sometimes asked to work unpaid in the kitchen for a day so their speed and technique can be evaluated, artists are asked to bring a portfolio which often includes works they created without being paid to do so, performers must audition - give an unpaid performance - and often spend time learning music, lines, or steps in order to do so, and so on.

I have heard people suggest that somehow they are not so much interviewing as doing free project work. That companies are asking for a day or two of work, then when it's submitted asking for another day or two of work, all while dangling a job offer in front of them. If this is happening to you, one of two situations exist:

• you need a day or two for something that the ideal candidate would need only an hour to do, and they are screening hard to make sure they get that candidate
• you are misunderstanding what they ask of you and doing much more than they wanted, so that either you or they have huge communication shortfalls
• they are exploiting job applicants to get their web site built or some other small task done cheaply

The good news is, it doesn't matter which of these are true - you just don't want to continue applying for this job. You don't want to work for the place whose web site was glued together from samples provided by applicants of varying quality, or who doesn't mind exploiting vulnerable or desperate people, you don't want to work with a company that cannot explain its needs to you, and you won't get to work at the place where you need to be much faster or better than you are now. So thank them and decline to go further into the process.

• Definitely agree that sitting with candidates and watching them code is time-consuming, but it's incredibly effective. And only rarely does a candidate I'm doubtful about turn out to be a competent coder, so over time I've got more vigorous about cutting that session short. I can't see how letting them go away and work on it would help that process, what I want to see is how they approach the problem. –  Móż Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 2:12
• No argument from me. I don't do take home screeners pre interview and I do whiteboard tests in interviews. Just explaining the possible thought processes of those who give take homes. –  Kate Gregory Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 2:13
• Yes. I'd love to hear from someone who does give take home tests. –  Móż Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 3:12
• The do homework can be useful for far away candidates. Not all candidate can afford it. In this case, it's a good compromise I think –  dyesdyes Commented Jan 31, 2014 at 17:33

I've never liked project-based interviews. I've done several and I have several public ones on my GitHub. Very rarely do they ever consider my previous work. Nowadays, it seems everyone wants to give their own test. However, not all employers respond to them. In the field of Android development, these apps take many hours. I've done some apps that took me five hours to do and was rejected without any feedback. Especially troubling are the companies that give them out without even having a phone conversation with them first. Who knows if that company is interested in them? You could work for hours for nothing.

So, no I don't do project-based interviews for people who I haven't talked to yet and ones that are seemingly long.

• 1 Most annoying are the companies that insist on giving you their own tests, and then in the face-to-face interview, can't make any commentary on your submission (often admitting they didn't read it). –  Edwin Buck Commented Nov 29, 2018 at 23:16

A homework exam is good news.

If you are given a homework assignment that you actually do correctly, you are almost certain to get the job. Very few employers will interview you, decide you are good enough to do the take-home, see that you did very well on it, and not hire you.

Almost every homework assignment I have been given has lead to a job offer. Moreover, you should enjoy doing them... if you don't, why are you applying for this particular job?

I don't find this exploitative. Most of the time, employers will give you a sample test that has no relevance to their business. And even if they were open to having unwitting applicants do their own work as part of an interview, would you really trust someone you've only just met, whose competence is still in question, with your business?

• Have you ever been asked to do additional work on one of these take home tasks? Seems like a red flag if they do. –  user8365 Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 13:58
• Personally, in every case I've done a homework assignment, they just call me up and offer me the job a few days later. Rarely is the content of the work even discussed. –  Code Whisperer Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 18:18
• 7 @itcouldevenbeaboat, really? I've done a couple of these and never heard a word back. I was annoyed that I'd wasted my time. I guess it depends on the company. –  Jeremy Stein Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 0:17
• @itcouldevenbeaboat, the alternate explanation is that I did a bad job. I guess you have to take my word for it that they were good answers. I was a 4.0 student in college and I work for a famously-selective company now as a developer. I felt like I gave solid submissions, but who knows! –  Jeremy Stein Commented Jan 30, 2014 at 19:00
• 3 I respectfully decline it without being paid per hour. At most I would be willing to come up with the main points of algorithm and describe it in a short paragraph of for a few minutes on the phone. If they want at least 4 hours to be spent on assessing my candidacy, I prefer it to be their 4 hours perusing one of my always-non-trivial GitHub projects. That's why I've put these projects there. If a company would not hire Alan Turing because he would not take the initial coding test, then I know I should not waste my time there. Yes, it's often an initial assignment, before even a phone call. –  rapt Commented Mar 17, 2018 at 17:56

I've had to deal with this. One measure I've had to use is to make sure that whatever the 'homework' is, it has to be something generic. If it's specific enough for the company to actually benefit from (as in -- take your work and make a buck from it without hiring you), that's a red flag.

There'd be nothing wrong with sharing your proximate approach to dealing with a challenge they present to do. But when it comes down to nuts-and-bolts details, remember that the whole reason that you showed up in the first place is so that you can get paid for your expertise.

The tact some companies take would be like you taking your car into the local mechanic and having them do an exam before you agree to pay for them to fix the car. It's stupid.

• Well, I don't mind to show my skills but in 2 hours should be enough. –  Bor Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 19:43
• For me it's not a question of demonstrating my skills. I can do that on paper, or by verbal question-and-answer. I just have a problem with solving a company's issue in the interview -- why should they pay someone who's dumb enough to give all the answers for free? –  Xavier J Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 19:46
• @codenoire if you really think they don't know the answers, and want yours for their revenue potential, don't work for them. But the chances of that are tiny. I would not run my business using code or other project output from people who wanted to work for me, and I doubt others would either. They want to know how good you are, that's all. –  Kate Gregory Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 15:49
• @Kate I'm a consultant and accordingly I am interviewing sometimes 2-3 times a year as a matter of course. This has actually happened to me a couple of times, but I got wise real quick. The first time (long ago), I'd driven about 80 miles to meet with a potential client and I didn't occur to me until I got home that the 'exam' i did was actually the crux of the technology the company was trying to implement. What's the saying... fool me once, shame on you; fool me twice, shame on ME... right? :) –  Xavier J Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 16:36
• Your last comment is a bit of an empty argument, it is more analogous to the local mechanic shop having a mechanic come into the shop and work for a day to assess his knowledge and technique. Of course, such a mechanic would be paid for his day of work. Perhaps these companies should pay a day's wages for these take home assignments? –  daaxix Commented Feb 19, 2015 at 3:37

Some homework assignments could be seen as a red flag, others not. It all depends on the type of assignment and how it is framed.

I give a homework assignment to all developer candidates who pass through the phone screen (the phone screen is with me, after carefully scrutinizing your resume and anything else I can find about you , and it's 30-40 minutes of 3 - 5 general questions about methodology, preferences, and general development practices), and that homework assignment was written by the entire development team to represent what they want to test in a candidate. Because the homework assignment will take a person a few hours to perform, and takes each member of our team an hour or so to assess, we only give the assignment to candidates who we think have the opportunity to do well on it. We don't want to waste anyone's time, ours included.

If the homework problem you are given is one that you think will take you 10 hours to complete, you can ask the company how long they think it will take to complete. If they say "10 hours" then pat yourself on the back for estimating correctly, but then wonder why they're giving you a 10 hour test -- is it work they want done and are using homework problems to get work for free? Are they just really rigorous, and this homework assignment is much like the 8 hour/all-day interviews higher level candidates in management, architecture, etc perform (I've done these a lot, for many different senior roles)?

In other words, some companies will use the homework assignment poorly, some not. It's a judgement call on whether it raises a red flag for you , but remember that it is quite common to put in some amount of time to prepare for and then execute on an interview process. In companies where I have been a hiring manager, a developer candidate could expect probably 5 hours of total interview time in three stages over a couple weeks, and a homework problem that might take another 2 to 3 hours. That's 8 hours of effort for a $100K/year job, which seems pretty reasonable to me (which is why I continue to do it).

For me and my teams, how you perform on the homework problem leads directly to what the team will talk about in their couple hours of interview -- why did you select the gems or libraries you did, what was your testing approach, what did you or did you not document in your work and why, and so on. You could always ask the company who gives the assignment to you how they plan to use it, so you can better understand the context. If they don't give you a good answer, like "we'll use this as an evaluation of basic skills in xyz, and use it as the foundation of discussion in your second round of interviews," then that could be a red flag.

• I've been given tasks different tasks - some are just 2-3 hours, other are at least a whole day and some are supposed to be easy but when you add the time to understand X technology it is still the second type task. –  Bor Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 16:56
• 1 @Bor On the latter, if it's testing technology that the company expects a developer to use, and you don't know it (and you apply anyway), that's really not the company giving a candidate a lengthy task, it's the candidate having to beef up their own knowledge in order to match the job requirements. –  jcmeloni Commented Jan 29, 2014 at 17:06

This is a sign of trouble ahead.

The companies which are doing this are testing you to see how willing you are to use your personal time for their projects. A person who states that they are uncertain about or unwilling to do so will almost certainly be removed from their potential list of candidates.

It's also rather legally tricky for the company, as if they assign you a task and you accidentally develop something which they later attempt to sell, since you are neither a contractor nor an employee, they could owe you compensation for your efforts

Also this could cause practical problems for them if you far exceed their expectations (and they may this apparent), this may change the compensation rates you are seeking to levels beyond what they are willing to pay for the position.

It would advisable to make certain exactly what they are seeking when they ask you to take a project before you accept this and what assistance (if any) that they will provide to perform this task. If they balk at this or they make it clear that you are expected to work for an extended period without compensation, then it's probably best to politely decline to do this.

Frankly, unless the companies are "industry leaders" or what they are doing is cutting edge, it might be advisable to continue to look for a company which respects your work/life balance.

• 1 It would depend upon how long it would take. If it is clear that you are being used, then it would be advisable to politely decline. If they expect you to spend more than a reasonable amount of time on their "test" (reasonable being less than 1 hour) then it also might not be advisable. –  Mistah Mix Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 14:20
• 3 sounds like a bunch of unfounded paranoia about a little coding exercise whose typical intent is to check whether the candidate actually knows how to code, knows basic concepts (like concurrency or data structures), and has a habit of writing well structured and commented code. –  amphibient Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 17:39
• 3 My time is valuable. I have no idea how (or even if) you value yours. Unless there's a strong possibility that I'm going to get the job, then in my assessment it's a waste of time that might be spent elsewhere. –  Mistah Mix Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 17:46
• 5 if your time is so "valuable" that you don't want to use a few of its hours to complete a coding assignment as often the last step before getting a job, i would not hire you. Is your time also too valuable to shower, shave and dress up before an interview? Sheesh, it'd be nice if jobs just came on a silver platter... –  amphibient Commented Jan 28, 2014 at 20:49
• 2 I've always felt more suspicious about interviews where you don't do a technical test. How on earth can they tell the level of technical competence by just talking? Soft skills yeah, but a technical test requires a sufficiently complex and small task to accurately prove skill or learning capacity. Otherwise it will look bad on both - perhaps the candidate overestimated his skill, or the employer underestimated the difficulty of the job. –  Juha Untinen Commented Aug 26, 2014 at 8:10

Few times I have received quite serious "mini projects" to do that took me almost all day to complete. These projects produced small applications that are directly useful as utilities or library functions. The produced code worked well, and I used to be deeply surprised when the companies refused the next round without much explaining.

Could it be an easy way to get a free day of attention from the professional? You need a task to be done, you post a job proposal for a job you never think to offer, you put the high salary proposal and send a "small home assignment" for every applicant. Then all you need to do is to pick between even multiple versions of the code that does that you need, maybe some really ugly but others may actually be really good, various people are looking for a job. That a great idea to grow your business productivity!

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13 Things Not to Do Before and During a Job Interview

If you want to be seriously considered for the position, you must prepare carefully. one or two missteps can disqualify you as a candidate, even if you have the right experience and skills..

Congratulations! You've been diligent about finding a new job, and you've finally landed an interview. What happens next?

If you want to be seriously considered for the position, you must prepare carefully. One or two missteps can disqualify you as a candidate , even if you have the right experience and skills. If you really want to get hired, study this list of things NOT to do before and  during an interview .

Want to be counted out? Before the interview, do NOT:

1. Research the company.

Go ahead and show up, then ask what the company does and how it's organized. The message: You're just looking for a paycheck and don't care where it comes from.

2. Print extra copies of your résumé.

You're so outstanding that the interviewers will likely have seen and memorized the résumé you sent, right? Wrong! And you'll look like an amateur if you don't have some freshly printed résumés to hand out.

3. Dress appropriately.

Sure, you want to express your unique style. Why should you cover up your magnificent tattoo sleeve for some corporate guy? If you go casual to any interview other than one for a startup dot.com, don't expect to be invited back. A quick call to the company's HR department to ask, or simply wearing your best interview suit (You do have one, right?), will put you in proper attire for the meeting.

4. Practice interview questions.

Hey, you like to be spontaneous! That's swell, but if you hesitate or stammer during any of the standard interview questions, you will seem unprepared and unpolished. A quick internet search will give you a list of questions that many companies ask. Don't rely on instincts -- study the list and create short answers that include your own experiences.

5. Arrive on time.

Google Maps says you only need 15 minutes to get there, so that's all you need, even though you have no idea where to park. And everyone understands about traffic jams...so what's the big deal if you're late? Maybe it has something to do with the fact that you aren't organized. Or that you have no regard for others' time. Arriving 10-15 minutes early allows you to use the restroom, check your hair, watch the people in the office and...chat with the receptionist.

6. Be courteous to the receptionist.

This one seems crazy! Be nice to the entry-level person who signs you in and offers you a cup of coffee? Really? Don't be fooled. Many companies include the receptionist's feedback when considering candidates. How you interact with all levels of the organization says a lot about you as a person. Receptionists are the eyes and ears of the company, and often serve as gatekeepers. Besides, like all people, they deserve respect and courtesy. Be pleasant, smile, chat about the weather, accept the visitor's badge, and thank him or her on your way out.

You've been invited to come in for an interview! In today's hiring market, this is a true success. Of all the applicants for the position, only a handful make it past the initial screening process. It's up to you to show that you're the best candidate for the job.

So, now you've arrived at the interview. Let's talk about the actual meetings and what can go wrong during your time at the company.

If you want to disqualify yourself during the interviews, do NOT :

7. Turn off your phone.

Tempted to keep the world updated about your day? Or receive those encouraging texts from your friends? Online hiring forums are full of Human Resource stories about candidates who spend more time looking at their phones than answering questions. There are even tales of job seekers who answer calls...then wonder why they didn't get hired. Phone. Off. Period.

8. Answer questions with an example.

When asked if you have any experience that relates to the new position, surely your résumé speaks for itself, right? What more needs to be said? A simple yes or no should suffice, right? Actually, that's the worst way to respond. Every question is designed to elicit more information from you. If you have an example from your experience (personal or professional) that shows how you'd handle a situation, this is your moment to shine. If you don't, then now is the opportunity to say how you would solve a problem, or that you would be eager to learn. One-word responses = uncommunicative.

9. Shake hands and look your interviewers in the eye.

What's up with all this etiquette? Why is this stuff so important, anyhow? While you are at the interview to be evaluated for your skills and talents, your ability to follow business practice is also up for review. Nonverbal communication -- including a firm handshake and good eye contact -- accounts for 55 percent of all interactions. Everything is on display during an interview. Sit tall, don't fidget, keep your arms and hands relaxed. Look at each person when you speak. All of these things make you look confident and ready to tackle a new job.

10. Ask questions.

Why would you ask questions -- isn't that the interviewer's role? What are you supposed to ask, anyway? Well, guess what? You are supposed to ask questions! But never -- ever! -- questions about how much vacation you'd get or how soon you can get a raise. You need to decide if this job is a good fit for you. Ask about a typical day or about training opportunities. Ask where the company expects to be in five years --and how you can help. You can even ask what the worst part of the job is. Come to the interview with at least three questions that can help you make a good decision.

11. Maintain a professional demeanor.

You want to show the interviewer that you're not a stuck-up snob. In fact, you're just like everyone else...so you launch into a story about your ex-wife. Or your credit card debt. Maybe even what a jerk your last boss was -- who can't relate to that? But will you notice how uncomfortable you are making others? It won't matter; you've crossed the boundary of professional behavior and have probably blown your chances of advancing in the hiring process.

12. Follow business etiquette.

More etiquette? Again? Yes, and yes. You have a firm handshake and you're sending good nonverbal signals. What else? Following an introduction, do not sit until invited. Even though it's appropriate, ask if you can take notes. Write the names of all people you meet with, or ask for their business cards. You'll need those for your follow-up thank you emails.

13. Ask for the job.

Why would you do this? Doesn't it seem pushy to ask for the job? Quite the opposite! It shows that you are interested and that you are confident enough to let the interviewers know. Too many applicants walk away from the interview without asking. A simple "This is very exciting! I would love to be the successful candidate." is enough. Or, "I'd love to work with you and the team!" Spoken sincerely, this is one of the best things you can do at the end of the interview.

With good preparation and attention to details, you really can land that job. Good luck!

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6 things you could be doing wrong if you're struggling to get a job

• The labor market is softening, and it might be harder to get a job compared to the past.
• Business Insider talked to job experts about why applicants might struggle to get hired for a role.
• A poorly organized résumé or not learning about a company during interview prep could be issues.

If you're not hearing back after applying for jobs , you may need to make some changes to your résumé, interview prep, or search strategy.

A cooler labor market means it could be harder to find a job now than a couple of years ago. Bureau of Labor Statistics data shows there were 1.2 job openings per unemployed person this past June compared to 1.5 job openings per unemployed person in June 2023.

"It's remaining steady, but it's definitely softer than it was several years back," Leanne Getz, vice president of tech staffing firm Experis's delivery channels, said about the labor market. "So, not surprising that applicants are having a little bit more of a challenge to identify opportunities."

Stacie Haller, the chief career advisor with ResumeBuilder.com , said she thinks "people aren't necessarily as prepared when they enter a job search today" because they may think the job market is the same as it was many years ago.

But for job seekers who are struggling, there are ways you can try to improve your odds. Below are some things that you may want to change if you aren't landing a job .

You are sending out way too many résumés

One issue could be you're sending out a bunch of résumés , including for jobs you don't even want or for jobs where you don't have the desired experience. Haller suggested having most of what an employer is looking for before applying to the role.

"I would prefer people to not send out 800 résumés just throwing spaghetti against the wall," Haller said. "That's when you hear from people, 'It's a horrible market, and I can't get a job.'"

Gabrielle Davis, a career trends expert at Indeed, told Business Insider people should first consider the things that matter to them in a job beyond a paycheck, such as the benefits and whether it's remote, instead of first applying to many roles.

"I think that when job seekers function from maybe a place of slight panic, they don't do that because they feel like, 'I just have to move fast because the market's moving fast. I have to get all the stuff in, and I'm just going to see what sticks,'" Davis said. "And that's not always really fruitful for them. So I think that it's better to take a much more intentional approach to the actual job search."

You are waiting too long to apply

OK, so you have decided to send out fewer résumés that are more focused on gigs you want. Now, don't wait too long to actually apply.

Related stories

Haller said job seekers should reply to a job posting within 24 hours "to at least have a shot to be in the mix."

Haller said people come to her and say, "'Oh, I saw a job posting that I'm interested in.' And they take days, if not a week, to reply."

She added, "By the time they send their résumé out, that company's probably on final interviews."

You might need to reconsider the contents or format of your résumé

Six seconds. That's how long Haller said job seekers have "to capture somebody's attention by your résumé or by your profile."

Formatting could be important to consider when putting together a résumé in hopes of successfully landing work.

"You need to know how to create and format a résumé that works in today's job search process," Haller said, adding this "means the formatting should be cleaned, standardized, and easy to read."

Getz said the résumé should also be similar to things noted on a candidate's online profile, like on LinkedIn. She also said résumés should be accurate and be in their own words.

"We're seeing candidates utilizing certain AI tools to generate the résumé, and it's fine to use it to help guide or give you suggestions, but you want to be careful about having something like ChatGPT design your whole résumé," Getz said. "It's easy for recruiters to pick up on that. It doesn't seem authentic."

You are not considering your connections

There's more that can be done than uploading a résumé to a job application. Haller said job seekers may want to see who they can contact at the company beforehand.

Haller said, "The last thing you want to do is dump your résumé into" an applicant tracking system "if you have another way to make contact inside that company."

Getz noted people could consider who they may know at the place they're hoping to get a job when they are applying.

"It is often about the network and who you know, but it also is sometimes just a game of numbers," Getz said. "There are so many applicants. You have to just keep applying, be consistent, be persistent, be patient."

You are not doing sufficient prep for an interview

If you get the good news that an employer is interested in interviewing you, it's probably best to prepare for the interview with some research.

Haller said people should know the company's mission, why they even want to work for the employer, and prepare questions to ask during the interview.

"I've interviewed people as a hiring manager with people who have no idea what the company does or why they're even interested in a job," Haller said. "That's a waste of everybody's time."

Some helpful hints of what to say during the interview are in the job posting itself.

"The job posting tells you exactly what they're looking for," Haller said. "That's where your prep starts. So if you know what they're looking for, you want to prepare as many examples that you can about what they might ask in reference to what they're looking for in the person they hire."

Getz also talked about being prepared and other basics of interviewing. Getz said to make "sure that you're dressed professional, that you've prepared, that you've done your research on the company that you're interviewing with, that you have strong questions to ask, that you're prepared to answer behavioral style questions."

Don't do an interview from a car and eliminate any background noise, Getz also advised. Getz emphasized the basics of doing an interview because "it could be one of those minor, little things that knock you out of consideration that could have been overcome by simply being prepared, dressed for the interview."

Davis suggested preparing a few main points that you want to reiterate in every interview round. "If you're speaking to maybe two or three people at a company, just because you've spoken to the same people at one company doesn't always mean that they are sharing exactly what you've spoken about to their colleagues," Davis said.

She added those main points can help show your prep, and she said, "Any sign of preparedness to an employer means, OK, this person is showing up. They're here. They're taking it seriously."

You aren't sending a thank-you note, or you're following up too much

Davis said a handwritten thank-you note could be good if you did an in-person interview. Even if it was not an in-person interview, Davis said sending a simple thank-you note on the same day could be good.

Davis said the note should thank the person for their time and include something personal from the interview to show you were listening.

"I think that really goes a long way," Davis said. "And after that, it's kind out of your hands, so waiting to hear back from the recruiter or hiring manager and then going from there."

Getz said "to be cautious about how often you're following up" because you're not the only job candidate a hiring manager is talking to. She said people don't want to overdo their reach out, and it should be professional.

How long did it take you to find a job, or how long have you been unemployed? Reach out to this reporter to share your experience at [email protected] .

Watch: "Don't run too fast" – the best advice Delta CMO Alicia Tillman received

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Kamala Harris Isn’t Giving Interviews. Any Questions?

Critics say the vice president has been too cautious with the press. Her supporters think it’s the right strategy at the right time.

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By Michael M. Grynbaum

Michael Grynbaum has covered the interactions between presidential candidates and the news media since 2016.

Follow live updates on the 2024 election .

The press has questions for Vice President Kamala Harris. She isn’t giving a whole lot of answers.

In the nearly three weeks since President Biden withdrew his candidacy, catapulting Ms. Harris to the top of the Democratic ticket, the vice president has shown little eagerness to meet journalists in unscripted settings. She has not granted an interview or held a news conference. On Thursday, after a rally in Michigan, she held her first “gaggle” — an impromptu Q.-and-A. session — with reporters covering her campaign.

It lasted 70 seconds.

Ms. Harris replaced a Democratic nominee who has hosted fewer White House news conferences than any president since Ronald Reagan. Now she is taking a similarly cautious approach, relying on televised rallies and prepared statements amid a tightly controlled rollout of her candidacy.

Asked on Thursday if she might sit for an interview anytime soon, Ms. Harris suggested that she would get through the convention first. “I want us to get an interview scheduled before the end of the month,” she said, as aides signaled to the scrum of journalists that question time was over.

Ms. Harris’s lack of engagement with the media has become a constant rallying cry on the political right, with Republican critics and Fox News stars accusing the vice president of ducking scrutiny. The Harris campaign says it is being thoughtful about how best to deploy its message, and to introduce a new candidate to crucial voters in battleground states.

David Axelrod, the architect of former President Barack Obama’s winning campaigns, believes that Ms. Harris — who on Thursday said she had agreed to a prime-time debate on Sept. 10 with her opponent, former President Donald J. Trump — was trying to strike a balance.

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