Pro Tip: You can use Indeed Career Scout as your personal AI career coach to streamline every step of your search, from finding jobs and tailoring resumes to acing interviews and landing an offer.Key takeaways:
- Start by researching the company and reviewing the job description to understand how your background aligns with the role.
- Be ready to explain why you're interested in the opportunity and why you're a strong fit for the position.
- Learn about the company’s products, role expectations and work culture to help you prepare thoughtful questions and stay confident during the interview.
Preparing for an interview
Preparing for an interview primarily means taking the time to thoughtfully consider your goals and qualifications in relation to the position and employer. To accomplish this, research the company and carefully review the job description to understand why you would be a good fit. Let’s look at the steps to preparing for an interview.1. Carefully examine the job description
During your prep work, use the employer’s posted job description as a guide. It will list the qualifications, qualities and background the employer is looking for in an ideal candidate. The more you can align yourself with these details, the more the employer will be able to see that you are qualified. The job description may also provide clues about questions the employer may ask during the interview.2. Consider why you are interviewing and your qualifications
Before the interview, you should have a good understanding of why you want the job and how you’re qualified. Be prepared to explain your interest in the opportunity and why you’re the best person for the role.3. Conduct research
Researching the company you’re applying to is an important part of preparing for an interview. Not only will it help provide context for your interview conversations, but it will also help you prepare thoughtful questions for your interviewers. Researching the company and role as thoroughly as possible will give you a competitive edge. Not only that, but fully preparing for an interview will also help you remain calm, allowing you to be at your best. Here are a few things you should do before attending an interview:Research the product or service
Even if the role isn't directly related to the company's product or service, you're still looking to be part of the team. It's important to learn all you can about the product or service the company produces and promotes. You don't necessarily need to understand every detail, especially if it's a technical product and you're interviewing for a non-technical position. However, you should have a basic understanding of the main products or services the company offers. If possible, request a sample of the product to familiarize yourself with the customer’s perspective. The more you can tell them about the product from both a company and customer standpoint, the better you'll perform in your interview.Research the role
Read the job description carefully and ensure that you understand all the requirements and responsibilities associated with it. This will not only prepare you with thoughtful, targeted questions about the position during the interview, but it will ensure that you're truly qualified and prepared to tackle the responsibilities if you get the job. If possible, research similar positions and read reviews from individuals in those roles, so you can get an idea of what the day-to-day activities will be like. During the interview, ask for clarification or details about the role, so you can be sure you're ready should you receive a job offer. Researching the role before an interview will also help you to decide whether the position is right for you.Research the company culture
Modern companies usually have social media accounts and blogs that discuss their company culture and industry. This information can give you an impression of the company's tone, personality and values. No matter how good a job seems, it's important that you fit within the company culture and share similar values. If you have questions about the workplace environment, culture, personalities or values, be sure to ask during the interview. These questions can range from the software and tools used by the company to their policies on vacation and sick time.When preparing for an interview, keep in mind that you're trying to determine if the organization is the right fit for you, just as the interviewer is trying to select the best candidate for the role. Learn as much as you can about the organization through prior research and prepare questions that give you insight about organizational culture, leadership styles and expectations of the position.—Genevieve Northup, MBA, SHRM-CP, HCI-SPTD
4. Prepare answers to common interview questions
While you won’t be able to predict every question, there are a few common questions you can plan answers for. You might also consider developing an elevator pitch that quickly describes who you are, what you do and what you want. Some jobs may involve a test or evaluation during the interview process. For example, if you are interviewing for a computer programming, development or analytics role, you might also be asked to write or evaluate lines of code. Consult with colleagues in the industry for examples of tests they’ve been given to help you prepare. You should also plan to discuss your salary expectations, just in case. If you’re unsure about what salary is appropriate to ask for, visit Indeed Salaries to find the average salary for the job. Here are a few examples of common interview questions:Why do you want to work here?
The best way to prepare for this question is to learn about the company's products, services, mission, history and culture. In your answer, mention the aspects of the company that appeal to you and align with your career goals. Example: “I’d love the opportunity to work with a company that’s making a difference. Finding a company with a positive work environment and values that align with my own has remained a priority throughout my job search, and this company ranks at the top of the list.”What interests you about this role?
Employers ask this question to make sure you understand the role and to give you the opportunity to highlight your relevant skills. It can be helpful to compare the role requirements against your skills and experience. Choose a few things you particularly enjoy or excel at, and focus on those in your answer. Example: “I’ve been passionate about user experience design for most of my professional career. I was excited to see that this company uses Adobe products because I’m well-versed in the entire suite. Also, I’m a huge advocate for applying agile workflows to design. I think it’s the most effective way to tackle large projects. I was able to successfully build and launch an agile process in my previous role as UX manager, and we saw considerable improvements in project speed.”What are your greatest strengths?
This question provides an opportunity to discuss both your technical and soft skills. When an interviewer asks you to describe your strengths, share qualities and personal attributes and then relate them back to the role for which you’re interviewing. Example: “I’m a natural problem-solver. I find it rewarding to dig deep and uncover solutions to challenges—it’s like solving a puzzle. It’s something I’ve always excelled at, and something I enjoy. Much of product development is about finding innovative solutions to challenging issues, which is what drew me to this career path in the first place.” Read more: Interview Question: "What Are Your Strengths and Weaknesses?" In addition to these, you should also take steps to prepare answers to behavioral interview questions. A woman sits at an interview with a list of tips next to her. The headline says, "Tips to succeed in your next interview"1. Research your potential employer
2. Review the job description
3. Practice answering interview questions
4. I Understand the STAR method
5. Dress appropriately for your interview
6. Think about your questions in advance
7. Follow up after the interview
5. Prepare thoughtful questions for the interviewer
Many employers feel confident about candidates who ask thoughtful questions about the company and the position. Take time before the interview to prepare several questions for your interviewer(s) that show you’ve researched the company and are well-versed about the position. Some examples of questions you could ask include:- What does a typical day look like for a person in this position?
- Why do you enjoy working here?
- What qualities do your most successful employees have?
- I’ve really enjoyed learning more about this opportunity. What are the next steps in the hiring process?
6. Conduct mock interviews
Just like public speaking, practicing interviews is the best way to reduce anxiety and boost your confidence. Practice may feel tedious, but repeatedly experiencing the interview process will make you more comfortable and able to convey your most desirable attributes. If you have friends or family to help, conduct mock interviews as often as possible. If you don't have another person, practice your questions and answers out loud. You may find that an answer sounds awkward or doesn't convey what you wish when it's spoken, so this gives you an opportunity to refine your answers and commit them to memory. The more you repeat your interview, the more confident you'll be during the real thing.7. Print hard copies of your resume
Most employers ask for digital copies of your resume with the application, but they may not have easy access to it during the interview. Having copies to present to multiple interviewers shows that you're prepared and organized. You should have at least three copies to provide for multiple interviewers, plus one for yourself to reference. During your preparation, review your resume and rehearse explanations for any gaps or other discrepancies. For example, you may have taken time off work to care for a child or family member, switched careers or had other legitimate reasons for employment gaps. These can be a concern for employers, so it's best to prepare your explanation to show them that you're not a risk. You may also encounter awkward questions about your resume. It's important to be honest but diplomatic in addressing them. For example, you may have left a job because of your supervisor or manager, or policies that you didn't agree with, but you don't want to speak negatively about a former employer. Consider these possible questions and prepare your answers in advance, so you don't accidentally say something you'll regret. Like the rest of the interview, it's best to prepare for these questions by writing notes and rehearsing your answers out loud multiple times prior to the interview.8. Prepare your travel arrangements
Job interviews tend to be stressful for most people for many reasons, but getting to the interview can be a challenge in itself. If your interview is in a new city or even an unfamiliar area, it can be a source of anxiety to find your way around and ensure you arrive on time. To avoid becoming too anxious about your commute, prepare yourself to ensure everything goes smoothly on the day of the meeting. Here's how:Leave early
This may seem obvious, but it's better to leave with plenty of time to get to your interview, even if it means arriving way too early. Even if you leave yourself a few extra minutes to arrive, small obstacles can be enough to make you late, such as heavy traffic, accidents, lack of parking or trouble finding the building. If you arrive too early, use the time to review your notes and mentally prepare for your interview.Save the interview contact information
Even with plenty of time for your commute, sometimes situations out of your control can still cause you to be late. If something unexpected happens and you know you'll be a little late, please call your interview coordinator and inform them of the situation. Most people are empathetic to these situations and understand that some things just can't be helped, especially if you let them know in advance and provide a reasonable explanation. In this situation, the worst thing you could do is show up late without any notice and try to explain yourself.Search the location in advance
Most interviews are scheduled days or weeks in advance, so you have time to research the location. If your interview is close enough, you can take a day to visit the location, assess the parking, note the traffic and locate the suite or office where your interview will be held. If you're anxious about parking or any other aspect of the location, contact your interviewer and ask them for more information.9. Sell yourself
One of the biggest challenges in an interview is selling yourself. Most people are uncomfortable with this idea, but presenting yourself accurately and positively doesn't have to feel like a sale. The truth is that you do have professional skills and experiences that may set you apart from other applicants, so it's acceptable and expected for you to acknowledge them to your potential employer. When preparing for a job interview, take note of your skills that relate to the role and consider how your experiences and abilities can contribute to the department's and company's overall goals. Your answers will be brief, so choose the most positive and relevant information to share during the interview. If you have metrics or stats to show your accomplishments or growth during your previous roles, they're a great help in selling yourself during the interview. For example, you may have increased sales by a certain percentage or increased social media engagement in your last position. Whatever accomplishments you have, don't be modest about sharing them during your interview. Your potential employer wants to know that you'll be the right fit and that you can deliver something to the company, so they need to know all the reasons that you can provide for them. If you don’t know the answer to a certain question, it is perfectly acceptable to pause for a moment and simply state, “Let me think about that for a moment.” The employer will appreciate you taking the time to give them a thoughtful answer. Be sure to provide specific examples wherever possible. Taking time to prepare for an interview will ultimately help you feel more relaxed and confident during the process.10. Get ready to follow up after the interview
Prepare to follow up with the employer after the interview. Doing so reminds the employer of your conversation, shows them you are genuinely interested in the position and gives you the opportunity to bring up points you forgot to mention. Here are a few steps you can follow when crafting a follow-up note:- In the first paragraph, mention the specific job title and thank your interviewer.
- In the second paragraph, note the company’s name as well as a conversation point and/or goal that seemed especially important to the person you spoke with. Connect that point to your experience and interests.
- In the final paragraph, invite them to ask you any additional questions and close by saying you’re looking forward to hearing back.