Interview Prep Guide for Your Interview: Before, During, and After

You submitted your resume online for a job that sounded right up your alley. It could be a perfect fit. To your delight, you received a call from a recruiter and they would like to bring you in for an interview. Perfect! Prepping for an interview is slightly time-consuming, but it isn’t difficult. But, have you prepped for what could happen during the interview, as well as after the interview? Take a look at our Interview Prep Guide for Your Interview: Before, During, and After.

BEFORE THE INTERVIEW

• Research the company
  • Visit the company website, review their LinkedIn page, check out reviews about the company, and ask around to find out if you know anyone that works there (if you do, ask about the company and get their feedback).
  • You will want to ensure you have a solid understanding of the business, including products or services offered, mission statement, news updates, senior leaders, etc.
• Prepare
  • Ensure the company has your updated resume, and take extra copies with you to the interview.
  • Make sure you have completed any necessary paperwork that you can, prior to the interview, i.e., employment application.
  • Review questions on the behavioral based interview guide and mentally prepare answers. Most companies are asking situational based questions in interviews and being prepared with at least 5 answers will result in less time thinking about the answer and allow for more time answering the actual question. Each answer should follow the STAR method; situation, task, action, result. 
  • Search the location of the office and make sure you know exactly where you are going. Make a practice run if you can.
• First impressions are key!
  • You should look the part for the job you are interviewing for. If you are going to a professional interview, you should always wear a suit or dress pants/dress/blazer/tie, etc.
  • If the position is more of a hands-on position and would require you to work in a non-office environment, you can wear business casual attire (such as khakis, a button down shirt, and tie).
  • Keep in mind, it’s always better to be overdressed than underdressed. If for any reason you have to interview in clothes other than the aforementioned, make sure you notify your recruiter! 

DURING THE INTERVIEW

• Make eye contact
  • The interviewer is there to talk to you. Make sure you are making eye contact, which will convey that you are interested and listening to that person.
• Don’t fidget
  • It’s okay to move, but try not to tap your foot, or tap a pen/pencil. You want to ensure that you have 100% of the interviewer’s attention, and you do not want to create any reason to distract them from your answers. 
• Smile 🙂
  • You want to leave a positive impression. You do not have to smile the whole time, but smiling conveys that you are excited about the position.
• Positivity goes a long way
  • Some job experiences are awful, but the goal of an interview is to stay as positive about a job/company as possible. If you had a bad job experience, think of ways (prior to the interview) that can help you make a positive out of a negative, or how those negatives/weaknesses helped you grow professionally.  Do not talk badly about any previous employers. It could send a message that you are a negative person, even if you are not. 
• No gum allowed
  • Gum (anything in your mouth) is a distraction. Do not chew it! 
• Hydrate
  • Some interviews are quick and others last a few hours; be prepared with a bottle of water, or hydrate before the interview, because in either scenario you will be talking a lot.
• Don’t stress about the quiet time
  • If the interviewer asks you a question and you need to take time to think about an answer, don’t stress out! It’s better to take time to answer the question in a professional and complete manner as opposed to making up an answer that doesn’t fit the situation.  If you can’t think of an answer, it’s okay to ask to come back to the question later in the interview. 
• Ask meaningful questions
  • Even if you only ask one or two, make sure to come with well-prepared questions that can include:
    • Responsibilities of the job
    • The goals of the job
    • What kind of experience their ideal candidate would possess
    • What you can expect in the next steps of the process
    • When they are planning on making a decision
    • If your experience lends itself well to the needs of the position
• Express gratitude
  • Thank all participants for their time and interest. Don’t ruin your interview by forgetting this cruical step!
• Obtain contact information
  • Ask for email addresses of all participants. 

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• Thank you, thank you, thank you
  • Send a “Thank You” e-mail or handwritten note to all participants. 
    • Not only does a personal thank you go a long way with the interviewers, but it also keeps you at the top of their minds. Use this opportunity to recap your skills and experience and how it is applicable to the job you are pursuing.  This is your opportunity to sell yourself one last time.  Use it well! 
• Follow up
  • Do not be afraid to follow up with the agency recruiter or recruiter of the company!  Oftentimes recruiters are working on numerous jobs at one time and are juggling dozens of candidates. Whether they mean to or not, it’s inevitable that they will lose track of a candidate here or there.  Call or e-mail weekly to check in on your candidacy.
  • If you do not get the job, do not be afraid to keep in touch regarding other jobs within the company.

Have more questions? Ready to jump start your job search? Contact us now! Good luck!

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