Interviewing: Best Practices

Aly Bitter

Welcome back, job seekers! If you’re just joining us, we’ve been sharing a series of posts geared toward job seekers – if you haven’t already, you’ll definitely want to check out part 1 and part 2. So far, we’ve talked about project planning your approach to finding a new job and best practices for applying. Today: Best practices for interviewing.

So you’ve applied, and hooray! You’ve gotten your first nibble by way of an invite to interview, which you’ve scheduled for some time in the near future. You’re probably going to feel some nerves arise as you think about your upcoming interview, but don’t worry – we’re going to walk through some best practices so you can go into it, whether via phone, virtually, or in-person, feeling confident and ready for anything.

Preparing for your interview

In our previous posts, we’ve talked about how being a job seeker requires that you set aside some time for proper preparation for your job search and your applications; this also holds true for preparing for your interview ahead of the meeting. Below, we’ve included some tips as to how you can set yourself up for success before you move forward with the actual interview. Remember, your interview (and the communication leading up to it) gives the hiring team an idea of what it might be like to engage with and work with you on a daily basis, so the more you can put yourself in that mindset, the better.

Review the job post you applied for and research the company before your interview so that it’s fresh in your mind. See if you can find the LinkedIn profile (or a bio on the company’s website) of the person with whom you’ll be interviewing to find common ground. Maybe you share some connections, education, or hobbies in common that you can bond over!

Think about questions that might be asked (based on the job post) and prepare examples of your experience in regard to the job you’re seeking. Think about other questions that might be asked, such as what your personal & professional goals are (where do you see yourself in [x] years?), as well as typical interview questions (like listing your strengths and weaknesses) so you have some answers in mind.

When thinking through/talking about “weaknesses,” you can re-frame them as areas of improvement/growth that you’ve been working on to show that you have a growth mindset. If asked why you left your last role or company, be kind and succinct when talking about toxic companies or management, if applicable – how you talk about other people (especially management and other team members) can tell an interviewer a lot about you, so make sure the impression is positive.

Be prepared to label your own values, strengths, and examples of times when you were successful or not so successful with projects, collaborations, or deliverables you’ve worked on. Be prepared to talk through gaps in your resume. Remember, there’s no shame in having resume gaps, but you should be able to talk through how you spent the time (stay-at-home parent, traveling, mental break, education/training, etc.).

Prep your own specific questions for the hiring team about the role: what it’s like to work at the company, career progression opportunities, etc. Remember, you’re not the only one being interviewed – you’re interviewing them to see if you’d like to work with them if given the opportunity. It also shows how invested/interested you are in being considered for the role if you have done this sort of prep work.

Practice interviewing with a friend or family member. Prepare (or Google) a list of interview questions for them to ask you so you can get used to the ask-and-answer format. Have them take notes and share feedback with you about where you might improve and then try again until it feels second nature. If you don’t have someone to practice with, use a mirror and interview yourself – you could even record it on your phone or device to watch back and make notes about things to polish up.

Be a human not a robot. Believe it or not, the interviewer wants you to do well and has high hopes for you if they’re talking to you. Be sure to show them how awesome you are by finding areas to sprinkle in your personality.

Check the interview logistics: If it’s an in-person interview, check the address and prep for extra travel/parking time. If virtual, check software/link ahead of time to make sure that you can login. Also, if virtual (and cameras are being used), be prepared to set your device down/up against something sturdy and make sure the camera frames your whole face/shoulders so that the interviewer isn’t looking up your nose or getting motion sickness from you moving around a lot. Make sure that you have a clean/plain background (you can blur your background if needed) if you are going camera-on. Finally, if attending a virtual interview, make sure that you have a quiet space (or use headphones) with reliable internet for your meeting.

Participating in an interview

You’ve now prepared as much as you can for your interview and the time has come for your actual meeting. Here are some more helpful tips to keep in mind

If virtual and camera on, make sure to use your body language (eye contact, nodding, etc.) to show engagement. If you tend to fidget, have something in your hands, out of sight.

Dress nicely – though the company may have a lax dress code once you’re hired, focus on a good first impression by going business casual.

Listen to the question, pause, answer. Avoid being long-winded and be specific in your answer.

Don’t make the interviewers work hard to get info from you, especially if they engage in small talk or ask questions about what you like to do for fun.

Make sure to ask the questions you prepared regarding the role, company, etc.

Ask for a timeline regarding the next steps – how long the process will take and when you’ll hear back from the hiring team.

After Your Interview

You did it! All of that prep work got you through the interview, but now what? Below, we’ve shared some helpful tips to make sure you stay top-of-mind with the hiring team.

Make sure to follow up with a thoughtful thank you email, acknowledging the interviewer’s time, and reminding them why you specifically would be a great addition to the team (if you feel that that is still the case after the interview).

Follow up: Make note of when the hiring team said you should hear back from them. If you don’t hear from them by that date, email the person(s) with whom you interviewed (or other contact if given that direction) for an update and do so regularly until you get one.

Feel like you need more practice for your next interview, or that you want to loosen up a bit for future interviews? Check out local improv classes in your area – they often offer a free class to new folks. It may seem like something that only actors would train in, however, the skills are surprisingly transferable – thinking on your feet, thinking outside of the box, being able to handle anything thrown your way – all while laughing and meeting new people.

Let us know in the comments below what your go-to interview prep list looks like. Have questions and want to chat with me directly? Feel free to reach out via email.