If you’ve made it this far in the job search process then you’re already ahead of most people. Congratulations! Luckily, preparing for the interview is one of the easiest parts of the process, which is something you probably didn’t expect to hear.
Think of it this way… With the effort you put in during the previous steps (understanding your motivation/goals, learning about the company’s values, and tailoring your resume/cover letter) you unknowingly developed answers to a lot of the questions that are going to be asked!
Not only that–but there’s a TON of information available online about common interview questions and how to prepare. I definitely recommend googling this one and reading up on best practices.
If you’re looking for something a little more in depth to help prepare, I can’t recommend this book enough: “Get That Job!: The Quick and Complete Guide to a Winning Interview” (Please note: This is an affiliate link, which means that if you purchase through here I will make a small commission at no extra cost to you. It’s a part of how I’m able to fund this site!)
Here are some basic interview pointers that I think are most important:
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- Make eye contact (because some jerk decided that’s part of having a normal human conversation–I know it can be annoying and awkward, but it pays off in the end).
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- Smile! 🙂 Because you want them to know that you’re happy to be there and happy to meet them.
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- Drink water (but not so much that you’ll have to pee every 13.2 seconds).
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- Dress professionally (you already knew that, but it had to be said).
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- Express a pleasant and friendly demeanor (unless you’re a Grinch and you can’t…). At this stage they already have a basic understanding of your technical acumen from the resume and personality fit within the team is going to be one of the most important pieces they are looking at in the interview.
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- Ask for business cards or email addresses so you can send “thank you” notes later. If you feel like you really clicked with someone or admire their career path as a model for your own, definitely feel free to say something like “Would you mind if I connected with you on LinkedIn? I’m really interested in your background and would love to stay in touch regardless of how the job opportunity turns out.” Do not ask this to anyone/everyone though–it has to be genuine or it will seem intrusive and hurt you.
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- Be prepared to answer the question “tell me about yourself.” This is not an invitation to list your previous experiences, so don’t do that (they already saw that in your resume and the only reason you’re interviewing is so they can learn things about you that they CAN’T get from reading a piece of paper.) This is where you talk about your motivation (remember STEP 2!) and any expertise that relates to the job opportunity. Keep it concise and powerful. This is your 60 second elevator pitch about yourself and will be where you want to make a great first impression. I would recommend rehearsing your statement so you are confident and smooth when you say it.
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- You do not know more about the job or company than the interviewer, so don’t act like you do! This can immediately tarnish the impression you are trying to make and is one of the things I can’t stand when I interview someone. Specifically, don’t shoot off random facts about the company, how you read an article about XYZ, or recent company news you heard about–this comes off as presumptuous and obnoxious. If you do know things, let it come up naturally in conversation and don’t brag about how you learned the info because that makes it seem like you read it just for this interview and wouldn’t have known it otherwise. (unless it was something proactive, unrelated to doing research for the job interview, like an internship)
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- Come up with at least 10 thoughtful questions and don’t be afraid to ask the same questions to multiple interviewers. You want them all to know you are engaged, interested, and willing to hear different perspectives. However, don’t ask questions just to make yourself seem smarter than you are or that you know things that you aren’t an expert on. Be genuine. It’s easier for an interviewer to spot a self-aggrandizing question than you think.
- Don’t be caught off guard or be afraid when you don’t have experience with a technique or cell type that you are asked about. First, you should already expect a question about these things from the job description. Second, reply with confidence that you don’t have experience with that, but maybe bring up a similar technique that you think has some aspects that translate and could help you learn faster, etc.
Okay… So I got a little carried away with the “basic” pointers. The things I mentioned are some of the most important aspects of interviewing. I think you’ll notice that when it comes to the interview, there’s a lot more advice around what NOT TO DO than what TO DO. It makes sense when you think about it. Sometimes you have as little as 30 minutes to impress the interviewer and one statement that feels ingenuine can be catastrophic.
But don’t worry. No stress. 🙂
A day or two after your interview, you should send out thank you emails to everyone you talked to. Keep them short, simple, and professional. To each person, I recommend highlighting one thing you talked about that you both really connected on (even if it’s not related to the job–team fit is as important as qualifications). Close out with an offer to answer any additional questions they may have and thank them.
Most companies instruct their interviewers not to respond if they are contact by a candidate after the interview, so don’t feel bad if it seems like your note was ignored. It wasn’t!
Now all that’s left is to cross your fingers and wait! And while you wait, repeat the process with others jobs so you can have some back up plans. (It is recommend that you uncross your fingers for that part).
Once you get that amazing offer head on over to the final (and most fun) step!
