If your résumé and cover letter have served their purposes well, you will be invited to participate in an interview with the company or organization you’re interested in. Congratulations! It’s an exciting time, and your prospects for employment are very strong if you put in the time to be well prepared.

In this section, we look at how to get ready for an interview, what types of interviews you might need to engage in, and what kinds of questions you might be asked.

Preparing Effectively for a Job Interview

Review the Job Description

When you prepare for an interview, your first step will be to carefully read and reread the job posting or job description. This will help you develop a clearer idea of how you meet the skills and attributes the company seeks.

Research the Company or Organization

Researching the company will give you a wider view of what the company is looking for and how well you might fit in. Your prospective employer may ask you what you know about the company. Being prepared to answer this question shows that you took time and effort to prepare for the interview and that you have a genuine interest in the organization. It shows good care and good planning—soft skills you will surely need on the job.

Practice Answering Common Questions

Most interviewees find that practicing the interview in advance with a family member, a friend, or a colleague eases possible nerves during the actual interview. It also creates greater confidence when you walk through the interview door. In the Interview Questions section below, you’ll learn more about specific questions you will likely be asked and corresponding strategies for answering them. It’s also a good idea to have some success stories prepared so you’re ready to describe your qualifications and experience to a prospective employer.

Plan to Dress Appropriately

Interviewees are generally most properly dressed for an interview in business attire, with the goal of looking highly professional in the eyes of the interviewer. Check out this resource from DePaul University on how to dress for success at a job interview. Learn exactly what is meant by business casual.

Come Prepared

Plan to bring your résumé, cover letter, and a list of references to the interview. You may also want to bring a portfolio of representative work. Leave behind coffee, chewing gum, and any other items that could be distractions.

Be Confident

Above all, interviewees should be confident and courageous. By doing so, you make a strong first impression. As the saying goes, “There is never a second chance to make a first impression.”

Interview Types and Techniques

Every interview you participate in will be unique: the people you meet with, the interview setting, and the questions you’ll be asked will all be different from interview to interview. The various factors that characterize any given interview can contribute to the sense of adventure and excitement you feel. But it’s also normal to feel a little nervous about what lies ahead. With so many unknowns, how can you plan to nail the interview no matter what comes up?

A good strategy for planning is to anticipate the type of interview you may find yourself in. There are common formats for job interviews, described in detail, below. By knowing a bit more about each type and being aware of techniques that work for each, you can plan to be on your game no matter what form your interview takes.

Screening Interviews

Screening interviews might best be characterized as “weeding-out” interviews. They ordinarily take place over the phone or in another low-stakes environment in which the interviewer has maximum control over the amount of time the interview takes. Screening interviews are generally short because they glean only basic information about you. If you are scheduled to participate in a screening interview, you might safely assume that you have some competition for the job and that the company is using this strategy to whittle down the applicant pool. With this kind of interview, your goal is to win a face-to-face interview. For this first shot, though, prepare well and challenge yourself to shine. Try to stand out from the competition and be sure to follow up with a thank-you note.

Phone or Web Conference Interviews

If you are geographically separated from your prospective employer, you may be invited to participate in a phone interview or online interview instead of meeting face-to-face. Technology, of course, is a good way to bridge distances. The fact that you’re not there in person doesn’t make it any less important to be fully prepared, though. In fact, you may wish to be all the more on your toes to compensate for the distance barrier. Make sure your equipment (phone, computer, Internet connection, etc.) is fully charged and works. If you’re at home for the interview, make sure the environment is quiet and distraction-free. If the meeting is online, make sure your video background is pleasing and neutral, like a wall hanging or even a white wall.

One-on-One Interviews

The majority of job interviews are conducted in this format—just you and a single interviewer—likely with the manager you would report to and work with. The one-on-one format gives you both a chance to see how well you connect and how well your talents, skills, and personalities mesh. You can expect to be asked questions like, “Why would you be good for this job?” and “Tell me about yourself.” Many interviewees prefer the one-on-one format because it allows them to spend in-depth time with the interviewer. Rapport can be built. As always, be very courteous and professional. Have a portfolio handy of your best work.

Panel Interviews

An efficient format for meeting a candidate is a panel interview, in which perhaps four to five coworkers meet at the same time with a single interviewee. The coworkers compose the search committee or search panel, which may consist of different company representatives such as human resources, management, and staff. One advantage of this format for the committee is that meeting together gives them a common experience to reflect on afterward. In a panel interview, listen carefully to questions from each panelist, and try to connect fully with each panelist. Be sure to write down names and titles so you can send individual thank-you notes after the interview.

Serial Interviews

Serial interviews are a combination of one-on-one meetings with a group of interviewers, typically conducted as a series of meetings staggered throughout the day. Ordinarily this type of interview is for higher-level jobs, when it’s important to meet at length with major stakeholders. If your interview process is designed this way, you will need to be ultra prepared as you will be answering many in-depth questions. Stay alert.

Lunch Interviews

In some higher-level positions, candidates are taken to lunch or dinner, especially if this is a second interview (a call back interview). If this is you, count yourself lucky and be on your best behavior because even if the lunch meeting is unstructured and informal, it’s still an official interview. Do not order an alcoholic beverage and use your best table manners. You are not expected to pay or even to offer to pay. But, as always, you must send a thank-you note.

Group Interviews

Group interviews comprise several interviewees and perhaps only one or two interviewers who may make a presentation to the assembled group. This format allows an organization to quickly prescreen candidates. It also gives candidates a chance to quickly learn about the company. As with all interview formats, you are being observed. How do you behave with your group? Do you assume a leadership role? Are you quiet but attentive? What kind of personality is the company looking for? A group interview may reveal these traits.

For a summary of the interview formats we’ve just covered (and a few additional ones), take a look at the following video, Job Interview Guide—10 Different Types of Interviews in Today’s Modern World.

You can view the transcript for “Job Interview Guide – 10 Different Types of Interviews in Today’s Modern World” here (opens in new window).

Interview Questions

For most job candidates, the burning question is, “What will I be asked?” There’s no way to anticipate every single question that may arise during an interview. It’s possible that, no matter how well prepared you are, you may get a question you just didn’t expect. But that’s okay. Do as much preparation as you can—which will build your confidence—and trust that the answers will come.

To help you reach that point of sureness and confidence, take time to review common interview questions. Think about your answers. Make notes, if that helps, then conduct a practice interview with a friend, a family member, or a colleague. Say your answers out loud. Below is a list of resources that contain common interview questions and good explanations/answers you might want to adopt.

Common Questions

Questions to Get to Know You

At the beginning of an interview, interviewers will ask simple questions to put you at ease and get to know you. Your answers to these typee of questions are important to establish your fit into the company culture. You could be asked questions like,

• “Tell me about yourself.”
• “What do you think are your greatest strengths?”
• “What do you like to do in your spare time?”

Questions to Determine Your Level of Interest

These questions are designed to allow the interviewer to gauge your level of interest in the job position and company. Companies want to understand the candidate’s motivation for pursuing the position. Here are some examples of these type of questions:

• “Why do you want to work for [company name]?”
• “What do you know about our company?”
• “How did you find out about the position?”

Questions about Your Experience

As the questions get more specific, the interviewer will try to learn more about the experience and accomplishments listed on your cover letter and resume.

• “Describe your accomplishments during your last job.”
• “What is your most memorable experience so far in your career?”
• “What did you enjoy most in your last position?”

Questions Regarding the Future

When employers try to get candidates to reveal more about themselves, they tend to ask questions regarding the future. This can sometimes throw off a candidate who has not prepared some answers in advance.

• “Where do you see yourself in five years?”
• “How do you think you will contribute to this company?”
• “What would you plan to accomplish if given this position?”

Situational Questions

Companies ask these questions to learn how a candidate thinks. The interviewer will create a hypothetical scenario and ask how the candidate would react to it.

• “A colleague has told you in confidence that she thinks another employee is stealing. How would you handle that?”
• “You receive a call from an irate customer complaining about the lack of good customer service with your company. What would you say to that customer?”
• “A fellow employee is very unhappy with the changes being made to the company. He is being obstructive and unhelpful. How would you handle the situation?”

Behavioral Questions

These questions are aimed at getting the candidate to tell stories and usually begin with “Tell me about a time . . .” or “Describe a time when . . . .” Here are some examples:

• “Describe a time when you worked in a successful team.”
• “Tell me when you were faced with a challenge and how you overcame it.”
• “Give me an example of how you had to use persuasion to accomplish a difficult task.”

Why Should We Hire You

From the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business Career Management Office, here is a video featuring representatives from recruiting companies offering advice for answering the question, “Why should we hire you?” As you watch, make mental notes about how you would answer the question in an interview for a job you really want.

You can view the transcript for “‘Why Should We Hire You?’ How to Answer this Interview Question” here (opens in new window).

In closing, below is the final excerpt from the essay “It’s Like Online Dating” by Jackie Vetrano. The writer compares job hunting—including résumé creation and cover-letter writing—to online dating. In this last section, she concludes with a look at the job interview and compares it to a first date.