Interview Prep

Interview prep

 

You worked really hard to land that interview. Congratulations! Now you need to prepare. 

Interview preparation is about much more than just thinking about your answers. 

The more you prepare, the more relaxed and authentic you will be during the interview. 

Review these steps to understand how to get ready for your moment in the spotlight! 

 

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Interviewing 101 Quick Start

There is a LOT of content about interviewing on our website, because it's so important.

Much of that content (plus additional information) has been aggregated into an easier-to-read Interviewing 101 PDF. 

➡️ Click here to download Interviewing 101 Quick Start

 

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Write Down Your SOAR Stories

Before any interview, you'll want to capture several concise SOAR stories (Situation, Obstacle/Opportunity, Action You Took, and the Positive Result). These structured examples should highlight your impact, not just your activity. Use quantifiable outcomes whenever possible. Focus on skills relevant to the role you’re interviewing for. 

Writing these down is a great idea, as it helps to clarify your thinking and also helps you to remember them. 

Do Your Research

The Company

Go beyond the company website. Read recent news, blog posts, press releases, and financial reports. Review their LinkedIn page and follow them for updates. Study the leadership team and understand the company’s mission, values, and current initiatives. Knowing the context helps you ask smarter questions and connect your experience to their goals. Use our AI Prompts to help.

Your Interviewers

If you are provided the names of your interviewers, read their LinkedIn profiles, posts, and recommendations. 

The Role

Study the job posting carefully. Identify the core responsibilities, required skills, and keywords. Don't ignore the top portion, it often contains important information about the company and the role. If it's poorly written, use AI to help decipher it. Better yet, if you have a contact, ask them what the TRUE requirements are. 

The Interview

Check the websites Glassdoor or Comparably to see what prior candidates said about the interview process. Use AI tools to analyze the job posting and create a list of possible interview questions. 

Understand Your Fit

When you understand the role, you can appreciate which strengths, skills, experiences, and achievements make you a great fit.  

Use AI to Help

Use the Gap Analysis prompt below to highlight strengths and any gaps you might need to address. 

Strengths

Review the output above, and select what YOU consider your 3 key strengths related to the role and note (when relevant) how you've demonstrated these in past experiences. Every applicant interviewed will likely have the ability to do the job, but they all bring different strengths. These could be a skill, a personal quality, industry experience, or other strengths. Think broadly about your unique strengths for the role. 

Consider reviewing your CliftonStrengths results if you've done this assessment. This can provide confidence in articulating your strengths. 

Gaps

You may have some gaps vs. the job requirements that you'll need to overcome. Think about how you'll answer this question before the interview. Try the Brutally Honest Job Fit Prompt linked below. 

You'll also want to identify genuine but not significant general "weaknesses." Think "I sometimes rush to finish projects quickly without asking for enough feedback," NOT something like "I'm too driven." If asked this question, address the weakness and how you are addressing it. 

Anticipate Interview Questions

There are many common interview questions. See below for a list of screening interviews and another for hiring manager interviews.

Why Did You Leave Your Last Job? 

This can be tricky. Layoffs are easier to explain, but in all cases stick to the facts and keep it short and to the point. 

Acceptable answers revolve around: 

  • RIF/layoffs
  • Management change
  • Career progression
  • Personal/family change
  • Career or purpose clarity

Conclude with a future focus: why this role and/or company fit what you are looking for. 

Other Common Questions

Review the list below plus the links at the bottom of the page to understand these questions, and prepare answers. 

Use AI to Generate Job-Specific Questions

Use the prompt linked at the bottom of the page to help get a list of possible questions related to the specific job requirements.

Understand Your Nonverbal Communication

Your background, camera placement, attire, smile, and how you are seated all communicate lots about who are you are as a professional. Don't neglect these important factors!  

  • Match your interviewer’s rhythm/energy
  • Listen closely
  • Monitor and control nervous tics (like pen clicking, hair twirling)
  • Open your body language (no crossed arms/legs)
  • Smile and show enthusiasm
  • Maintain good posture/lean forward
  • Use eye contact to connect (look at the camera)
  • See the guide below for more great tips about nonverbal communication!

Plan Your Outfit

Interview attire is a strategic decision. It's a sign of respect to your interviewers, and a signal that you care (a lot) about this opportunity. 

A general rule of thumb is to dress one step above whatever the typical work attire is at that company. You can look at their website, ask the recruiter, or ask networking contacts for more information. Paying attention to details is another signal that you care and that you are detail-oriented: shoes cleaned and shined, sleeves not too long, simple accessories. An outfit that makes you feel confident (think about a blazer!) will help you to project confidence. These rules apply whether your interview is virtual or in-person. See the links below for more detailed information. 

Create Interview Tools to Shine

See our page on Interview Tools for more information about Portfolios and 30/60/90 Day Plans that will impress and make you stand out from other applicants. 

Stop Researching!

It may seem counterintuitive, but many job seekers overprepare for interviews. Prepare up until the day before, then take a break. Use the time immediately before your interview to engage in deep breathing, stretching, taking a walk, or doing another activity that will help calm your nerves. 

 

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Plan Your Answers

Write Down Your SOAR Stories

SOAR (Situation/Task/Action/Result) stories are essential in your search. They are essentially the same as CAR, PAR, or STAR stories: you are setting the context, talking about YOUR actions, and focusing on the positive result. Spend significant time writing them down. Don't expect to remember them on the fly! 

Map Your SOAR Stories to Common Questions

Tailor some SOAR (Situation/Task/Action/Result) stories to key themes interviewers care about: teamwork, leadership, conflict resolution, time management, adaptability, and results:

  • “Tell me about a time you faced a significant challenge.”
  • “Describe a successful project you led.”
  • “Give an example of a mistake you made and how you handled it.”

See the list of common questions below. 

Try the CARL Approach to Highlight a Growth Mindset

CARL stands for Context/Action/Result/Learning. In this answer you not only highlight the positive result, but also what you learned from the experience. This can be a powerful message and differentiate you from other candidates. It doesn't work for every answer, but when it does it can be quite impactful. 

Use This Communication Tool to Structure Your Answers

OPENING STATEMENT + DETAILS/STORY + CLOSING STATEMENT

Q: Tell us about your approach to communicating with diverse audiences. 

OPENING STATEMENT: My driving value in all communications is empathy. 

DETAILS/STORY: For example... [SOAR story about how you have used empathy to understand many different points of view]. 

CLOSING STATEMENT: Empathy helps me to ensure communications messaging hits all our audiences in a way that encourages them to embrace the message. 

This structure can be used to answer many types of interview questions. If it's a behavioral question such as "Tell us about a time you had to resolve a conflict," rather than launching immediately into your story, start with the opening statement (your overall approach to this problem), then tell a SOAR story, then use a closing statement to wrap up. 

Using this tool helps you to organize your thoughts and prevents rambling. It also helps by giving you a decisive way to close.

 

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10 Common Screening Interview Questions

Recruiters typically conduct initial screenings to quickly assess if a candidate meets the basic qualifications, salary expectations, and overall fit for the company culture before passing them on to the hiring manager.

  1. "Tell me about yourself." / "Walk me through your resume."
    • Purpose: To get a concise overview of your professional journey, highlight key experiences, and understand your motivations for applying.

    • Tip: Focus on relevant experiences and how they connect to the role you're applying for.

       

  2. "Why are you looking for a new job?" / "Why are you leaving your current role?"
    • Purpose: To understand your motivation for a change and identify any potential red flags (e.g., constantly switching jobs, negative comments about past employers).

    • Tip: Focus on growth, new challenges, or alignment with company values, avoiding negativity about previous roles or employers.

       

  3. "What do you know about our company/this role?" / "Why do you want to work here?"
    • Purpose: To gauge your interest level, how much research you've done, and if you understand the company's mission and the role's responsibilities.

    • Tip: Demonstrate genuine interest by mentioning specific aspects of the company or role that resonate with you.

       

  4. "What are your salary expectations?"
    • Purpose: To ensure your requirements align with the company's budget for the position.

    • Tip: Research salary ranges (see our Salary/Negotiation page). You can provide a range or, if comfortable, state your desired figure. Sometimes it's best to turn the question back to them and ask about the salary range for the role. Don't be afraid to talk salary if you know your worth. You don't want to end up with an offer you don't want.

       

  5. "What are your greatest strengths?"
    • Purpose: To understand what you believe you excel at and how those strengths might benefit the role.

    • Tip: Highlight strengths relevant to the job description and provide brief examples. Always remember to use: "for example..."

       

  6. "What are your weaknesses?"
    • Purpose: To assess your self-awareness and your ability to address areas for improvement.

    • Tip: Choose a genuine weakness that isn't critical to the job, and explain how you're actively working to overcome it. Avoid cliché answers like "I'm a perfectionist."

       

  7. "What are your career aspirations?" / "Where do you see yourself in 3-5 years?"
    • Purpose: To understand your long-term goals and whether they align with potential growth opportunities within the company.

    • Tip: Show ambition and a desire for continued learning and contribution, ideally within a company like theirs.

       

  8. "Describe your current job responsibilities."
    • Purpose: To get a clearer picture of your day-to-day tasks and ensure they align with the requirements of the new role.

    • Tip: Focus on responsibilities that are most relevant to the job you're interviewing for.

       

  9. "Are you currently interviewing with other companies?"
    • Purpose: To gauge your level of activity in the job market and potentially understand how quickly they might need to move in the hiring process.

    • Tip: Be honest but brief. You don't need to disclose specific companies, but it's fine to say you're exploring other opportunities.

       

  10. "Do you have any questions for me?"
    • Purpose: To assess your engagement, curiosity, and whether you've thought deeply about the role and company.
    • Tip: Always have thoughtful questions prepared about the role, team, company culture, or next steps in the hiring process.

 

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10 Common Hiring Manager Interview Questions

Hiring managers dive deeper into your soft skills, problem-solving abilities, and how you would fit into their specific team and company culture. While they will ask job-specific questions, these general ones are almost always part of the conversation:

  1. "Tell me about a time when you failed/made a mistake. How did you handle it, and what did you learn?"
    • Purpose: To assess your ability to learn from mistakes, take responsibility, and adapt.

    • Tip: Tell a story. Choose a genuine, but not catastrophic, mistake and focus on the lessons learned.

       

  2. "Describe a challenging situation you faced at work and how you overcame it."
    • Purpose: To understand your problem-solving skills, resilience, and how you navigate difficult circumstances.

    • Tip: Again, tell a story. Focus on the actions you took and the positive outcome.

       

  3. "How do you handle conflict with a colleague or manager?"
    • Purpose: To assess your interpersonal skills, ability to communicate effectively, and conflict resolution strategies.

    • Tip: Emphasize a constructive approach, focusing on understanding perspectives and finding solutions.

       

  4. "How do you prioritize your work when you have multiple deadlines?"
    • Purpose: To evaluate your organizational skills, time management, and ability to perform under pressure.

    • Tip: Explain your system (e.g., urgent vs. important, communication with stakeholders) and provide an example.

       

  5. "What motivates you in a job?" / "Why do you want this job?"
    • Purpose: To understand what drives your performance beyond just a paycheck and whether those motivators align with the role and company culture.

    • Tip: Think about professional growth, challenging projects, teamwork, making an impact, or learning new skills.

       

  6. "Describe your ideal work environment/management style."
    • Purpose: To determine if your preferences align with the team and company culture, and if you would thrive in their environment.

    • Tip: Be honest but flexible. Focus on positive aspects like collaboration, autonomy, or clear communication.

       

  7. "Tell me about a time you went above and beyond for a project or task."
    • Purpose: To see your initiative, dedication, and willingness to exceed expectations.

    • Tip: Provide a specific example using the STAR method that demonstrates your commitment.

       

  8. "How do you stay updated on industry trends/learn new skills?"
    • Purpose: To assess your intellectual curiosity, commitment to continuous learning, and adaptability.

    • Tip: Mention specific resources, courses, or activities you engage in.

       

  9. "What do you look for in a team?" / "How do you contribute to a positive team environment?"
    • Purpose: To understand your team-player mentality and how you collaborate with others.

    • Tip: Emphasize communication, support, shared goals, and accountability.

       

  10. "Do you have any questions for me?"
    • Purpose: This is crucial for hiring managers too. It shows your genuine interest and helps you gather information to decide if the role is a good fit for you.
    • Tip: Ask insightful questions that show you've thought about the team, projects, challenges, and success metrics.

 

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5 Less Common Interview Questions

Sometimes interviews like to surprise you with unexpected questions. They want to get to know you as a whole person, not just a resume. 

Here are a few examples: 

  1. "What's the most significant risk you have ever taken, and what did you learn from it?"
    • Purpose: To assess your level of risk-taking and ability to learn from your actions.

    • Tip: Tell a story about a risk that paid off. Choose a personal or professional risk.

       

  2. "What three adjectives would your boss use to describe you? What about your colleagues?"
    • Purpose: To assess your understanding of how you would add value in the role and to differentiate you from other well-qualified candidates.

    • Tip: Be prepared to discuss the strengths and have quick support or stories to tell about each. Of course, they should be highly relevant to the job.

       

  3. "What are you curious about and want to learn more about?"
    • Purpose: People who are active learners are essential in today's work environment. This goes deeper than just staying current in your field. What are the bigger questions you wonder about? E.g., How AI will affect the future workplace, or how to be a more effective leader.

    • Tip: Have specific steps in mind to learn more about how to explore these topics.

       

  4. "What do you enjoy the most about your work and what the least?"
    • Purpose: Whatever you enjoy is likely what you are best at. Plus, a motivated employee is more productive. Also, nobody likes every aspect of work, so it’s inauthentic to say there is nothing you don’t like.

    • Tip: What you like most should align with your strengths, and what you like least should be a small task or something you can say you are working to change. “I find large staff meetings tedious sometimes, but I try to make them more productive and enjoyable for everyone by…"

       

  5. "If you were a flavor of ice cream/tree/cookie, what would you pick and why?"
    • Purpose: To see how you react to a curveball or just because the interviewer is bored.

    • Tip: There are no wrong answers, just make it brief and try to smile and have fun with the answer.

       

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Be Ready to Ask Them Thoughtful Questions

Prepare 3–5 questions that show you’ve done your research and are thinking critically about the role. Ask about team dynamics, success metrics, current challenges, or what the company values most in employees. Don't ask about salary or benefits. Show genuine curiosity and interest. Remember that YOU are also evaluating THEM and whether this is a good fit. 

Examples: 

"What inefficiency or challenge do you most hope this hire will help solve?"
"What's the biggest challenge your team faced last quarter, and how did you work through it together?"
"What's something people who thrive here do differently from those who struggle?"
"What's one challenge the team is currently facing that I could help address in this role?"
"What is something I need to know about this role that is not in the job description?"
"What does the company do to support ongoing professional development and growth?"
"What are the main challenges people have faced in this role in the past, and what would you want a new hire to do differently to avoid or overcome those issues?

See the additional lists of possibilities in the Tools and Resources section below, or use AI (after providing the job posting for context) for ideas. 

For questions you can ask a recruiter during the initial screen, see the Recruiters page. 

 

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Prepare Your Video Interview Environment

Set yourself up for success by paying attention to details. 

Most interviews these days are virtual, so these tips are primarily related to online setup. 

  1. Ensure a quiet environment: no kids, pets, notification pings, and phone volume off.
  2. Check your lighting: Ensure there are no shadows, no ring light reflection on your glasses. Two lamps on either side of your monitor can help.  
  3. Use a neutral background: Bland but not boring. Yes: books, plants, blurred backgrounds. No: Ducks paraphernalia (what if they are Beavers?), fake backgrounds.
  4. Center your head and torso (don't sit too close), and look directly at the camera (not up or down).
  5. Use a good webcam: Your phone's camera may be better than your laptop's. Ask a friend to compare.
  6. Check your internet connection: If you encounter an issue, ask others to stop using your bandwidth during your interviews.
  7. Close any open tabs and programs:  Exit everything else for no distractions.
  8. Sit in a non-swivel chair: Some candidates can't help but swivel back and forth and it's distracting.
  9. Have a pencil and paper handy to take notes. Pens can be a distraction, especially if you have a habit of clicking them. 

  10. Use post-its on your monitor to create reminders: 1) Smile; 2) Use examples; 3) Look at the camera, not the interviewer. 

     

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Tools and Resources to Help You

Tools

Interview Attire Videos

AI Prompts 

Strength and Skill Assessments

Articles

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