Interviewing

An interview is your opportunity to bring your application to life. It’s a chance to show employers who you are beyond your resume, your attitude, your communication skills, and your enthusiasm for the job. Whether it’s your first interview or your tenth, preparation is key. This page will walk you through the essentials to help you feel confident and make a strong impression.

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An interview is a conversation between you and an employer to help determine if you're a good fit for the job and if the job is a good fit for you.

It's your chance to:

  • Show who you are beyond your application.
  • Explain your interest in the role and company.
  • Share examples of your skills and strengths.
  • Ask questions to learn more about the job.

Employers are not just looking for experience, they're also looking for attitude, willingness to learn, and how well you might fit into their team. Interviews are not tests to pass or fail, but opportunities to connect and grow.

Through the interview process, interviewers are interested in learning:

  • Who you are: Your background, interests, what motivates you, etc.
  • Why you applied: The match between what you can do/learn and what the job needs
  • Examples: Stories from your life (school, volunteer work, team sports, family responsibilities, etc.) that show your skills
  • How you work with others, solve problems, overcome challenges
  • Your attitude: Willingness to learn, reliability, being positive, being a team player, etc.

Understanding the format helps you prepare the right way.

Common types include:

  • In-person interviews – You meet face-to-face with an employer, typically at their location. It's often the final step; dress professionally and arrive early.
  • Phone interviews – A quick screening over the phone. Find a quiet spot and have your resume in front of you. Be ready to talk about your experience and availability.
  • Video interviews – Typically done through a computer or smartphone using platforms like Zoom or Google Meet. Dress like it’s in person; check your background, lighting, and tech.
  • Group interviews - You are interviewed with other candidates at the same time.
  • Panel interviews – You are interviewed by more than one person at once. Stay calm, make eye contact, and engage with all panelists.

Preparation builds confidence. There are several aspects to preparing for an interview.

  • Know the Company: Research what they do, their values, and why you want to work there
  • Know the Job: Read the job description carefully and understand what they are looking for.
  • Know Yourself: Identify the top skills & experiences you have in relation to the job you are applying for.
  • Practice Common Questions: Use a friend, family member or a mirror to practice.
  • Plan Your Outfit: Choose clean, professional, and appropriate clothing.
  • Bring What You Need: Extra copies of your resume (even if you already submitted it), a notepad & pen, and a list of references if needed.
  • Plan Your Route: Know the location and how you will get there. Plan to arrive at least 10 minutes early. Doing a test run on an earlier date can help you make sure you feel fully prepared and know where you are going.
  • Come Prepared With Questions: It's important to ask questions of the employer at the end of an interview. We recommend having at least 1-2 questions prepared. Avoid asking questions about pay/compensation. These are best to ask when a job offer has been made.

Use our Preparing for the Big Day Worksheet to help you prepare!

Interviews often include different types of questions. Knowing what type you're being asked helps you give stronger answers. Below are four common question types, plus strategy tips, and sample common questions you’ll want to be ready for.

Types of Interview Questions:

Direct: Straightforward questions about you, your background, what you can do, your qualifications. Usually factual or about your opinions, strengths/weaknesses, etc. These check basic fit & facts.

Problem Solving: Questions that ask you to think through a problem, either hypothetical or based on real experience. They test how you analyze, decide, troubleshoot.

Open Ended: Broad questions with no single “right answer”. They give you room to talk, explain, show personality, motivations, values, and how you think.

Situational/Behavioral: Ask about things you have done in the past (“Tell me about a time when….”) to show how you behave and/or how you handle situations. Tip: Use the STAR approach for answering these questions. Situation, Task, Action, Result.

Why These Matter
  • Different types allow employers to learn different things about you: character, how you respond under pressure, whether you reflect and learn, whether you are a team-player, etc.
  • If you recognize what kind of question you are being asked, you can choose the best way to organize your answer.
  • Being prepared with examples (from school, volunteering, sports, life, etc.) will help especially with behavioral/situational and problem-solving questions.
Common Questions You'll Likely Hear

Here are several that come up often. It's good to think through responses in advance:

  • “Tell me about yourself.”

  • “Why do you want to work here?”

  • “What are your strengths?”

  • “Tell me about a time you solved a problem.”

  • “How do you handle working with others?”

Strategy Tips for Answering
  1. Be specific. Give examples with real details: what you did, how you did it, what happened. Even if you don’t have paid work experience, you can draw on group projects, volunteer work, sports, school.
  2. Use the STAR method for behavioral or situational questions:
    Situation → Task → Action → Result.
    This helps you tell clear, structured stories.
  3. Link your answers to the job. Show how your example or strength fits what this job requires.
  4. Practice hard / prepare several stories. Think about 3-5 past situations you can pull from: maybe times you resolved conflict, worked under pressure, learned something new, showed leadership, etc.
  5. Stay honest and positive. If you don’t have an example, you can say so and then explain what you would do, or draw on a closely related situation. Employers often appreciate honesty and effort.
  6. Keep answers balanced in length. Not too short (vague), not too long (rambling). Aim for clarity, include what matters, leave out small clutter.

Check out common questions and sample responses in our Answering Common Questions Guide

Employers will sometimes ask questions that require you to share mistakes, conflicts, or weaknesses.  How can you tell the truth about your blunders without blowing the entire interview?!

Be prepared!  Hoping that you will not be asked these questions is not a plan for dealing with them!

Our team has developed a guide to help you craft responses to some of the more challenging questions you may encounter in an interview.

It's ok to pause and gather your thoughts. It's ok to not know all of the answers, what matters is how you deal with it. Be honest yet thoughtful and show your willingness to learn. Don't say no or make something up. Instead, ask for a clarifying question or more information. Examples:

  • "I haven't faced that situation before, but here's how I think I would handle it..."
  • "I haven't experienced that, however, I'd be very interested in learning more about it and the appropriate way to handle that situation"
  • "I'd love to form a thoughtful answer to this question. Would you mind if we return to it at the end of the interview?"
  • "Are you asking for an example of when I've used that skill?"

Dress appropriately to make a good first impression. We recommend the "one step above" rule. Dress one step nicer than what would be required for the position you are interviewing for.

Recommendations for what to wear for an interview:

  • Choose clean, neat clothing that fits well.
  • Shower beforehand and avoid utilizing products with strong fragrances.
  • Avoid hats, hoodies, ripped clothing, or anything too casual.
  • If you’re unsure, it’s better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.
  • Reach out to local organizations or your school if you need help accessing interview clothing.

In an interview, both your verbal responses and your non-verbal cues contribute to your overall interview.

Non-Verbal Tips to Consider:

  • Smile and make eye contact, but don't stare.
  • Offer a firm handshake if appropriate.
  • Sit up straight.
  • Avoid fidgeting, chewing gum, or slouching.
  • Nod and smile when appropriate to show you're listening.
  • Speak clearly and at a steady pace.
  • Show enthusiasm for the role and company.

As you finish up your interview it's an opportunity for you to clarify next steps and express your gratitude. Below are some topics you may want to address and questions/comments that can help address them.

Hiring timeline and process:

  • "When do you expect to make a decision?"
  • "What happens after the interview in your hiring process?"

When will you hear back?:

  • "When can I expect to hear from you?"
  • "What days will you be holding second round interviews?"
  • "Do you plan to contact all candidates to notify them when you've made a decision?"

Set up a point of contact:

  • "Who can I contact about the hiring timeline?"
  • "How do you prefer I reach out?"

Express appreciation for the opportunity:

  • "Thank you for your time, I enjoyed our discussion."
  • "Thank you for taking the time to speak with me today."

Express your interest and desire for the position:

  • "I'd love to be part of the team!"
  • "After our discussion of the position, I am confident I would be a great fit."
  • "I would love to join your team to help reach your goals."
  • "Is there anything else I can tell you about my background to help you make your decision?"
  • I'd love to be seriously considered for this position."

When the interview is complete, be sure to thank the interviewing for their time. The conversation doesn’t end when you walk out the door. After the interview:

  • Send a thank-you email or note  within 24 hours.
  • Reflect on what went well and what you can improve.
  • Be patient, but feel free to follow up after a week if you haven’t heard back.

Sample thank you note following an interview:

Hello [interviewer's name(s)],

I wanted to express my gratitude for you hosting me in an interview yesterday. Meeting you and your team and hearing more details about the position made me feel even more excited about the possibility of working at [company name].

I appreciate the opportunity, and sincerely thank you for your time,

[your name]

[phone number]

[email]

  • Giving very vague answers ("I'm good with people", without examples).
  • Talking about things that are not relevant to the job.
  • Over- or under-selling yourself.
  • Being unprepared: not knowing the company name, what job you applied for, etc.
  • Arriving late, dressing too casually, forgetting to say thank you.
  • Using too many filler words: "um", "like", "you know"