

Getting invited to a job interview got you all excited at first. But now you worry about wearing your shirt back to front. Learn how to prepare for an interview to avoid that.
You felt like a great fit for the position, but suddenly, the moment you shook hands with the recruiter, the confidence faded away. Words wouldn’t make sense, and the questions just exhausted you. Plus, that coffee stain that wasn’t there this morning.
All of this could’ve been avoided.
Learn how to prepare for an interview, and turn those stressful meetings into enjoyable chats.
This guide will show you:
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Need other interview tips? See these guides:
These steps sound relatively easy. But how exactly do you complete all of them? Read on and learn how to prepare for a job interview in detail. I’ll explain each step!
You emailed your resume to 20 companies, and you got lucky—five of them invited you for an interview! But now, sitting in the hall just before the meeting, you realize you don’t remember the position offered or the posted salary.
Is this how you prepare for interviews? Certainly not! It’s crucial to check the job advertisement.
This is how to read the job offer in detail:
If some things aren’t clear after reading the ad, write them down. It’s good to ask questions during the interview—they show you’re interested in the position.
Pro Tip: Try to find out if this position was posted on other job portals—don’t rely on a single ad. Companies often post on several boards, and there might be differences between each. You can also learn if this position was advertised in the past. That might also give you more information about the position and the company.
A one-size-fits-all resume is a thing of the past. If you successfully applied for a job and got invited to an interview, there’s a pretty good chance your resume was curated specifically for the job offer. Now it’s time to have a close look at it again. Especially considering that many recruiters ask candidates to give a walkthrough of their resume.
When reading your resume, focus on:
Did you use a creative approach to truth in your resume? I hope not. Lying on a resume is a very bad idea. Read more: Can You Lie in a Job Application?
When making a resume in our builder, drag & drop bullet points, skills, and auto-fill the boring stuff. Spell check? Check. Start building a professional resume template here for free.
When you’re done, our professional resume builder will score your resume and our resume checker will tell you exactly how to make it better.
Wondering how to prepare for interview questions? You might be surprised that it can be quite easy. Most interview questions are very common. You don't need to pay $5 to the psychic at the corner of your street to predict them.
Here are some of the most popular interview questions you can use to prepare for an interview:
Consider all those questions carefully and prepare detailed answers. Of course, don’t recite them during the interview; you’ll sound ”canned.” And don’t say that you hate your current boss—it won’t get you very far.
The tricky questions are the ones related to your profession. They can be much more difficult to predict. But that doesn’t mean you can’t prepare yourself at all!
Check the below list of steps to take when preparing for questions related to your industry or profession:
Remember that the questions from the interviewer aren’t the only questions that should pop up during the meeting. It’s good to ask questions at the end of the interview. It proves that the candidate considered the position carefully. Prepare a few questions you could ask before the meeting.
Had bad experiences with job interview questions before? You don’t have to answer questions that make you uncomfortable—some of them might even be illegal. Read more: 50+ Questions an Employer Cannot Ask
If you’re wondering how to prepare for an interview with a company you know nothing about, I’ve got advice for you. And it’s a short one: learn everything about it.
Sounds impossible?
Well, then, it’s time to be selective. You don’t need the names of all employees and the secretary’s cat. But you need a general outlook of the business you might work for.
You need to know the following:
This information is valuable not only because you can use it during the interview, but it will also give you a better understanding of the job. Imagine finding out the company has much negative press due to mobbing, bad work conditions, absurd workplace surveillance, or not paying their employees on time. You’d like to know that before accepting the job, right? Better late than never.
But wait—how to prepare for an internal interview?
Actually, it’s even easier. You already know the company, and, most likely, you know the manager doing an interview. And even if you don’t—you can ask your colleagues if they know them. You might get great insights.
Pro Tip: Businesses listed as publicly traded companies publish press releases regularly. It’s worth checking them to get information about the business's current operations and planned growth. This can give you valuable insight into the financial conditions of the company as well as possible future opportunities.
“So, tell us about yourself!”
It’s a question everybody hates. What exactly do you say? If you talk about your professional background, you’ll sound uninteresting. If you say something about your interests, you might come across as unprofessional. Catch-22-type of situation.
That’s why it’s important to prepare your answer beforehand. And this is how:
Try writing a few introductions first, and then read them aloud. They should sound natural, like an elevator pitch. Don’t make your introduction too long—it’s not supposed to be a TED talk.
Need more tips to build an impressive introduction for a job interview? Read here: How to Answer ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ Question
Planning on putting on your favorite power suit? Great idea! But when was the last time you wore it? At your cousin’s wedding? The one where someone spilled a glass on you? Mishaps like this happen all the time, but you don’t want them to happen when your career depends on it.
Here’s how to prepare for an interview in terms of appearance:
These tips are pretty useful for all life situations, right? You’d probably follow these same steps if preparing for a date with the love of your life!
Pro Tip: Do not overdress. Remember to feel comfortable in your clothing. You might be tempted to wear brand-new leather shoes, but if they hurt your toes, you won’t feel great during the meeting. Also, consider the type of job you applied for. You don’t need to wear a designer dress and high heels to an interview for a position at a fast-food restaurant.
You’re on your way to the meeting. You just wanted to check the exact address on Google Maps. So you put a hand in your pocket, but instead of finding your phone, you just find an empty bubble gum wrapper.
Uh-oh. You left your phone at home.
You can easily avoid such drama. Just pack your things in advance, like you’d pack your stuff when going on a dream holiday.
Here’s what to bring to a job interview:
It’s good practice also to ask the recruiter if you need to bring anything specific for the interview. For example, if you apply for a creative job, they may ask you for a physical portfolio with copies of your works. Others may ask for a list of references. It’s best to check in advance!
Just realized you’re doing a phone interview instead of an in-person one? Check here: 10+ Tips for a Phone Interview
You’re on your way to the company headquarters. You spend the time behind the wheel revising everything you’ve learned about the business. And then it happens. You make a right turn, and you notice roadworks. There’s a traffic jam extending for a few miles.
It’s clear to see why planning your route beforehand is important.
Here’s how to make sure you arrive for the job interview on time:
Is this the second interview stage already? Check here: Sample Questions for the Second Interview
This might be the most difficult step.
You know everything about the job and the company. You’re prepared. But how to mentally prepare for an interview?
There’s nothing wrong with feeling stressed. Stress is actually a pretty good motivator. But only if it appears at manageable levels. Otherwise, it can turn even the smartest candidate into a babbling mess.
How do you handle stressful situations? Do you thrive in them? Or do they push your limits too hard?
Learn how to prepare yourself mentally for an interview not to get surprised by high-stress levels:
Need more stress management tips? Check here: How to Cope with Stress
Congratulations, you survived your job interview! It wasn’t that bad, was it? So, how did it go? Are you writing a goodbye email to your colleagues already?
Some job interviews are a total nightmare. But some are actually quite pleasant. And if you enjoyed yours, it might be a great idea to send a follow-up email after the meeting. This way, instead of impatiently waiting for any sign from the company, you can keep the conversation going.
According to research on the power of thank-you emails after a job interview, 1 in 5 recruiters dismiss candidates who haven’t sent one. Shocking, right?
Of course, it may also turn out that, after consideration, you don’t want this job. It’s also OK to send a thank-you email and politely decline the job offer.
If the interview went really well, you might feel ready to leave your current job. But leaving on a good note might be more difficult than you think. Read more: How to Leave Your Job
Plus, a great cover letter that matches your resume will give you an advantage over other candidates. You can write it in our cover letter builder here. Here's what it may look like:
See more cover letter templates and start writing.
These steps will tell you how to prepare for an interview quickly and easily:
That’s all! Now, I’d love to hear from you:
Let me know in the comments below. Thanks for reading!
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