Reflect on your strengths
If you have received an interview offer, you are among a select group of applicants that advanced to this stage of the hiring process! Before coming into an interview, reflect on your strengths, interests and abilities and highlight what sets you apart as a candidate.
If you have taken the CliftonStrengths assessment, review your talent themes, and consider how you have used them in past experiences. Employers are seeking self-aware candidates who understand how they best perform and what make them unique from others.
Research and prepare
Company research
Before coming into an interview, know everything you can about the company and position. Here are some of the actions you can take to get to know a potential employer:
- Check its website for an ‘About’ page, mission, and annual reports
- Browse its social media for new projects or initiatives
- Reach out to current employees through LinkedIn
- Look up its ranking on sites like Forbes and Best Companies lists
- Read the experiences of current and former employees on Glassdoor
Logistics
If interviewing in-person, know where to go and what to bring. Ideally, arrive 15 minutes early and plan your transportation in advance. Bring copies of your resume, references, and portfolio, if applicable.
For remote interviews, make sure you have a location with a strong Wi-Fi connection, good lighting, minimal distractions, and a clean, uncluttered background.
Attire
Almost every interview requires business professional dress unless you are told otherwise. This includes a suit, nice shoes, minimal accessories, and an overall polished appearance. Consult our resources and take advantage of Truman’s Closet to borrow professional attire free-of-charge.
Types of interviews
There are different types of interviews you may encounter in your search process:
Screening
A phone or virtual session at the beginning of the process to determine if you should move on in the hiring process. Expect to be asked about your salary and benefit requirements in addition to traditional interview questions.
One-on-one
The most common type of interview, which can be free-flowing or structured. Candidates will be asked a series of questions about their career goals, skills, and experience.
Panel
A group of interviewers ask questions. This is common when seeking input from multiple areas, or if you’ll be working with various teams who all want a say in the hire. Panel members will often take turns asking questions.
Group
Some jobs will screen candidates by interviewing groups of candidates at once, often asking for them to discuss a topic, take turns answering a question, or observing them completing a team project.
Competency
Competency interviews use targeted questions to analyze whether you have specific skills and qualifications related to the position. They often include behavioral questions (ex. “Tell me about a time when…”)
Case
Common in business and management consulting, candidates are presented with a hypothetical business situation and asked to think through a problem and explain how they would solve it.