Interview prep comes down to three things: knowing the company and the role, having a few real stories ready to tell, and showing up with questions of your own.
What to Research Beforehand
- The company — what it actually does, any recent news, and its stated mission. The “About” page and a quick news search are usually enough.
- The role — reread the job posting and note the responsibilities and skills it emphasizes most. Expect questions about each.
- Your interviewer, if you know who it is — a quick look at their professional profile is normal preparation.
Being able to say something specific about why this role and this company interest you reads as real interest in a way that general enthusiasm doesn’t.
Answering “Tell Me About a Time When…”
Use the STAR structure:
- Situation — the context, in a sentence or two.
- Task — what needed to happen.
- Action — what you did. Spend most of your answer here, and talk about your part, not the team’s.
- Result — how it turned out, ideally with a concrete detail or number.
Prepare two or three real stories that can stretch to fit several common questions: a problem you solved, a time you worked in a team, and a mistake you learned from. Class projects, clubs, volunteering and part-time jobs all count.
Tip: Practice your answers out loud, not just in your head — with a friend, or by recording yourself on your phone. It’s the fastest way to hear where you ramble.
What to Wear
When in doubt, dress one step more formal than the company’s everyday dress code. Check their website or social media for a sense of it, or ask whoever scheduled the interview. It’s easier to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.
What to Bring
- A few printed copies of your resume, even if you applied online.
- A notepad and pen.
- Your list of questions to ask.
- A portfolio or work samples, if they’re relevant to the role.
For a Video Interview
Test your camera, microphone and connection the day before, using the same app. Sit facing a window or a lamp, choose a plain background, close other apps and silence notifications. Join a few minutes early.
Questions to Ask at the End
Always ask something — having no questions can read as low interest. Good options:
- What does success look like in this role after the first 90 days?
- What’s the team’s biggest challenge right now?
- What do you enjoy most about working here?
After the Interview
Send a short thank-you email within a day, mentioning something specific from your conversation. It’s a small step that many candidates skip — which makes it easy to be remembered for.
Common Mistakes
- Criticizing a previous employer, professor or teammate. Even when it’s deserved, it raises doubts about you. Describe the situation factually and focus on what you did about it.
- Rambling through a story without reaching what you did. Interviewers are listening for your action and its result.
- Having no questions of your own.
- Treating a video interview as more casual than an in-person one.