Interview Guide

With only two to three percent of applicants receiving interviews after resume submission and a third of hiring managers knowing they would hire someone within the first 90 seconds of an interview, this stage in the job search process is of utmost importance. Follow this guide to better prepare, practice and perform during your interview.

• Seek background information: Know the company’s mission and vision and how this role continues to impact that work.
• Get perspective: What are the company's recent achievements? Have they been featured in any publications or launched new initatives? It is important to know this information.
• Understand the needs of the employer: Know the job description well and make a bulleted list of your skills and examples of meeting those needs.
• Know who will be in the room: If you’re given the name(s) of your interviewer(s), know who they are and what they do at the company. Think through how this position may interact with their position.
• Develop a list of questions: Have prepared and pick two or three of the most relevant questions to ask after you’ve completed your interview. Having trouble thinking of questions? Consider using an AI tool like ChatGPT or Gemini to help you create them. 

• Dress for success: You want the interviewer(s) to remember what you said, not what you wore. Dress for the position you want. Learn the company’s work attire policy and go one step up from that. Stick with plain, neutral colors or a single pop of color. Comfort converts to confidence. The more comfortable you feel in your clothing, the more it will translate to confidence in your nonverbal and verbal communication.
• Pack your bag: If it is an in-person interview, you should bring the following with you:
  • Resume and reference list (have a few copies!)
  • Notepad and pen
  • Business cards

• Don’t be late! Map out your route in advance and leave enough time for potential delays. Arrive to your destination 30 minutes early and enter the building 10-15 minutes before the start of your interview.

Interviewing is like a muscle, the more you practice and train, the stronger the muscle gets. Once you’ve completed your preparation phase, it’s essential to save time to practice so you can flex your interviewing muscles when you need to perform.

• Prepare a list of responses to commonly asked questions. 
  • Be prepared, not rehearsed.
  • Build a list of examples to use in your responses instead of memorizing answers.
• Talk out loud to yourself, a spouse, mentor or friend.
  • You may know what you want to say in your head, but wording matters. Saying things out loud can help you choose your words wisely and accurately.
• Record yourself or use an AI interviewing tool. 
  • Try recording yourself and play back your responses. Were they accurate and easy to follow? 
  • Did you highlight your skills and abilities? Did you give concrete examples that lead back to your professional experience?

Everything you’ve done up until this point has prepared you for this moment. Remind yourself of that before you enter your interview. Get a good night’s sleep, do something calming before your interview (like these power poses from Business Insider or a meditation from Youtube) to get yourself to a calm and confident state. Or check out these Ted Talk videos to get yourself hyped up.

Be aware of your body language:

• It only takes seven seconds for an impression to be made, so focus on how your body language can exude confidence and warmth.
• Maintain eye contact (when appropriate).
• Be mindful of your facial expressions.

Take notes: If you think you’ll forget names, roles, etc., write them down to refer back to them later in the interview or in thank you emails.

When responding: If you get an unexpected question, take a moment to think. Interviewers prefer thoughtful silence over rushed answers. Use the STAR method to build an answer. 

Don’t forget: you’re interviewing them, too!

• Use your list of prepared questions and address things like work culture, management styles, diversity, equity and inclusion practices. Steer clear of only asking about benefits.

Clarify the timeline: Do you know when you should hear about next steps?

Reflect and improve: Immediately after your interview, jot down a few notes while it’s still fresh. Make note of:

• Questions you stumbled on.
• Things you want to remember about your interviewers or the company.

Send a thank you note: Email or mail a handwritten letter 24-48 hours after your interview.

• Show appreciation for their time and thank them.
• Mention something specific you talked about in the interview.
• Express interest and excitement about the position.
• A thank you should be sent to everyone who you interviewed with.

If you do not move forward:

• Seek feedback from the employer if you did not get the job.
• Always maintain correspondence and express appreciation; you never know when they’ll be hiring again (and they could consider you for future positions).

Your Alumni Association is here to help you at any stage of your professional journey. Check out our Alumni Association career resources, Terp Career Guide, and some exclusive tips from Terps with years of experience in the industry.