​​Ace your next interview with our interview preparation checklist

It’s exciting to have a job interview. After all, that’s the first step toward getting a new job! Like everything else in your job hunt, however, you need to be organized and prepared. You might think, “I’ve had interviews before, so I can just wing it.” Here’s the thing, though: You might be able to improvise and do well, but why risk it? 

If this job is important to you, it’s much better to go into the interview prepared. But where do you start? In this article, we’ll cover everything that should be on your job interview preparation checklist—before, during, and after—to ensure you’ve done everything possible to put your best foot forward.

Before your interview

There’s a lot of “prep work” to be done before an interview, but it’s not as overwhelming as you might think. Ideally, you’ll want to begin some of this prep work before you start sending out resumes, but you’ll be fine if you haven’t. 

An important tip: Don’t “blow off” this part of the preparation. It’s tempting to think that you already know everything you need to know, since you’ll be talking mostly about yourself. However, there’s more to interview prep than that, so it’s important to do your homework.

If you need additional help, consider career.io’s Interview Prep service, which will provide you with three levels of AI-guided, personalized interview questions and real-time feedback designed to boost your confidence and help you develop the skills you need to ace any interview situation.

Here are the seven steps in the “before” section of your job interview preparation checklist:

1. Do your research

Even within the same industry, every company is different. Take some time to research the company, including its recent news, mission statement, values, history, and overall culture. Not only will it help you demonstrate during the interview why you’d be a good fit for the position, it also underscores your enthusiasm for the opportunity. 

A good place to start your research is the company website, but you can also perform an internet search and reach out to your professional network to see if anyone has information about the company or position. Remember, you want to tailor your interview answers to the company, so it’s best to have as much detail as possible.

2. Examine the job description inside and out

Remember how you used the job description to tailor your resume? You’ll use it again to prepare for the interview, as it’s a great source of information about what the company is looking for. Take some time to study the job requirements, duties, and responsibilities. This will help you tailor your interview answers and highlight your relevant skills, achievements, and professional attributes.

3. Get familiar with the company’s services or products

To illustrate how you can be of service to the company and fulfill any needs they might have, it’s helpful to know what they actually do. Check out any tangible products that the company produces. This will help position you as a serious candidate, and make it easier for you to communicate your value to the hiring manager.

4. Know who will be interviewing you

Don’t walk into an interview without knowing with whom you’ll be meeting. If you’ve been given a name, do a little research on that person such as their position, how long they’ve been with the company, and any recent awards or accomplishments. (If they haven’t told you who you’re meeting, it’s perfectly acceptable to ask.) This will help you make a connection with your interviewer and demonstrate your seriousness about the role. 

One caveat: make sure your research is limited to easily-accessed sites such as professional publications, the company website, or work-related social media like LinkedIn or the company’s Instagram account. Otherwise, it may give off some “stalker vibes” and make the interviewer uncomfortable. 

5. Prepare your interview answers

Every interview will be different and there’s no way to know exactly what you’ll be asked, but it will be very helpful to prepare some answers to common interview questions ahead of time. You’ll also want to create a list of your professional accomplishments, as well as your Unique Selling Proposition (USP). This is what makes you unique and will help you articulate why you’re the best person for the job. 

Once you’ve got your answers prepared, it’s a good idea to rehearse them. This might feel awkward, but it’s better to be awkward in the privacy of your own home than in the interviewer’s office. If you can, get a friend to act as the interviewer so that you can hear your answers out loud, make adjustments, and practice keeping them succinct and on-point. 

6. Choose the appropriate interview attire

While doing your company research, get a feel for the overall culture, which will help you choose the right outfit for your interview. If it’s a more conservative field, you’ll want to dress more formally. If you’re interviewing at a start-up, business casual will probably suffice. Even if you’re doing your interview virtually, it’s still important to “dress to impress.” Make sure your clothes are clean and wrinkle-free, you’re well-groomed, and everything fits well.

7. Make sure your tech is in working order

If you have a Zoom interview, check your equipment ahead of time. Make sure that your camera is working, the lighting is appropriate, your Wi-Fi is stable, and your microphone is on. Also check your background and remove any distracting wall hangings. You don’t want to be stumbling during the interview to fix any of these issues.

During the interview

At this point, you’ve done your homework, prepared your interview answers, and are dressed to impress. Now it’s time to show off your skills, talents, and achievements. To ace your interview, here are five things you can check off your preparation checklist during an interview:

8. Arrive a few minutes early

Have you ever heard the saying, “early is on time, on time is late”? Often attributed to the author Eric Jerome Dickey, it simply means that demonstrating good time management and getting to your appointment a few minutes early is considerate of other people’s time and demonstrates professionalism. If your interview is scheduled for 10:00 a.m., get there at 9:45 a.m. That way, you will have time to compose yourself, check your appearance, have a sip of water, and mentally review your interview answers before the interview begins. Consider planning your driving route ahead of time so that you know the best way to get there and can identify any potential obstacles such as traffic, construction, or parking.

9. Have copies of your resume available

Before you arrive, make sure you have extra copies of your resume or other pertinent materials on hand. Even if you are scheduled to meet with one person, they may wish to pass along your information to others in the company, so it pays to be prepared. Additionally, if you get flustered or your mind goes blank during the interview (it happens!), you can refer to your resume to refresh your memory about your past responsibilities and achievements.

10. Stay relaxed

It’s easy to get nervous during an interview; after all, there’s a lot on the line! But it’s important to maintain a sense of calm. If you sense yourself getting flustered, it’s okay to take a moment to recenter yourself and take a few breaths. 

11. Be an active listener

Even though you’re there to talk about yourself, interviewing is a two-way street. So it’s important to engage your active listening skills. This means paying attention to the interviewer when they are speaking and acknowledging what they say. It will also help you formulate relevant, thoughtful answers to whatever they are asking. 

To be an active listener, consider the following:

• Make eye contact.

• Paraphrase what the interviewer has asked you to demonstrate your understanding of the question.

• Don’t interrupt or attempt to answer the question before they've finished.

• Ask any clarifying questions, if necessary.

• Think about the question the interviewer is currently asking, not one you think they will ask later.

12. Have a list of appropriate questions

At some point in the interview, you’ll likely be asked, “Do you have any questions?” Instead of saying, “No, I’m good!” which suggests a lack of preparation, have a list of relevant questions ready for the interviewer. Some of these questions may have already been answered during the interview, so make sure to check those off your list. 

This is also a great opportunity for you to ensure that you actually want the job. Consider asking questions about the position, the company, responsibilities, opportunities for advancement, and so on. However, don’t ask questions that can be found during a simple internet search, are self-serving, or are inappropriate. Don’t be shy; this is an opportunity to present yourself as prepared, informated, and competent.

After the interview

Your interview isn’t over after you’ve left the building. You still have a few items to check off your job interview preparation checklist. What you do after the interview is almost as important as what you do during it, so don’t neglect this part. Think of it this way—it’s one more chance to give a good impression!

13. Send a thank you note

While it might seem quaint or old-fashioned, a thank you note is a great way to end an interview. When you get home, or at least within 24 hours, send a letter to your interviewer thanking them for their time, expressing enthusiasm for the position, and briefly reiterating your top qualifications. If you have a question you didn’t think to ask during the interview, you can include that as well. Sending a note of thanks marks you as a professional, and keeps you front-of-mind for the interviewer. And while email is perfectly okay, it might be a nice touch to send a handwritten version as well. It looks professional and sets you apart from the rest of the candidates.

14. Provide any requested documents

If the interviewer asked for any information during the interview, such as references, assessments, or forms, send them ASAP. In addition, if the interviewer asked for references, contact those people as soon as you can to let them know that they might be hearing from the company. 

15. Reflect on the experience

After your interview, it’s a good idea to take some time to reflect on the interview, making notes on what went well, what you struggled with, and what changes you’ll make for next time. Interviewing is a skill, and improving your skills takes practice. Do a little “post-game analysis” after each interview so you can identify things that you can improve on for future interviews. 

16. Follow up with the company

If the interviewer gave you a timeline about next steps during the interview, great! That lets you know when you should follow up. For example, if the interviewer said that you’ll hear within a week, wait for the week to pass before reaching out if you haven’t heard anything. If you weren’t given any information about when you’d be hearing from them, wait at least a week before following up. The interview process can move slowly and you don’t want to seem overly eager. 

Send a brief message via the interviewer’s preferred communication method, which is usually email. Inquire about where they are in the process, and if they require any more information from you. Keep it brief and positive. If you don’t hear back in another week or two, it’s okay to send another brief, professional note. But after that, you can probably assume that they’re going with someone else. If this happens, don’t be discouraged. Just keep up with your interview preparation checklist and you’ll do even better next time.

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Key takeaways

1. Begin preparing for an interview before you start sending out resumes.

2. Before an interview, do your homework about the company, the job, and the questions you might be asked.

3. Be on time to your interview, dress appropriately, be a good listener, and ask appropriate questions.

4. After an interview, send a thank you note and follow up accordingly.