The document provides tips and advice for preparing for and excelling at a job interview. It recommends researching the company extensively by learning about their business, competitors, culture and leadership style. It emphasizes that employers focus on assessing cultural fit over skills alone. Other tips include dressing professionally, practicing stories and examples demonstrating relevant experience, asking thoughtful questions, following up after the interview, and being patient during the hiring process. The overall message is thorough preparation is key to making a strong, positive impression and landing the job.

2. • Who has been on a job interview already?
• What did you do to prepare?

3. Use resources such as The Ladders, Yahoo
Finance, Google News, and the company’s
website
Learn more about their business, corporate
structure, competitors, position in the
marketplace and other job openings.
80% of a hiring manager’s time is spent
determining if you will be a good fit for the
team (and 20% is spent on skills).
If you don’t appear to fit well with the team,
then you’ll likely get passed up, even if you
have every skill they are looking for.
When an employer considers a candidate’s fit,
the elements they analyze include:
•Personality and behavior
•Leadership and/or learning style
•Personal style (and professionalism)
•Personal and professional values
Use GlassDoor.com to see if people
have written reviews about how the
interview is conducted and what
questions were asked.
Fully understand the
job description and
think of examples or
stories to tell to show
you have that
experience.

4. Ask what the most
important things the
hiring manager is looking
for as far as a cultural fit.
If you know someone
that works there or
used to work there,
have a conversation so
you can gather intel
about the job role and
the team dynamics.
Reach out to college
alumni who work there
to see if they will have
a chat with you.
Follow the company on
Twitter, Pinterest and
Facebook
Look at current and
former employees on
LinkedIn in that role to
see what their
background is. Look
the hiring manager’s
background up on
LinkedIn.
Read the corporate
blog to get a feel for
what is important to
them.

5.  Arrive 5-7 minutes before the
interview (not too early or late).
Call if you’re running late.
 Eat breakfast
 Make sure you have nothing in
your teeth & brush your hair.
 Bring a paper and pen to take
notes.

6. Have
confidence in
your abilities
(NO
cockiness!)
Treat the
interview like
a discussion
(relax!)
Watch your
body
language (no
slouching!)
Give a sincere
smile, look the
interviewer in the
eye, and master
the handshake
Talk about
50% of the
time (don’t
interrupt or
talk over
them!)

7. Firm
Not
clammy
Make
eye
contact
Smile
• First impressions begin with the handshake!
• Here’s a tip: when you first shake hands try to figure out the color of the
person’s eyes. That way you will make eye contact, guaranteed!

8. • Solid color, conservative suit
• White long sleeve shirt
• Conservative tie
• Dark socks, professional shoes
• Very limited jewelry
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Go easy on the aftershave
• Neatly trimmed nails
• Portfolio or briefcase
• No gum!
• Solid color, conservative suit
• Coordinated blouse
• Moderate shoes
• Limited jewelry (not flashy)
• Neat, professional hairstyle
• Tan or light hosiery
• Sparse make-up & perfume
• Manicured nails
• Portfolio and professional
purse
• No gum!

9. • Always ask for a skype interview
over a phone interview.
• Test your technology beforehand!
• Do not hold your laptop/ipad
• Still dress up for the interview
• Look at your background – make
it look professional (not your
bedroom/messy room).
• Look into the camera
• Get rid of distractions
• Check battery life
• Wait for them to stop speaking
before you answer
• Practice with someone else first
• Pay attention to lighting
• Sit up straight
• Keep water handy
• Goal: Get an in-person interview!
• Be comfortable if there is a pause
in the conversation (you will
naturally want to fill the silence –
they may be taking notes.)
• Wait for them to stop speaking
before you answer
• Keep your resume handy
• Keep water handy
• Smile (they can hear it when you
talk)
• Speak slowly
• Goal: Get an in-person interview!

10. • Practice discussing
what about your past
experience,
accomplishments,
background or skill
sets makes you an
attractive candidate.
• Do this in front of a
mirror for confidence.
When selecting anecdotes,
think like a STAR:
• Talk about a SITUATION
or TASK where you
demonstrated the desired
skill set.
• Identify what ACTIONS you
took to resolve the matter.
• Discuss the RESULTS of
your actions.

11. • Can you give an example of a really hard
interview question you’ve been asked?

12. •Describe a situation in which you used good judgment and
logic to solve a problem.
•Share an example of a time when you had to make a quick
decision.
PROBLEM
SOLVING
• Have you ever had trouble getting others to agree with
your ideas? How did you deal with this, and were you
successful?
• Describe the most challenging group from which you've
had to gain cooperation.
LEADERSHIP
• Tell me about a time when you went above and
beyond the call of duty.
• Tell me about a situation in which you positively
influenced the actions of others.
MOTIVATION
• Describe a situation where you had to
communicate with someone who didn’t
personally like you?
• Describe a time you had to use written
communication to convey an important idea.
COMMUNICATION
• What have you've done in the past to
nurture teamwork?
• Give an example of an unpopular
decision you've made, what the result
was and how you managed it.
INTERPERSONAL
SKILLS
• Describe how you've handled a
sudden interruption to your
schedule.
• How do you organize yourself?
PLANNING AND
ORGANIZATION

13. Why should I hire
you?
What do you know
about our
company?
Tell me about
yourself.
Tell me one thing
you would change
about yourself
What’s the biggest
risk you’ve ever
taken?
What did you
dislike about your
previous job?
Why do you want
this job?
What is your
greatest weakness?
What motivates
you?
Tell me about a
time when you
failed?
Describe your
dream job.
How do you
measure success?
What are you most
proud of?
What skills are you
lacking?
Describe your ideal
work environment.
Describe the role
you’re applying for.

14. • Do not act
entitled…But
know your
worth
• Do research to
find what
similar positions
and industries
are paying in
your geography
• Research
GlassDoor to
see if you can
find salary
information for
the company
• Look at the total
package – not just
the base salary.
• You may be able
to negotiate other
benefits than
salary (vacation,
tuition benefits,
training, gym
membership,
parking)
• Note: Negotiating
entry level salary
is hard (unless
you show how
your skills go
above and
beyond the job.
• Be respectful.
Your reputation is
more important.
• Politely decline the offer if
the salary is indeed too low
for you to make it work.
• You never know if they will
come back with a higher
offer.

15. ALWAYS have
questions to ask at
the end of the
interview.
You are still being evaluated, and
asking thoughtful questions
conveys your continued interest
in the role.
Also remember to
state that you are
interested in the
role and WHY.
• If you could describe your corporate culture in
three words, what would you say and why?
• What are the three most important things you
want the person who gets this opportunity to
achieve over the next year?
• What's one thing that's integral to this company's
success that an outsider wouldn't know about?
• What's your (or my future boss') leadership style?
• These are tough economic times, and every
position is precious when it comes to the budget.
What about this position made you prioritize it
over others?
• How do I get access to the information I need to
be successful in this job?
• What is your vision for this group/department/
product line/etc. over the next 2-3 years?
• What kinds of people are successful here?
• Conversely, what are the common characteristics
among employees who have either fizzled out,
failed or left?
• What's the timeline for making a decision on this
position? When should I get back in touch with
you?
• What initiatives would you like this person to
focus on in the next 30-60-90 days?
• Do you have any concerns on why I may not be a
fit for the job?

16. • Thank EVERY person you met with by
email and handwritten note that day!
• Use professional looking notecards
• State why you are right for the role
again and express your interest.
• Connect with them on LinkedIn.
• Be persistent, but not pesky. If you
haven’t heard back from them in a
week or so, feel free to follow-up with
the hiring manager. Never reach out
more than twice though.
• If they requested any references or
more information make sure you send
that immediately.
• Wait patiently 