- Key Takeaways
- How to Prepare for an Interview the Right Way
- Don't be late:
- Research the company and the interviewer(s):
- Read the Job Description:
- Communications:
- Prepare Your
Sales Pitch: - Practice the Interview Like a Performance
- Turn Research Into Relevant Conversation
- Further Guidance & Tools
- Next Steps
- Final Words
- Additional Resources
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Last updated: December 22, 2025
Key Takeaways
- Arrive Prepared:
Plan your route, add a realistic time buffer, and arrive nearby early so you can walk in calm, focused, and professionally punctual. - Research Deeply: Go beyond surface-level facts by understanding the company’s business, culture, and
leadership , then tailor your answers to show genuine interest and alignment. - Know the Role: Read the job description carefully and connect its requirements directly to your experience, using relevant terminology to demonstrate fit and credibility.
- Communicate Confidently: Strong interviews rely on clear speaking, attentive listening, confident body language, steady eye contact, and nonverbal cues that reinforce your message.
- Practice Your Pitch: Treat the interview like a performance by rehearsing your personal pitch, refining your delivery, and balancing confidence with authenticity.
How to Prepare for an Interview the Right Way
We all know the basics for interviewing- make a great first impression, make sure the
So rather than focus on all of the things this guy did wrong (that is a topic for another post), I thought I would focus on the top things you should remember when preparing for your interview. So what do you need to remember to help ensure you are at your best? Read on.
Job Interview Preparation: The Ultimate Resource to Get the Job You Want (Job Hunting, Job Interviewing)
Don’t be late:
I am a fanatic about getting to interviews on time. I make sure I know where I’m going and how long it should take to get there. If I have time, I do a trial run to the location. Once I know how long it should take me to get there, I add 30 minutes on so that I’m there early. There is always an unexpected traffic jam, or maybe mass transportation is late.
In most buildings these days, you have to sign in to security, and that could take a while if there is a line. No matter how early I am, I don’t let anyone know I’m there until 5-10 minutes before the interview. Getting there too early can be disruptive as well.
Research the company and the interviewer(s):
Whether or not your job interview is at a company that was on your list, you should know everything you can about the company. What they do, how many employees they have, and why it would (or wouldn’t) be a good fit for you. LinkedIn is an excellent tool for this, but you can also check sites like Fortune.com and Forbes.com for more information about the company. Don’t forget to review the interviewer(s) LinkedIn profiles. Lastly, leverage LinkedIn to find people you know who work there (or used to work there) to get the inside scoop.
LinkedIn Secrets From a Top Executive Recruiter shows how to create a LinkedIn Profile that will get you noticed for your expertise. This book walks you through a step-by-step approach to creating a LinkedIn Profile that recruiters and hiring managers will notice.
Read the Job Description:
Sounds pretty basic, but you’d be surprised how many people go into an interview without fully reading and understanding the job description. To the interviewer, not knowing the job description will look like you don’t care (or are not qualified). Design your
Communications:
Communication is a two-way street, and you need to leverage both your listening and speaking skills. But communication is not limited to the spoken word; nonverbal communication can be as important as, or more important than, verbal communication. Body language, facial expressions, and shaking hands are all essential parts of the process. Last, but not least, is eye contact. Look your interviewer(s) in the eyes, and do not look away when answering questions. We want you to be confident in our commitment to you and in our belief that you are the best candidate for the job.
Whether you want to find a new job on LinkedIn or advance your career, this guide can be the blueprint for a supercharged LinkedIn strategy.
Prepare Your Sales Pitch:
Let’s face it, an interview is a
Practice your
Whatever your goal, you can learn to craft a fresh, brief, convincing message that generates tangible results.
Practice the Interview Like a Performance
The difference between a decent interview and a great one is preparation. Start by rereading the job description and translating each requirement into a specific story from your experience, using similar terminology naturally. Then rehearse your pitch so it sounds human rather than memorized, and sharpen your communication by paying attention to pace, eye contact, posture, and listening. When you practice out loud, you catch weak phrasing and filler words before the real conversation, and you’ll sound more credible under pressure because you’ve already “performed” the moment.
- Job-to-Story Match: Highlight four core requirements from the posting and draft one accomplishment example for each, emphasizing results, constraints, and what you learned.
- Pitch Recording: Record a 60–90 second introduction, play it back, and refine clarity, confidence, and pacing until it sounds natural and decisive.
- Nonverbal Check: Practice answers while watching your posture, facial expressions, and eye contact; confident body language should reinforce, not contradict, your words.
- Answer Framework: Use the STAR method to structure responses so your examples stay concise, specific, and easy for interviewers to follow.
Above all, try to relax in your interview. This will show that you are confident in your abilities and experience.
The STAR method is a structured manner of responding to interview questions by discussing the specific Situation, Task, Action, and Result of the situation you are describing. This technique helps you create an easy-to-follow story with a clear conflict and resolution.
Turn Research Into Relevant Conversation
Most candidates “research” a company by skimming the homepage and calling it done, which is why deeper prep stands out immediately. Go beyond slogans and understand what the company actually does, how it makes money, and what recent changes might affect the role. Then connect your knowledge to the interviewer’s perspective by reviewing their background and identifying likely priorities for the position. This kind of preparation helps you ask more thoughtful questions, avoid generic answers, and demonstrate genuine interest in the work—not just the paycheck—while keeping the discussion focused and confident.
Getting a job is like parking. You have to be in the right place at the right time. In How to Interview Like a Pro, author Mary Greenwood provides strategies and practical tips about how to prepare for job hunting and how to interview.
Further Guidance & Tools
- STAR Answers: Use MIT’s STAR method guide to structure concise, results-focused stories for behavioral questions.
- Role Clarity: Validate key duties and skills so your examples mirror the role’s real requirements.
- Prep Checklist: Use Indeed’s interview prep steps to ensure you cover research, questions, and materials consistently.
- Route Planning: Use Google Maps URLs to generate a directions link you can save and rehearse before interview day.
- Company Insight: Use Glassdoor’s interview prep guide to find role-specific questions and refine what you ask employers.
Next Steps
- Arrival
Plan : Confirm the address, entry instructions, and parking or transit options, thenplan a calm arrival window. - Company Brief: Write a one-page company summary covering products, customers, competitors, and recent updates you can reference naturally.
- JD Mapping: Match each job requirement to a specific accomplishment, using the posting’s language and measurable outcomes where possible.
- Pitch Practice: Rehearse a clear tell me about yourself pitch that connects your experience to the role without overexplaining.
- Communication Focus: Practice active listening, steady eye contact, and concise answers so your confidence shows in both words and body language.
This book is the ultimate resource for mastering technical and system design interviews, coding challenges, and behavioral evaluations tailored for the generative AI industry.
Final Words
Interview success is rarely about luck; it comes from preparation that eliminates avoidable mistakes and highlights your
Additional Resources
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Land Your Dream JobResume review, cover letters, and interview preparation. Learn about the critical mistakes you may be making in your resume and cover letters. Find out how to fix it and start getting job interviews.
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Explore & Get StartedExplore Career.io, the only Al and human-powered platform where you can find everything you need. For any step of your job search or career growth. All in one place.
Career.io is our trusted partner. If you subscribe to the platform, we may earn a commission (at no additional cost to you)
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Mark Fiebert is a former finance executive who hired and managed dozens of professionals during his 30-plus-year career. He now shares expert job search, resume, and career advice on CareerAlley.com.
