Job Interview Tips: Master Your Next Interview

1. “Tell Me About Yourself”

This is usually the first question and sets the tone. Structure your answer with:

• Present: Your current role and key responsibilities
• Past: Relevant experience that led you here
• Future: Why this role excites you and aligns with your goals

Keep it to 2-3 minutes, focusing on professional achievements relevant to the position.

2. “Why Do You Want This Job?”

Show you’ve done your research by connecting:

• Your skills and experience to the job requirements
• Your career goals to the company’s direction
• Specific aspects of the company culture that appeal to you

3. “What Are Your Strengths?”

Choose 2-3 strengths directly relevant to the role. For each strength:

• Name the strength clearly
• Provide a specific example of how you’ve demonstrated it
• Explain how it will benefit this role

4. “What Are Your Weaknesses?”

Be honest but strategic. Choose a genuine weakness that:

• Isn’t critical to the job’s core requirements
• You’re actively working to improve
• Shows self-awareness and growth mindset

Example: “I used to struggle with public speaking, so I joined Toastmasters and now lead weekly team presentations.”

5. “Where Do You See Yourself in 5 Years?”

Show ambition while being realistic:

• Express desire to grow within the company
• Mention skills you want to develop
• Align your goals with the role’s growth path

STAR Method Example

Question: “Tell me about a time you handled a difficult situation with a coworker.”

S – Situation: “At my previous company, a colleague and I had conflicting approaches to a major client presentation. We were both responsible for different sections but had only 3 days to finalize.”

T – Task: “I needed to find a way to align our approaches without damaging our working relationship, while still delivering a cohesive presentation on deadline.”

A – Action: “I scheduled a one-on-one coffee meeting to understand their perspective. I discovered their concerns were about client expectations I hadn’t considered. I proposed we combine our approaches, using their client insights with my data visualization skills.”

R – Result: “We delivered the presentation on time and won the account, which was worth $200K annually. More importantly, we developed a strong working relationship and collaborated on three more successful projects.”

One Week Before

• Research the company: Mission, values, recent news, products/services
• Study the job description: Match your skills to requirements
• Research the interviewer: Check LinkedIn for common ground
• Prepare your STAR stories: 5-7 examples covering different competencies
• Update your resume: Print 5-10 copies on quality paper
• Prepare your portfolio: Gather work samples if applicable

Two Days Before

• Practice answers: Rehearse out loud, time yourself
• Prepare questions: Write down 5-7 thoughtful questions to ask
• Plan your outfit: Choose professional attire, check for stains/wrinkles
• Plan your route: Know exactly where to go, estimate travel time
• For virtual interviews: Test your technology, lighting, and background

Day Before

• Review your notes: Go over company research and prepared answers
• Prepare your bag: Resumes, portfolio, notepad, pen, ID
• Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-8 hours to be alert
• Prepare breakfast: Plan a healthy meal to maintain energy
• Lay out your outfit: Everything ready to minimize morning stress

Day Of Interview

• Eat a balanced breakfast: Protein and complex carbs for sustained energy
• Review key points: Quick refresh of top talking points
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early: But don’t enter too early
• Turn off your phone: Or put on silent before entering
• Use the restroom: Check appearance one final time
• Take deep breaths: Calm your nerves before you walk in

What to Bring

• 5-10 printed copies of your resume on quality paper
• List of references with contact information
• Portfolio or work samples (if relevant)
• Notepad and professional pen
• Your prepared questions written down
• Government ID (some buildings require it)
• Breath mints (not gum)

About the Role

• “What does a typical day look like in this position?”
• “What would success look like in the first 90 days?”
• “What are the biggest challenges someone in this role would face?”
• “How does this role contribute to the company’s larger goals?”

About the Team

• “Can you tell me about the team I’d be working with?”
• “How does the team collaborate on projects?”
• “What’s the management style of the person I’d report to?”

About Growth

• “What opportunities for professional development does the company offer?”
• “How do you see this role evolving over the next 2-3 years?”
• “What career paths have others in this role taken?”

About the Company

• “What’s the company culture like here?”
• “What do you personally enjoy most about working here?”
• “How has the company adapted to recent industry changes?”