You've landed an interview, congrats! Now on to prepping whether that be a phone interview or an in person interview. The amount of people you will come in contact with during process will depend on the level of job you're applying for. My most recent job I only interviewed twice for. Once on the phone and once in person. Super simple. I've been through some interview processes that were multiple rounds and extremely exhausting. I'm talking about 3 hours of interviews, 30 minutes with a multiple people back to back, and having to give a presentation I prepared beforehand. 

RESEARCH:

Learn as much as you can about the company. When were they founded, what's their mission statement, what are their major successes and failures, what challenges do they face and more! Think about your role specifically and how you can benefit the team. In some interviews I've been asked what I would change about specific things, for example their website or social pages. Know the company as in depth as you can and if you know someone who currently works their or has in the past, reach out to them and get as much information as possible. I also like to look at the LinkedIn profiles of the people I'm interviewing with as well as anyone in the company that might have the same position. 

PRACTICE:

I like to write out potential interview questions in a word document and then bullet point my responses. I will also copy the job posting in to the document and next to each job duty or skill set I will list out an example I can speak to for that specific topic. Make sure to give examples that state the problem, how you solved it or worked through it, and the end result. Pick a few great examples that can apply to multiple questions and use those often. It's easier for me to remember a few stand out situations I successfully worked through and then apply them to different questions. 

It's always good to prepare for the basic questions; Greatest strength? Greatest weakness? Why do you want to work here? Where do you see yourself in 5 - 10 years? How do you handle stress? However, be prepared for a wild card. If you're thrown off simply pause and think through it. Don't be afraid to ask them to repeat the question.

Make sure to check out Glassdoor for potential interview questions as well as salary info. 

PLAN: 

Plan out in advance what you're going to wear, what items you need to bring with you, and what time you need to leave your home to have plenty of time to get there. Driving in downtown Austin there's likely to be lots of traffic so I also plan on arriving at least 30 minutes before an interview. I will sit in my car and look over my notes and mentally prepare. I like to walk in the door 10 minutes before my interview. 

In regards to clothing I usually wear black slacks and a dress top with black heels. If it's a more formal company I will wear a black blazer over it. When I interviewed at YETI they told me to not dress too formal and absolutely no suits as that's not their culture. I strongly believe in NEVER wearing jeans even if they say it's a casual environment. It's always better to be overdressed than underdressed. 

What to bring? I always print out a few copies of my resume on thick paper, as well as a notebook and a pen to take notes during the interview. 

Before every interview I practice my power stance. This might sound silly but I once listened to a TED talk about it, and I highly suggest trying it. Raise your arms, speak confidently out loud, and tell yourself "YOU GOT THIS!"

THE DONT'S:

These might sound obvious, but I interviewed quite a few people in my last role and you'd be surprised at the stuff people do. Don't chew gum. Don't dress sloppy. Silence your phone, and don't pick it up the entire time you're there. Don't answer a question with "I don't know." Don't be negative or talk bad about previous employers or co-workers. I personally don't discuss the salary during the interview unless the interviewer brings it up. For many jobs the recruiter will discuss the salary range prior to the role. 

THE INTERVIEW:

First off, people want to hire people they enjoy being around. A big part of the interview process is them getting to know you, and figuring out if they think you would mesh with the team. Make small talk, and let your personality shine. Try to find a common connection. Do you both have kids? Did you go to the same college? Aggie rings are probably the easiest way to make a connection because almost ALL graduates wear them. This is why learning about who you're interviewing with is important, so you can slip out some sort of small talk during the interview.  

Make sure you listen. Don't constantly be thinking about your next answer, but listen carefully to each question and don't be afraid to pause before answering. I also think it's extremely important to let your enthusiasm about the role come out in your emotions and expressions. No one wants to hire someone who isn't passionate about the role, so it's your job to make sure they know why you want it and how excited you are. 

FOLLOW UP:

Always follow up with a thank you letter or email within 24 hours. I also make it a point at the end of the interview to ask what the next steps are. It gives me a good look in to how long I might have to wait before hearing a final answer. 

Now you wait. I know exactly how you feel...nervous, impatient, excited and more! It's hard to be patient, but you don't have any other choice. Try to stay busy and keep a positive attitude. I hope these tips help, and good luck in your future interviews! Please email me or leave me a comment if you have any specific questions : )

Photos by Madeline Harper Photography