Help! 3 Last Minute Ways to Prepare for Your Interview

Panic. Anxiety. Uncertainty. These are a few of the emotions that clients I work with feel when they come in to prepare for an upcoming interview. After months of crafting the perfect resume, networking and applying online, an opportunity to interview is on the line. 

Of course panic is going to set in. There's a lot riding on an interview. You usually have about 30 minutes to impress the person sitting across from you. So, how do you impress them?    

Here are three ways to prepare:

1.Tell me about yourself...

You're familiar with this dreaded interview question, right? It's usually the first question you’re asked and it’s your opportunity to get the interview off to a great start. You don't want to memorize your answer, but you do want to have an idea of what you want to say. Your answer should highlight parts of your experience that draws attention to how you're qualified for the position. It does not need to be a regurgitation of your entire work history. The ending should naturally lead into why you're interested in this position at this company. 

2. STAR

STAR stands for "Situation, Task, Action, Result" and is the framework to use when answering behavioral questions. A behavioral question usually starts with, "Tell me a time when..." or "Give me an example of..." The interviewer is expecting you to answer with a specific story, so think about your stories ahead of time. Some common behavioral questions are centered on teamwork, leadership, conflict and working under pressure. Think of a STAR story for each of these themes and you’ll be sure to walk in feeling more confident.

3.What questions do you have for me?

Usually the last part of the interview is reserved for questions you have for the interviewer. Do NOT say you don't have any questions! Why? Because it comes off as a lack of interest in learning about the role, the company and/or the person that's interviewing you. Good and thoughtful questions are a great way to stand out. Hopefully you've done research on the company ahead of time. What did you learn in your research that could be a conversation starter? If you've had an informational meeting with someone that works there to learn about the company, this is a great time to mention that to the interviewer. Stick with something simple like: I spoke to a former intern who told me about x project. Is that the type of work I should expect for this internship?

There’s so much pressure surrounding an interview opportunity that it can easily become overwhelming knowing how to prepare. However, preparation is key for mitigating those nerves and projecting confidence, so even if you did this little bit of prep, it will make a huge difference. Good luck!

Lindsey Plewa has coached thousands of students on how to successfully navigate a job search for over 10 years. She is currently the Associate Director of the Graduate Career Management Center at Baruch College. She holds an MA and two professional certificates, one in Adult Career Planning and one in Leadership Skills, from New York University.