How to Prepare for an Interview

Written by Coursera Staff • Updated on

Prepare for your next interview and set yourself up for success with these important steps.

[Featured image] A person in business attire practices for an interview in front of a mirror.

Key takeaways

Landing a job interview is an exciting accomplishment that brings you one step closer to getting an offer. 

  • To get ready for an interview, study the company and job description, and practice talking about your professional achievements.

  • Practice answering common interview questions about how you problem-solve, communicate, and work both individually and with others.

  • Prepare a list of questions to ask your interviewer at the end; this will help you gain a deeper understanding of the company and role, and allows you to demonstrate your interest in the position.

Then, expand your knowledge on industry trends by enrolling in the Stay Ahead of the AI Curve course by Google, part of Coursera Plus. 

How to prepare for an interview: 9 steps 

No matter which type of interview you've been invited to participate in, there are ways to prepare that can leave you feeling more confident and show a potential employer you're the best fit for the role. Preparing means setting aside time in the days leading up to the interview to conduct additional research, reflect on your experience, and practice answering common and behavioral questions you are likely to be asked. 

Follow the steps below to get ready for your next interview—and good luck!

1. Consider what type of interview you'll be participating in.  

A phone screen, which is typically a relatively brief call with a company recruiter, will be different than a longer, more in-depth conversation with a hiring manager.

Generally, the interview process follows the order below, though it can differ depending on the company, industry, and job seniority level.

  • Phone screen: An initial call with a recruiter who is trying to determine whether your experience and skills align with the job requirements.

  • Hiring manager: A longer interview with the person who would likely be your manager that goes into detail about the role and seeks to understand your abilities, experience, and personality.

  • Second or team interview: One or more interviews with potential team members. They are also trying to understand your experience and skills, as well as your personality to see how you'd complement the team.

  • Skills-based interview: An interview during or after you've completed a skills assessment or assignment, which will likely focus on your technical skill set and abilities.

  • Final interview: This may be a follow-up interview with someone you've already met or a new team member. It's one last chance for them to clear up any lingering questions.

2. Practice your story.

Telling your professional story is a big part of interviewing. It should be the narrative you're prepared to share at any type of interview you complete because you'll likely be asked some version of "Tell me about yourself" or "What interested you in this role?" a few different times.

There are two possible ways to structure your answer:

Linear: past, present, future

  • What you did and what you achieved there

  • What you're doing now and what you've accomplished

  • What you're hoping to do in the future and how it aligns with the job

CARL: context, achievement, result, link

  • Context: A short statement about your professional identity and experience

  • Achievement: Notable accomplishments and measurable results

  • Result: How your skills align with the job

  • Link: Why you're interested in this company and the value you'd add

3. Review the job description.

The job description outlines the ideal candidate, and you can use this information to specifically connect your experience and skill set to what the company is seeking.

  • Pay attention to both the required and recommended qualifications. For each item listed, think of how you've completed that work or used that skill in the past. It can help to have more than one example of each.

  • Practice discussing your abilities in light of the job requirements. Think of specific examples you can share and any measurable results you achieved. Companies want to know that you can do the job, and that you'll be a valuable addition to their larger goals.

4. Research the company. 

Beyond the job itself, you should take time to learn more about the company, its mission, its culture, and whether it will be a good fit for you. Remember that in an interview, you are interviewing them as much as they're interviewing you.

  • Look at the company’s website, social media channels, and any other public-facing material you can find, such as employee review sites. What are the company’s mission and values? What products and services does it offer? Who are its target customers and top competitors? What is its culture like?

  • Be ready to discuss why you’re interested in the company and why you believe you would be a good fit for the role.

5. Research your interviewer. 

If you're invited to meet with the hiring manager and any other team members, you will likely be given their names. If not, you should feel comfortable asking the recruiter (or the HR rep) who you'll be meeting with and their titles.

  • Try to find public-facing information about your interviewers, such as their LinkedIn profiles. Identify how long they’ve been working there and how closely you’d work with them if you get the job. 

  • Review their profile for any details that might build a connection, such as prior experience in a similar industry, or an alma mater in common. Use this information to build rapport during your interview.

6. Practice answering common interview questions. 

Even though you won't know which questions you'll be asked until you're in the interview, an interviewer will likely turn to at least a few common interview questions. These tend to be more generic compared to questions about the job itself or about how you do your work, such as about your strengths and weaknesses.

Sample common interview questions:

  • What motivates you?

  • How do you handle pressure?

  • How do you prioritize what do focus on first?

  • Tell me about a time you went above and beyond.

  • Are you comfortable working independently?

  • What's your greatest strength?

  • What's one of your weaknesses?

Interview tip: When you search a company on Glassdoor, click the “interviews” tab on the company profile to view actual interview questions that job candidates have answered. 

7. Practice answering behavioral interview questions.

Behavioral interview questions ask you to share specific examples from your past work experience that demonstrate key competencies. These questions typically begin with:

  •  "Tell me about a time when..." and ask you to describe real situations you've faced, the actions you took, and the results you achieved. Instead of asking, "How would you handle a difficult customer?" a behavioral question would be, "Tell me about a time when you had to deal with an angry customer and how you resolved the situation."

  • By focusing on actual past behavior rather than hypothetical scenarios, these questions help interviewers understand how you might perform in similar situations in the future. Make it your goal to tell relevant stories about your professional history, without sounding like you’re reading from a script. Keep stories brief, professional, and memorable.

8. Compile a list of questions to ask your interviewer. 

At the end of every interview, you'll be asked if you have any questions. By taking the time to compile questions in advance, you can use the interview experience to gain a fuller understanding of the company and demonstrate your enthusiasm for the position.

Sample questions you might ask include:

  • What does success look like for this position?

  • What would you like to see someone in this position accomplish in the first month or 90 days?

  • What kind of continued training and professional development will be available to me?

  • With whom will I be collaborating the most?

  • What's your management style?

  • What do you enjoy about working here?

  • What's one of the bigger goals you're targeting this year?

  • How are you excited for the company to grow in the coming three years?

  • Can you tell me a bit about the culture here and what makes it unique?

For more information, check out Questions to Ask at the End of an Interview or learn best practices from the experts at Big Interview:

9. Clarify the interview logistics.

Ensure that you know where your interview is, how to get there (if it's in person) or where you should hold it (if it's remote), and what to wear. Clarifying these logistics in advance is important so that you feel ready.

  • Location: Leave early enough to account for any traffic or delays you might face. If the interview is remote, think about a quiet room or location where you can speak with the interviewer. Review our 16 video interview tips to feel more confident about a virtual interview.

  • Clothing: More formal clothing used to be the standard for interviews, but that's not always the case today. You'll want to dress appropriately for the company and industry you're applying for. Learn more in our What to Wear in an Interview article. Try on different outfits the day before and make sure you find one that will help you feel confident.

More interview advice

Check out our career advice hub to read more about career path planning, interview tips, and how to strengthen your professional skills.

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