Preparing for Your Next Interview – 3 Tips for Success

Congratulations, you earned yourself an interview! Review these tips to help yourself prepare, gain confidence in your interviewing skills, and be seen as a professional with a strong work ethic who takes these opportunities seriously.

1) Do your research.

Learning about the company you are interviewing will allow you to speak more confidently about the company, frame your experience through its lens, and determine your fit for the role based off of your values, skills, strengths. Here are some ways that you can get started with researching prospective employers:

• Review the employer’s website and conduct an online search to find any recent news or information, and familiarize yourself with the company’s products and services.
• Follow potential employers on LinkedIn to gain insight through recent posts and see if you have connections who are current employees.
• Set up informational interviews with MIT alum who work (currently or previously) at your target company to gain an insider’s perspective; connect through MIT’s Alumni Directory and Alumni Advisors Hub.
• Use Handshake labels to identify employers who show a commitment to DEI practices.

2) Practice, practice, practice.

There are many ways to gain confidence in your interviewing skills. Start by reviewing and answering sample interview questions out loud, on your own or with a trusted peer. At CAPD, we offer behavioral mock interview appointments with an advisor who will provide constructive feedback and strategies for approaching tough questions. You can also…

• Seek advice from MIT alumni on preparing for technical and case interviews by scheduling a conversation using the MIT Alumni Advisors Hub.
• Use LinkedIn’s interview prep tool, which gives you the opportunity to practice and get instantaneous AI-powered feedback on your delivery.
• Check out LinkedIn Learning’s course, Mastering Common Interview Questions.

3) Plan ahead.

Make sure your interview day is as stress-free as possible. Start by reviewing the logistics for your interview (location, day and time, parking, commuting time), and give yourself plenty of extra time, just in case! Do you have a virtual interview? Find a quiet space on campus or reserve a CAPD interview room. You will also want to be mindful of who is interviewing you. Depending on your audience (hiring manager, HR specialist, prospective colleagues) you will want to gear your responses and questions you ask to their lens of understanding. Lastly, select appropriate clothing for your interview. Professional attire is generally recommended, but learn as much as you can about your prospective organization, institution, or industry to help you select appropriate clothing.

• Reserve one of CAPD’s interview rooms.
• Develop a list of questions to ask the employer.
• Review tips for professional etiquette.

Any questions? Book an appointment with someone on our Career Advising team to get started!