How to prepare for a job interview and show what you can do

Read the job description closely and identify its main responsibilities.

Choose three important requirements and write down an example of how you have demonstrated each one. Indeed recommends connecting your experience with the skills and responsibilities in the posting. [Source 1: Indeed: job interview preparation, technology checks, and employer questions]

For example, a customer service role might require resolving problems, keeping accurate records, and managing competing requests.

Your experience working in a busy restaurant could provide relevant examples: correcting an order, recording information accurately, or coordinating several tables during a rush.

Be specific about your contribution. “I communicated well” tells the interviewer less than an explanation of what you did and how it helped.

If your schedule allows, set aside about an hour to research the organization.

Start with its website. Find out what it provides, who its customers are, and what it says about its priorities. Then look at recent announcements or reliable news coverage. Reviewing competitors can also help you understand the company’s position. [Source 2: Experis: company research, practice, listening, and interview follow-up]

Write down one reason the work interests you and two questions your research raises.

For example:

“I noticed you are opening another location. How will this position support that expansion?”

Keep your wording curious. Public information can give you context without revealing everything happening inside a business.

Prepare examples that show how you solved a problem, learned something unfamiliar, worked with others, or handled a mistake.

Practice explaining them aloud. You could ask a friend or mentor to listen and tell you which details were clear and which needed more explanation. Experis recommends practicing responses and using mock interviews to prepare. [Source 2: Experis: company research, practice, listening, and interview follow-up]

Use brief notes rather than memorizing paragraphs. You want to be able to adapt your examples to the question you are actually asked.

If an example comes from training or volunteering, identify that setting clearly. Explain the responsibilities you held and the work you personally completed.

Confirm the interview’s time, time zone, location, and format. Ask whether it includes a practical assessment or anything you should prepare.

For a virtual interview, test your camera, microphone, internet connection, and meeting software beforehand. Position the camera near eye level and check that your face is visible and your background is reasonably free from distractions. [Source 1: Indeed: job interview preparation, technology checks, and employer questions]

Aim to open the meeting link about five minutes early, following any instructions in the invitation. Keep the interviewer’s contact details available in case you have difficulty connecting.

For an in-person interview, plan your route and allow time for delays.

For questions such as “Tell me about a time you solved a problem,” the STAR method can help you organize your answer:

• Situation: Give the context.
• Task: Explain your responsibility.
• Action: Describe what you personally did.
• Result: Explain what happened and what you learned.

The National Careers Service recommends keeping examples relevant, concise, and conversational. They can come from work, home, or volunteering. [Source 3: National Careers Service: the STAR method]

Here is an illustrative example for someone applying for an administrative role:

Situation: “At a community event, volunteers were receiving conflicting information about their shifts.”

Task: “I was responsible for helping the organizer confirm who would be available.”

Action: “I contacted the volunteers, checked their availability, and created one shared schedule. I then confirmed the changes with the organizer.”

Result: “We identified an uncovered shift before the event and found someone to fill it. I learned to confirm changes in one place.”

Choose examples that are true to your experience. Use accurate numbers when you have them, but do not invent measurements to make an answer sound stronger.

Listen to the whole question before responding.

A brief pause—perhaps two or three seconds—can give you time to choose a relevant example. Treat this as a useful option rather than a timing rule.

If you need longer, you can say, “Let me think of the most relevant example.”

If the question is unclear, ask the interviewer to clarify it. Experis recommends listening carefully and asking for clarification when needed. [Source 2: Experis: company research, practice, listening, and interview follow-up]

Answer honestly when you have not used a particular tool or handled a situation before. Explain any related experience and how you would approach learning what is required.

Prepare questions about the actual work and what would help someone succeed.

You could ask:

• What would you want the person in this role to accomplish in their first 90 days?
• What challenges would they need to address first?
• How are new employees trained and supported?
• How do you assess whether someone is doing well?

Choose the questions most relevant to the conversation. Indeed recommends asking about responsibilities, challenges, and how performance is measured. [Source 1: Indeed: job interview preparation, technology checks, and employer questions]

Before finishing, ask about the next steps and the expected timeline.

Send a brief thank-you email when you have an appropriate contact address. Mention something specific from the conversation and reinforce your interest if you still want the role. Experis recommends following up within 24 hours. [Source 2: Experis: company research, practice, listening, and interview follow-up]

Then make a few notes for yourself. Which example worked well? Which question was difficult? What did you learn about whether the job would suit you?

Each interview gives you information you can use in the next one. Prepare carefully, explain your experience honestly, and give yourself permission to improve with practice.