Step-by-step guidance to help you prepare for and excel in job interviews
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, but with proper preparation, you can approach them with confidence. This guide will walk you through each step of the interview preparation process, from researching the company to following up afterward. Whether this is your first interview or you're looking to improve your skills, these strategies will help you present your best self to potential employers.
Learn how to structure your interview answers using the Situation, Task, Action, Result framework to showcase your experience effectively.
Discover how to project confidence through your posture, gestures, and eye contact during job interviews.
Understanding the company you're interviewing with demonstrates your interest and helps you tailor your responses to their needs.
Analyze the job description thoroughly to identify the key skills and qualifications the employer is seeking.
Develop a concise introduction about yourself that highlights your relevant experience, skills, and interest in the position.
"Hi, I'm Sarah Johnson. I've spent the past five years developing customer service and administrative skills at XYZ Company, where I implemented a new filing system that improved document retrieval time by 30%. I have strong attention to detail and excellent organizational abilities, and I'm proficient with the Microsoft Office suite. I'm particularly excited about this administrative assistant position at ABC Company because of your commitment to customer service excellence, and I believe my experience would allow me to make immediate contributions to your team."
Rehearse your responses to frequently asked interview questions, focusing on clear, concise answers that highlight your qualifications.
Develop thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer, which demonstrates your interest and helps you evaluate if the position is right for you.
Gather and organize all the items you'll need for the interview to ensure you arrive prepared and professional.
Prepare logistically for the interview day to minimize stress and ensure you arrive confident and on time.
Even with thorough preparation, you may encounter questions you're unsure how to answer. Here are strategies to handle these situations gracefully:
Question: "Can you explain how you would implement a database normalization strategy for our customer management system?"
Less Effective Response:
"I'm not sure. I don't have much experience with database normalization. I've never done that before."
This response ends the conversation and doesn't showcase your problem-solving abilities or willingness to learn.
More Effective Response:
"While I haven't implemented a complete database normalization strategy in my previous role, I'm familiar with the basic principles of reducing redundancy and improving data integrity. I would start by analyzing the current data structure, identifying dependencies, and then work through the normalization forms systematically. I'm a quick learner and would be excited to expand my database skills in this area. Could you tell me more about the specific challenges you're facing with your current system?"
Questions about gaps in employment, job changes, or other potential red flags can be intimidating. Here's how to address them confidently:
Briefly explain the reason for the gap, then emphasize:
Question about job hopping: "I notice you've had three jobs in the past five years. Why have you changed positions so frequently?"
"Each move I've made has been strategic for my professional growth. My first transition was to gain experience in a larger organization with more advanced systems. The second change came when I was offered an opportunity to lead a team, which greatly expanded my management skills. Now, I'm looking for a role like this one that combines those technical skills and leadership experience in a company where I can contribute long-term. Your organization's stability and growth trajectory really appeal to me for that reason."
Question about disability-related gap: "I see there's a two-year gap in your employment history. Can you explain what you were doing during that time?"
"During that period, I was addressing some health challenges that required my full attention. I'm happy to say that's behind me now, and I used that time productively by taking online courses in [relevant skill] and volunteering with [organization] where I [relevant accomplishment]. These experiences actually strengthened my [relevant qualities], and I'm now fully ready and excited to apply my combined skills and perspective to this position."
"Your story is what you have, what you know, what you've done. Every step and misstep. Your ability to recognize the value of your story is your greatest strength in an interview."
— Angela Duckworth, author of "Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance"
Taking time to reflect on your interview performance helps you improve for future opportunities, regardless of the outcome.
Document what went well to build confidence and identify patterns:
Identify growth opportunities without being self-critical:
Not getting an offer doesn't mean the interview was a failure. Here's how to use the experience constructively:
Turn each interview into a learning experience that improves your chances next time:
Strategy: Keep your answer concise (60-90 seconds) and focused on professional background. Structure it as past, present, future.
"I have five years of experience in customer service and administrative support. I began my career at ABC Company, where I managed front office operations and consistently received recognition for my efficiency and attention to detail. Currently, I work at XYZ Organization, where I've developed skills in database management and streamlined the filing system, reducing document retrieval time by 30%. I'm particularly excited about this opportunity with your company because it would allow me to combine my organizational abilities with my passion for helping people in the healthcare field. I believe my background in improving administrative systems would be valuable in supporting your team's important work."
Strategy: Show that you've researched the company and connect your skills and interests to specific aspects of the role.
"I'm drawn to this position because it combines my technical skills in data analysis with my interest in improving healthcare outcomes. I was particularly impressed by your company's recent project that used data analytics to reduce patient wait times by 25%. My experience developing dashboards that track key performance metrics would allow me to contribute immediately to similar initiatives. Additionally, your company's commitment to community outreach aligns with my personal values, and I'm excited about the opportunity to work for an organization that prioritizes both innovation and community impact."
Strategy: Choose 2-3 strengths that are directly relevant to the position and provide specific examples.
"One of my greatest strengths is my attention to detail, which has been valuable in ensuring accuracy in documentation and data entry. At my current position, I identified several inconsistencies in our client database that had been overlooked, which helped prevent potential service issues. I'm also particularly strong in prioritizing and managing multiple tasks. For example, when our team was short-staffed last quarter, I developed a system to track project deadlines and delegate tasks efficiently, which allowed us to complete all deliverables on time despite having fewer resources. These strengths would be directly applicable to the organizational and multitasking requirements mentioned in this job description."
Situation: "In my previous role as an administrative assistant, our office transitioned to a new client management software system with very little notice."
Task: "I needed to quickly learn the new system while maintaining daily operations and helping other team members who were struggling with the transition."
Action: "I volunteered to participate in additional training sessions offered by the software company. I created a quick-reference guide for the most common tasks and organized lunch-and-learn sessions where I shared tips with colleagues. I also set up a troubleshooting document where team members could record issues and solutions."
Result: "Within three weeks, our team was not only comfortable with the new system but actually experiencing a 15% increase in processing efficiency. My manager asked me to share my training approach with other departments, and I was recognized in our monthly newsletter for facilitating a smooth transition."
Situation: "While working on a cross-departmental project, I was paired with a colleague who had a very different communication style and work approach than mine."
Task: "We needed to collaborate effectively to complete a presentation for a major client within two weeks."
Action: "I scheduled a one-on-one meeting with my colleague to better understand their perspectives and preferences. I discovered they preferred detailed written plans, while I typically worked more adaptively. We agreed to compromise by creating a shared document with our overall approach while allowing flexibility in how we each completed our portions. I made sure to provide the documentation they needed while maintaining open communication throughout."
Result: "Our presentation was successful, and the client commented specifically on how well-coordinated our approach was. My colleague and I developed mutual respect through this experience, and we've since collaborated successfully on several other projects. This taught me the importance of adapting my communication style and finding common ground even with different work preferences."
"My approach would be to first assess each task's importance and impact. I'd evaluate which tasks align most closely with team or organizational priorities, which have the greatest client or stakeholder impact, and which might affect other team members' work. Once I've prioritized them, I'd create a time-blocked schedule to tackle them in order of importance. I'd also communicate with my manager about the multiple priorities to confirm my assessment and to determine if any deadlines could be adjusted or if additional resources might be available. In my previous role, I used this approach when our team received three urgent client requests simultaneously. By prioritizing effectively and delegating where possible, we were able to meet all three deadlines with high-quality work."
"In five years, I hope to have grown into a role with increased responsibility where I can leverage both my technical skills and leadership abilities. I'm particularly interested in developing expertise in project management and team leadership. I've noticed that your company promotes from within and provides professional development opportunities, which is very appealing to me. I would love to contribute to your organization's growth while developing my skills in data analysis and eventually leading projects or small teams in this field. I'm also committed to continuing my education in this industry, possibly pursuing relevant certifications that would add value to my role here."
"I've developed several effective strategies for managing stress in high-pressure situations. First, I maintain strong organizational systems that help me stay on top of deadlines and priorities, which prevents last-minute pressure when possible. When facing stressful situations, I find it helpful to break large challenges into smaller, manageable tasks and focus on them one at a time. I also prioritize clear communication with team members and supervisors when under pressure, as this often leads to better solutions and shared responsibility. To maintain my wellbeing, I practice short mindfulness techniques during the workday and ensure I take brief breaks to reset when needed. In my previous role during our busiest season, these approaches helped me maintain quality work while meeting tight deadlines for multiple clients simultaneously."
Master this common opening question with a structured approach that highlights your relevant qualifications.
Prepare for the most common interview questions with example answers and strategies.
Learn non-verbal communication techniques that project confidence and engagement.
Special considerations and techniques for online interviews and video meetings.
How to use the STAR method effectively with multiple detailed examples.
Thoughtful questions that demonstrate your interest and help you evaluate the opportunity.
Strategies for effectively communicating accommodation needs during the interview process.
Comprehensive guides and videos for all stages of interview preparation.
Articles and sample answers for various interview scenarios and questions.
Guidance on disclosure and accommodation discussions during interviews.
Extensive database of questions with example answers and expert advice.
Interview preparation assistance, including in-person coaching at Nebraska career centers.
Interview practice and coaching specifically for job seekers with disabilities.
Free workshops and one-on-one assistance with interview preparation.
Resources for developing industry-specific interview skills for Nebraska's high-demand fields.
Free platform for practicing mock interviews with peers.
Interactive interview practice platform with industry-specific questions (free through many libraries and career centers).
Tools for practicing and analyzing interview answers based on job descriptions.
Video interview practice platform with self-recording and review capabilities.
"Cracking the Coding Interview" by Gayle Laakmann McDowell
Essential for technical interviews in software development (available at Nebraska libraries).
"What Color Is Your Parachute?" by Richard N. Bolles
Comprehensive career guide with strong interview preparation sections.
"60 Seconds and You're Hired!" by Robin Ryan
Concise guide to making a strong impression in interviews.
"The Essential Job Interview Handbook" by Jean Baur
Practical guide covering all aspects of the interview process.
"The most difficult thing is the decision to act; the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process, is its own reward."
- Amelia Earhart
Every interview is both an opportunity to showcase your unique talents and a step forward in your career journey. Remember that interviewers are looking for more than just skills and experience—they're seeking someone who brings a unique perspective and authentic enthusiasm to their team. Your distinctive strengths, experiences, and viewpoint are valuable assets. Approach each interview as a conversation about how your abilities can contribute to the organization's success, and each experience—regardless of outcome—will bring you closer to finding the right position where you can thrive.