how to prep smartly for an interview.
The challenge with interviews is that they don't come with a rewind button. I would have loved to press that button after some conversations. There is no reason for a recruiter to appreciate a failed interview. It means delivering a rejection email to a disappointed candidate, adding extra interviews to a busy agenda, and ultimately, worsening the conversion rate.
Personally, I would also read a failed interview as a sign of how unevenly the access to resources and preparation time are distributed in our society. Caring responsibilities, limited access to educational content, mental health struggles—there are so many reasons why we might fail to show up fully prepared for an interview.
No blog post will fix systemic inequalities. But we also shouldn't gatekeep the strategies to prepare efficiently. Below are five steps to streamline your process. As a nice side effect, working through these will boost your confidence (and if you need more tips to calm your nerves, check out the most recent post in this same series).
I’ll be over here crossing my fingers for you.
make your story pop. “Tell me a bit more about yourself!”—that’s how most interviews start. Let’s prep that: what would you like your interviewer to know about you? How about mentioning what you are most proud of in your journey, where you are at right now (impact and stakeholders), and infusing that with your values and maybe a goal or two? If you highlight how you approach adapting to change and learning new skills—you’ll help your interviewing partner visualize your first days on the job. This is a big opportunity to show your enthusiasm and how proactive you are. Keep it short and sweet, and set an optimistic tone for the rest of the interview!
know the role inside out. Identify the most relevant requirements for the role—done? Now, choose a few projects from your past experience that align with those and prep yourself to talk about them. Pinpoint the context, the goals, the process, any iterations or challenges, and the outcome (what impact did this have on the company?). Also make sure to give kudos to you and who else was involved. Remember that skills are transferrable, and companies are pretty aligned when it comes to the main (soft) skills they are looking for (like problem-solving, adaptability, comms, collaboration, and time management).
get genuinely excited. Take a dip into the company's mission, values, products, services, and recent news. After all, you want to get a feel for where you might be working. If you are not applying to your dream company—try to find something about them that genuinely excites you, even if it’s small (a sustainable move? A focus on innovation? Inclusive policies?). Now, get ready to share what you found and how that aligns with your values and interests. Your interviewer will appreciate your enthusiasm and the effort you put into researching. You’ll come across as proactive, curious, and committed—all of the good things.
ask all the things. If life got in the way of the previous step, you can still make up for it. Share your enthusiasm by asking a few thoughtful questions—prep three or four. Touch on what you are most curious about. Maybe it’s how the team approaches challenges, or you’d like to hear about a policy that reflects the company’s values. What you ask will give your interviewer a hint at what you care about (i.e., growth opportunities or a cohesive team environment). If this is a recruiter screening, you should expect them to bring up the salary range and next steps. If that doesn’t happen, ask about it (if you don’t feel comfortable, you can send a message after).
get industry-savvy. This one is a bonus tip. If you are short on time, focus on the other four—but if you can, prep some lines to showcase your industry knowledge to the interviewer. Mention a relevant article, research findings, or any trends to demonstrate that you love to stay up-to-date and would be resourceful when facing challenges in the field. Maybe you have a side project that exposes you to such insights and where you get to explore your role further. Again, keep your story short, but don’t hold back on sharing how cool and knowledgeable you are.
about the author:
Hi there! I'm Silja, the founder of the wholesome growth club, an inclusive hub for career coaching with a soft spot for introverts and perfectionists. I’m an Amsterdam-based expat, but I love connecting with people worldwide. With a background in recruiting, I know the struggle of crafting a career path that feels truly yours. At the wholesome growth club, we're all about fostering sustainable growth, meaningful engagement, and authentic connections. Our blog is dedicated to making coaching accessible and sharing insights to approach work and life with an extra dose of confidence, slow productivity, and self-compassion. If you are curious to make things happen for yourself, get in touch—we offer personalized coaching journeys that will get you closer to your (dreamy) goals in no time.
