Prepare for the interview by researching the company's values, recent news, and upcoming initiatives. Review your resume and focus on identifying past experiences that align with the job responsibilities. Get familiar with your interviewer on LinkedIn, noting their education and career history. Generate 3-4 thoughtful questions for the interview, as interviewers usually reserve time for Q&A. Need examples? Come this way.

Behavioral questions assess past behavior, requiring specific examples. Interviewers use them to evaluate role-specific skills. The STAR method is best for answering behavioral questions:

• S - Situation: Give context about the situation.
• T - Task: Explain the task you faced.
• A - Action: Describe the specific actions you took to address the situation. Key word: You. Even in an entry level position, there's opportunities to influence and support the implementation of solutions.
• R - Result: Share the result of your actions and what you learned from the experience.

If you don't know the answer to an interview question, stay calm. Be honest about your lack of experience with a certain task, but express a willingness to learn or find a solution. Provide an example of a time when you were presented with a task that you've had little experience executing and walk them through how you navigated the change. Avoid guessing or providing inaccurate information. Emphasize your problem- solving skills and adaptability. You can also try to think of different responsibilities you've had that require similar skills needed to accomplish what they're asking about.

While this depends on the type of role, there are a few skills and qualities commonly valued by employers:

• Communication: The ability to share information clearly and effectively.
• Problem-Solving: Able to analyze challenges and devise good solutions.
• Collaboration: Capacity to contribute to a positive team dynamic.
• Adaptability: Readiness to navigate evolving work environments.
• Organization: Able to keep track of tasks and prioritize to meet deadlines.
• Initiative: Willingness to take on responsibilities beyond the basic job requirements.

In the absence of previous experience, demonstrating these skills gives assurance to an employer that you're adaptable and ready to learn

Always prepare thoughtful questions to show your understanding of, and interest in, the role. What doesn't the job description tell you?

Here are some topics your questions can touch on:

• Specific follow up questions about the day-to- day responsibilities mentioned in the interview or job description
• What your first 30-60-90 days would look like
• The interviewer's journey (illustrates your LinkedIn research)
• The company's top personal performance indicators
• Insight into office culture

Interviewing can be nerve wracking for a lot of people, but the way you frame it in your mind can help reduce anxiety. Think of it as a conversation with another human being. One where you're also considering whether or not their company is a good fit for you. You're not the only one being interviewed.

Taking this module and practicing is also a good start.

Body language definitely plays a role in the overall impression you make during an interview. While your verbal responses are crucial, non-verbal cues can convey additional information about your confidence, professionalism, and interpersonal skills.

Here are our top body language tips:

• Maintain eye contact — there are many benefits to being able to interview virtually, but make sure you don't get distracted by other things on your screen and don't look like you're reading your resume.
• Actively listen. Smile genuinely and appropriately throughout the interview. In general, be mindful of your facial expressions.
• Sit or stand with an upright posture as this illustrates confidence.
• Avoid crossing your arms, as it can signal defensiveness.
• Minimize fidgeting or distracting gestures

Absolutely! This is the true last opportunity to leave a great first impression. Send a thank you note to your interviewer (if you had multiple interviewers, send them individually) within 24 hours post-interview. If you don't have the contact information on hand (be sure to check calendar invites first), reach out to the recruiter who set up your interview to get the email addresses. Keep in mind, you often won't get a reply after an interview. But they do take note and it helps to set you apart