The Ultimate Guide: How to Prepare for an Interview (scripts, strategies, & more!)

“If you try to appeal to everyone, you will appeal to no one.” A lot of job seekers can land interviews, but very few will actually convert them into job offers.

And this makes sense when you take a look at the numbers.

👉 The average job posting receives 250 applications (some as much as 1,000!).

👉 But of those 250 applicants, on average only 6-8 candidates will get called in for interviews and only 1 will get the job.

If you’ve landed any job interviews, you should be super proud of yourself.

But, you should also be smart about what you do next.

The truth is that every stage of the interview process is different, yet most people approach them in the same way.

This was certainly true for myself.

I used to do pretty well at the recruiter phone screen, but then I would get stuck on the hiring manager interview.

Once I mastered the hiring manager interview, I would consistently get stuck on the team interviews.

The key that unlocked everything for me was when I stopped treating every interview as an “interview” and instead started treating it like a unique conversation.

In this post, I’m going to share how you should prepare for an interview, including what to do at each stage. How to ask smart interview questions that impress your interviewer. And I'll share a few tips from other interview experts.

Alright, so let's dive right in! Here's everything you need to know to prepare for your interviews:

(Note: If you’re not landing many interviews, you may want to also get help with your resume, LinkedIn profile, networking, or some other optimizations. If that's the case, you can sign up for a free strategy call with one of our experts here).

Alright, let’s jump right in!

Recruiter Interview: What You Need to Know

The initial stage of the interview process involves speaking with a recruiter, who will screen candidates and decide which ones are qualified enough to move forward in the hiring process. Typically, this takes place over the phone and is known as the "screening interview" or the "phone screen interview". 

While this interview seems simple, many job seekers get stuck in this first stage and never make it to the next level (I certainly kept failing at this step dozens of times before I ever understood why it happened).

Surprisingly, the most common reason why people fail this interview is because they say too much, especially when they're prompted with:

"So, tell me a little about yourself..." 

Since most people don't really know exactly what the interviewer wants to hear, they go into rambling mode and try to cover all their bases, particularly in the work experience arena. 

This is how you fail a job interview before it even begins.

A big part of learning how to prepare for a job interview is learning how to keep your story short and package yourself in a straightforward way so you don't lose the interviewer's attention while also conveying your value.

So, here is how to prepare for an interview with the recruiter:

The 3 Essential Answers You Should Provide in Every Interview

On top of the above, you must be prepared to answer the 3 universal job interview questions that every interviewer will want to know about:

1. "Why are you qualified?"
2. "Why are you applying?"
3. "Do they want to work with you?"

These questions won't necessarily be asked directly, but recruiters will always have them at the back of their minds when evaluating your suitability for the job. As such, you should sprinkle in your answers to these questions throughout the conversation.

Here's how to get these right:

“Why Are You Qualified?”

This question is commonly presented in a number of ways, but it's usually something like:

 "What would be your main goals in the first 3 months?" 

In this scenario, most people make the mistake of being “too fancy” with their answers. This is exactly what you shouldn’t be doing. 

Instead of going all-in with promises you're not sure you can deliver, give a realistic and achievable answer. The more straightforward and honest you are, the better than if you were to try to sound smart. 

For instance, for a content marketing position, your answer shouldn't be:

"In the first 3 months, I'd like to make a meaningful impact on our MQL numbers. I'd ideally like to look through our analytics and identify opportunities for growth. Then, I'd create an omnichannel strategy plan of lead gen magnets that we could implement."

This is just a lot of industry jargon without concrete plans or actions. Instead, your answer could be:

"In the first 3 months, I think I'd like to see what programs we currently have. I'd see what the process for creating content is as well, and I'd like to get comfortable with the systems. I actually found a few quick wins, like optimizing our headlines, that I think we can start with. Near the end of that time, I'd like to start running maybe some small experiments to improve upon those foundations."

This is a much more realistic and achievable answer that shows you have an understanding of the company's current processes and are willing to start with small, achievable goals before tackling bigger ones.

“Why Are You Applying?”

A smart way to answer “why are you applying” is by providing a fair limitation that the previous company you worked for had, and why that hindered you from being able to reach your maximum potential. 

Of course, you need to do this without complaining about the company.

It's also best to frame your answers with the current company's strengths. 

For example, let’s say you worked at a slow company and are applying to a company that likes to move fast:

"At my previous job, we moved very slowly. Sometimes we would spend 6 months on just one project. So I really like the fact that here you guys move fast and everyone is constantly looking to grow."

This answer doesn’t blame the previous company, but instead highlights your appreciation for the current company's strengths and how it aligns with your own values. 

If you don't have an answer like this ready, I recommend working on this first when you prepare for your interview.

“Do They Want to Work With You?”

Perhaps one of the biggest takeaways when it comes to job interviews is this:

The interview process is only 30% about your qualifications and the other 70% is about whether they like you or not. 

Don't overdo it on your qualifications at the expense of showing your personality. People hire the person they like best, not the person who will do the best job necessarily.

Pro Tip: If you get interview anxiety, the best way to overcome it is by imagining that you're already coworkers with the person who is interviewing you. This will means lowering the formality you think you're supposed to have and it will help you relax and be more personable.

For instance, with an interviewer you may ask: 

"One question I have regarding project management is how you handle revision cycles. Do you allow for multiple stakeholders to provide feedback?"

This same question can be asked, but if we apply the “coworker” filter to it, we’d probably say something more like:

 "Yeah, one question I actually was wondering about is how do you guys go about reviewing projects? Do you do it as a team or what does that look like?"

It may sound strange, but after going on hundreds of interviews myself (and coaching hundreds of job seekers in our programs, the coworker hack really does work like magic).

4 Questions to Ask a Recruiter

The recruiter won't be the only one raising job interview questions. You should also prepare some questions to ask the recruiter and these should be different from the interview questions to ask other interviewees at other interview stages.

With the recruiter, you don’t want to focus too much on complex questions relating to the role itself. The recruiter isn't the best person to answer those questions. 

Instead, it's best to focus on questions about the company culture and the next steps in the interview process.

Here are 4 great job interview questions to ask your recruiter:

1. What’s the biggest problem you’re trying to solve with the person you’re hiring for this role?
2. This role seems to focus on X skill and Y skill, how would you say the person’s time will be split between these two?
3. If I were to move on to the next stages, can you tell me a bit about who I’ll be speaking with?
4. Was there anything I didn’t cover in our conversation today that you would have liked me to touch on?

Hiring Manager Interview: What You Need to Know

The next stage in the interview process is the interview with the hiring manager. Some companies may skip the recruiter interview and start with this one, so there may be some overlap between these two interview types.

That being said, there are some big differences between a recruiter and a hiring manager. Generally, the purpose of the hiring manager interview is to prove that you're qualified for the role. So, unlike the recruiter interview above, this is where you can demonstrate your expertise without being worried about overwhelming your interviewer.

Here’s how to prepare for the hiring manager interview:

Make a Personal Connection

Remember that the person you're talking to will be your manager, so it's important to make a good connection. 

This is the single most overlooked aspect of this interview.

The best way to establish a connection is to search for industry-specific commonalities. Then, instead of stating the commonality as a fact, frame it as a question that you already know will have an affirmative answer.

For instance, in the case of a B2B company, this could be something like: 

"As I'm sure you know, it can be super hard to get sales and marketing to work together. Do you guys have a hard time connecting with sales or is that not an issue here?"

Typically they’ll answer with, “o yes, we definitely have a hard time working with sales because…” Their answer will then open the way for a conversation that will help you two connect.

Offer Solutions to Their Problems

Companies hire when they need a problem solved.

I’ll repeat that, companies hire when they need a problem solved.

This may be the most overlooked step when people prepare for interviews.

The best way to figure out what problems the company is trying to solve is by asking the recruiter. If you’ve already done this, then this next part will be easy. 

However, if you don't know what the problems are, don't guess or make assumptions based on online research. What you see online is hardly ever the full story. It's better to ask directly during the interview, and then offer solutions.

For instance, in the example above once you get the confirmation from the manager about the sales and marketing issue, you could then say:

“Yeah, it’s a very common problem so I wouldn’t feel too bad if I were you. At my previous company, I actually decided to set up a sales and marketing happy hour, where we could all gather informally and chat through the issues. It actually worked really well!”

This approach shows that you’re not only proactive and solution-oriented, but you also have experience in handling similar challenges.

Describe a Project

Another great way to demonstrate your expertise is by sharing a project that brings your experience to life. 

Since most applicants that reach this stage have very similar qualifications, using a specific example will help you stand out. Sure, someone else may have managed projects like you did, but no one would have managed the same project that you have.

Just remember to stick to 3 minutes or less. Keep it brief, don't share too many details, and end on a positive note. An example of this would be “and it turned out to be one of our most successful projects of the year.” 

This gives the interviewer a glimpse into your abilities and shows that you’re capable of delivering results. 

If you’d like some ideas for how to structure your answer, I recommend watching this video by Career Coach Ash Gosselin from The Recruiter Method:

6 Questions to Ask the Hiring Manager

Just like the recruiter interview, your conversation with the hiring manager should be a two-way street. That means you'll also get the opportunity to ask questions. 

Rather than asking generic job interview questions, prepare a list of specific questions about the role that focus on the hiring manager.

Here are 6 examples of questions to ask the hiring manager:

1. What’s the biggest problem you’re trying to solve with the person you’re hiring for this role?
2. Who are the other people on the team that I would be working with? How will this role be most helpful to each of them?
3. What is the leadership team like?
4. Why did you decide to join the company? How has it been so far?
5. How would you characterize your management style? Can you give me an example of how you supported your direct report to grow in their career?
6. Was there anything I didn’t cover in our conversation today that you would have liked me to touch on?

Team Interviews: What You Need to Know

Following the interview with the hiring manager, you may also be asked to participate in a panel of team interviews with a few team members. The purpose of team interviews is twofold:

• To have experts in the field assess your skills and qualifications
• To see if you're a good culture fit with the larger team

Here are the top 3 ways how you should prepare for team interviews:

Show Your Personality

Sure, your colleagues will want to know that you're competent, but they'll also be interested in you as a person. You'll be spending 8 hours a day with these people, so showcasing how you’re “easy to work with” and letting your personality shine through is crucial.

This is probably the most overlooked aspect of team interviews and the biggest mistake people make with team interviews.

Pro Tip: A good hack to ease your nerves with this step of the interview process is to think of these people like they're already your coworkers. Before the interviews, think about your current/past colleagues and try to visualize how you interacted with them. Then, channel that same energy when talking to your future coworkers.

Ask What They Want to See From the Person Filling the Role

Since every team member will have a different stake in your potential hire, they'll likely have different expectations for how you can help the team.

For example, when interviewing a Product Manager:

• The marketing team will care more about the product name
• While the sales team might care more about the price point 

The best question to ask during team interviews is: “What are you hoping the person taking on this role will help you with the most?”

By asking them this interview question, you'll be able to better tailor your responses and show how you could add value to each specific team member.

Ask Them Questions That Would Make Them Feel Proud

Believe it or not, team members often get nervous about interviewing candidates. That’s why one thing you can do is help them by letting them brag about what they excel at.

For example, if you're interviewing for a company that's larger than the one you're working at, you could ask a question like, 

"At my current company, we're really under-resourced, and we constantly struggle with not having enough budget for our projects. Do you experience similar problems here?"

You probably know that the answer is "no", and you could’ve figured that out in many different ways. But, this question will let your interviewer tell you about how well-resourced the company is – i.e., how successful it is – and then they’ll feel proud to be a part of the organization. 

Remember, people hire people that make them feel good.

4 Questions to Ask in Team Interviews

Part of making the team feel comfortable with you is showing them how you’re “easy to work with.” Remember, it's not only about how qualified you are, it’s also about your “culture fit.”

Here are 4 questions to give you a headstart:

1. How will this role be most helpful to you? What’s the one thing I can help you with most?
2. What’s your favorite thing about working here and what’s your least favorite?
3. How would you characterize the culture here?
4. Was there anything I didn’t cover in our conversation today that you would have liked me to touch on?

That last question in particular is great to use for any interview.

Executive Interviews: What You Need to Know

Lastly, the final step in the interview process may be to chat with executive leader, such as a VP or a Director. Not all companies do this, but if they do, it's a critical interview to be well-prepared for.

The executive interview is different than any of the other interviews.

The purpose of this interview is for the executive to get an idea of how you think about problems. That's why this is where you'll want all your intelligence and expertise to really shine (without sounding obnoxious). 

Here's how to prepare for a job interview with an executive:

Don’t Answer Every Question

Executives are more interested in how you think about a problem as opposed to whether you have the "right" answer. So, don't be taken aback when you get asked a lot of tough questions that don't have clear answers.

You're not expected to answer them all and it can actually be a red flag if you attempt to do so.

You definitely want to answer a few questions, but also be honest and say you don't know the answer to some. 

However, don't stop there after saying you don’t know. 

Your answer should be abuot how you'd go about finding the answer.

You want to demonstrate a strong, rational path that showcases your entire thought process. 

Here’s an example of how to answer an executive interview question for a Marketing Manager role: 

“That’s a tough one. I think in order to answer that, I would need to know a little bit more about what you guys have currently tried and dig into some of your analytics. That being said, I think I’d start by talking to the demand-gen team and seeing what are some of the wins they’ve seen there. Then I’d want to look at our traffic numbers from our blog posts and reassess our strategy moving forward.”

As you see, you're not fully answering the question, but you’re still providing a strong answer that shows your critical thinking and collaboration skills.

Prepare Questions and Let Them Talk

Since executives are in very high positions, they're at a point where they can choose what they work on. That comes with a lot of passion, so don't be surprised if they want to talk a lot. 

Let them talk.

Studies have shown that the person who talks more during a conversation is generally happier with the outcome. Use that to your advantage by preparing questions that would prompt them to provide their point of view on a subject.

Talk About the Industry, Not Just the Job

It's important to show that you're also passionate about the overall industry, not just the specific role you're applying for. 

Part of how to prepare for a job interview is doing your research well. Before the day of the interview, take some time to read some articles about the future of the industry. Even 20 minutes will do. 

Then, during the interview, drop some insights about where you think the industry is headed into some of your interview answers.

Pro Tip: Don't sound obnoxious or you can come off as a know-it-all. You don't want to go overboard with industry knowledge, just mention a few points to show your interest and knowledge. This leaves a positive impression and shows that you’re well-informed and invested in the industry, but also curious and willing to learn more.

5 Questions to Ask During an Executive Interview

It may seem intimidating to ask questions to a high-level executive during an interview, but it can actually be a great way to stand out if you ask the right ones. 

Here you want to focus on questions about the industry and overall market trends. Here are 5 questions that can help you impress an executive:

1. What attracted you to work here over anywhere else you could have gone?
2. What’s the biggest challenge for the company right now?
3. What are the plans for the next 1, 3, or 5 years?
4. What do you think about (insert new industry trend you’ve researched)?
5. Was there anything I didn’t cover in our conversation today that you would have liked me to touch on?

How to Prepare for an Interview: Summary

Alright, so that was alot! If you're stressed about how to prepare for your interview, take a breath. You don't have to do all of these things above at once. 

My best advice is to bookmark this page and come back to it as you start landing your interviews.

When you land an interview with the recruiter, review the recruiter section. When you ace that interview (as you inevitably will) and they move you on to the hiring manager stage, review that section.

The interview process is very long these days, but each stage gives you an opportunity to show what you can do.

So, prepare for your interviews one step at a time.

You've got this!