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Interviewing Resources

It’s natural to be nervous when interviewing for jobs, internships, and other professional opportunities—we’re all human! Interviewing is a muscle that you can absolutely build with practice and smart preparation, though—use the guidance below to put your best foot forward for the opportunities you want. 

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Interviewing Basics

  1. What stage and type of interview is it (screen, final interview, 1:1, panel)
  2. When, where (in person, online)
  3. Who will be interviewing you (look them up on LinkedIn and/or employer website in advance)
  4. Amount of time for the interview
  1. Research the employer
  2. Choose questions you think you're likely to be asked
  3. Prepare sample response to these questions, by order of importance, based on the time you have
  4. Prepare questions to ask the interviewer (at least 3)
  5. Know the job position and know your resume
    1. You need to demonstrate you understand the job and be able to talk about your ability to perform its requirements. 
    2. Be prepared to discuss how your experiences connect with the job functions and what it’s looked like for you to perform them effectively (Answering: Tell me about a time when you...) 
    3. Be prepared to discuss any gaps in your resume
    4. Be authentic!
  1. Practice
    1. Practice your interview responses in any of these ways:

      1. Big Interview (Virtual mock interviews through AU's Career Center)

      2. Mock interview with SIS Office of Career Development (email Senior Career Advisor David Fletcher at fletcher@american.edu) 

      3. Practice with a mentor or friend 

      4. Practice in the mirror and/or record yourself on your phone 

    2. Take care with physical cues and speaking

      1. Take care with speech, posture, eye contact

      2. Speak clearly and calmly

      3. Watch the speed of your voice (we naturally speak faster when we're nervous!)

      4. Use inflection—have energy; don't be monotone

      5. Avoid saying too many ums, errs, likes, you know...

      6. Stand/sit up straight but relaxed

      7. Smile and make eye contact with the interviewers

    3. Prepare your environment for virtual interviews

      1. Find a quiet, private, secure place (avoid coffee shops)

      2. Ensure you have good lighting on camera

      3. Try to maintain a plain background

      4. Check to make sure that your computer video and audio works

      5. Minimize distractions (close other tabs on your computer, keep your phone on silent and face down)

  1. It’s different for everyone but think about: what helps you prepare for situations where you're nervous? 

  2. If you have an option when selecting interview times, do what makes you shine best—don’t select an early morning if you’re not a morning person. 

  3. You’ve been selected for an interview—go in with confidence! They would not take the time and resources to interview you unless you had qualifications that appealed to them. They will pick up on your confidence. 

  4. Visualize yourself performing the job well and the interview going well in the week before the interview. 

  5. The flip side of going in with confidence is it’s okay and natural to be nervous—it shows that you care! 

  6. If meditation or something similar helps you, meditating just for a few minutes before the interview can help. 

  7. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview site so you have at least 15 minutes to be still and prepare yourself mentally (good practice for both in-person and virtual interviews). 

  1. Don't be late! For in-person interviews, show up 10 minutes early. For virtual interviews, log on a few minutes early.

  2. Be professionally dressed.

  3. Have a copy of your application materials (resume, cover letter) and the job description in front on you. Bring physical copies for in-person interviews.

  4. When answering questions that you don't understand, ask that things be restated, not repeated. 

  1. Send an email so they get it right away and follow up with a thank you card if you like.

  2. Writing a thank you note is important because it creates a positive connection with the interviewer(s). 

  3. Thank you notes help you stand out from the crowd. When two candidates are close, it can sometimes be the difference in getting the job or not. 

  4. Following up with a thank you is an opportunity to demonstrate your professionalism, courtesy, and communication skills. It also confirms your interest in the job.

Pre-Interview Preparation and Practice

For your interview, you will want to prepare some responses to questions ahead of time. We recommend practicing those responses to build confidence and ensure all goes smoothly with your interview. We have compiled some specific resources on the questions to prepare for, as well as how to prepare effectively.

Preparing Specific Responses for Interview Questions

  • Write down notes for the key things you want to express 
  • Time yourself in delivering these out loud as you would in the interview (don't worry if you’re looking at the notes more in the beginning) 
  • When you have the right content in approximately a 1-2 minute response, continue practicing without looking at your notes.

Basic Question Preparation

For basic questions, we recommend keeping your responses to about 60 seconds. Review our sample basic questions and pick out a few to prepare for.

Example: Tell me about yourself

There are various ways to answer this well, but it's good to have a structure to rely on. The first, more basic structure, goes over your present, past, and future as a professional. The second is a more advanced 60 second sell.

Create a 60 second response that begins with your present, touches upon your past experience, and outlines your future goals and connection to the role. 

Example:

  • Present: "I'm a [senior] at American University studying [international studies] with a focus on [name thematic areas or top interests]. 
  • Relevant Past: "I've done internships/research/projects/etc. at [X] and [Y] during my studies and it's taught me I'm very interested in [Z]." 
  • Future and how it relates to the role: "I'm really interested in the [ABC field] and developing experience in [XYZ area/role], which is what led me to apply to this position.” 

Create a 60 second pitch that goes over the major points of why you are well suited for the role. Remember to use these points effectively. Use these main points to develop your 60 second sell.  

Example:

  • 5 Point Agenda: 

    • Point 1: Six years of experience as a math and science teacher. 
    • Point 2: Extensive program coordination experience. 
    • Point 3: Organized dozens of events. 
    • Point 4: Technical oral and written communications skills. 
    • Point 5: Highly productive individual contributor and successfully worked in a collaborative team environment. 

  • 60-Second Sell: 

    • I have six years of work experience as a math and science teacher that includes an extensive program coordination background. In my past job, I have successfully planned, organized, and supervised dozens of events and activities. I’m highly analytical with superior technical oral and written communications skills. Highly productive and efficient, I excel as both an individual contributor and also working in a collaborative team environment. 

The following information and example has been adapted from 60 Seconds and You’re Hired! By Robin Ryan. For more information, please review "Best Way to Open An Interview to Secure a Job Offer" by Robin Ryan.

Behavioral Question Preparation

For behavioral questions, we recommend taking the same approach for developing your intial answers. Write notes for key points that you would like to express, time yourself in your delivery, and work to get that time to about 1-2 min. 

Choose 8-10 potential questions you think you may be asked, and choose a different story for each one. In your notes, create 2 columns.

  • Column 1 has each question (e.g. Tell me about a time when you managed conflicting priorities effectively).
  • Column 2 has:
    • S - Situation
    • T - Task
    • A - Action
    • R - Results

Fill in your notes for each question to help you remember the steps of your stories. This method is generally called the STAR method (though it is sometimes referred to as the CAR or PAR method, depending on the specific acronym).  

Sample Questions for Interview Preparation

There are certain job interview questions that interviewers frequently ask. These help you to establish your background, experience, and interest for the role, as well as for your career at large. Always prepare for the following questions in a job interview. 

  • Tell me about yourself. 
  • Why do you want to work here? (in this organization and in this role specifically) 
  • What are the top strengths you bring to this position? 
  • Walk me through your [project management – here prepare to discuss any skills you have relevant to the role] experience on your resume. 
  • What do you consider your biggest weakness? 
  • How does this role fit into your larger professional goals? 

You may also want to prepare for behavioral questions that may come up in a job interview. Behavioral questions cover how you handle basic work tasks, including issues, conflict, challenges, collaboration, success, and more. You can predict what skills to highlight in your responses by preparing these questions around certain skills from the job description for the role. Review the following questions related to behavioral experiences. 

  • For jobs that require project management skills, for example: Tell me about a time when you [managed a project effectively on a short timeline]. 

  • Tell me about a time when you had to handle conflict. 

  • Tell me about a time when you handled stress and managed competing priorities effectively. 

  • Tell me about a situation where the outcome of your efforts was not to the expectation of the stakeholder.  

  • Tell me about a situation where you had a collaborative program, but a colleague/coworker did not complete their task/work. 

  • Tell me about a time when you observed a coworker doing something illegal or unethical 

You will want to prepare some questions ahead of time to ask your interviewer. This shows that you are genuinely interestd in the role and learning more about it in general. Review the following questions for options to ask your interviewer.

  • What are the top skills you see for people who have been successful in this role? 
  • Similar, but asked differently: What makes the difference between a good employee in this company and a fantastic one? 
  • What are the most immediate projects that need to be addressed in this role? 
  • What types of skills is the team missing that you’re looking to fill in a new hire? 
  • What are the performance expectations of this position over the next 12 months? 
  • If not mentioned in the job description: What are the expectations in terms of modality for the role (100% in person, hybrid, remote)? 
  • How does your organization define diversity? What lenses of diversity has your organization made a direct commitment toward?
    • Review more questions to assess an organization’s commitment to DEI.
  • Review more questions through the AU Career Center.

Thank You Notes

Thank you notes are always strong practice as you build your network in any professional context. In the context of a job interview between multiple close candidates, a strong thank you note can also make the difference in getting an offer.

The following samples have been adapted from "How to Write a Thank You Email After an Interview" via the Harvard Business Review.

Dear Ms. Cassidy, 

It was great speaking with you yesterday about being a possible fit for your team. I appreciate the transparency of the project you are working on and what it is like working at [company name]. It seems like an amazing team and an exciting project with huge potential. I am excited about the possibility of working with you. If you have any questions or want to continue our conversation, please reach out at any time. 

I look forward to being in touch. 

Thank you, 

This sample email is more detailed, emphasizing what you bring to the table as a professional.

Subject: Thank you

Dear Ms. Ndiaye,

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me today and sharing some of the innovative work you and your team are doing to support your clients.

From our conversation, I understand that the pace is fast, the work is top-notch, and as hard as you work, you all have a great time doing it together. People’s passion for their work was tangible and the sense of community was amazing.

I also understand you are looking for a person who can hit the ground running, does not need handholding, and is fun to work with. I am confident I am that person.

Please, if you have questions or want to continue our conversation, feel free to reach out any time. I look forward to being in touch.

Best,

This sample email is more personal, for warmer contact. You would likely send this to a social/professional equal.

Subject: Thank you

Dear Juan,

I want to thank you for taking the time to meet with me today to discuss the financial planner position at Cascade Associates. I appreciate you sharing the history behind your family business and that you care for every customer as if they were your own family.

From our conversation, I understand that maintaining the legacy of top-notch service is your priority, and you are looking for planners who want to continue that legacy for years to come. As I shared, I have a young family of my own, and I am looking to put down roots with an organization that I can be proud to work for. I am excited about the possibility of joining your team.

Please, if you have any questions or want to continue our conversation, feel free to reach out at any time.

Sincerely,

Follow up

What do you do if you don't hear back from an employer after an interview? Send a polite follow up to express your continued interest. 

Use this sample follow up message if you haven’t heard back from an employer in the time they said you would (or after one week if they didn’t give a timeframe).

Dear (Mr./Ms./FirstName LastName), 

Thank you very much again for the opportunity to interview with you on XYZ date for XYZ position. I really enjoyed meeting with you and learning more about the position. I know you said you were planning to provide an update within a week, but I understand that hiring processes often take longer than anticipated. I just wanted to check in and express my continued strong interest in the position and ask if you might have an update on your hiring timeline at this point. 

Thank you very much again for your consideration! 

Best, 

FAQs

Here is further guidance on interview etiquette not covered above.

Rules of professional dress are evolving, which is a good thing. 

As a general rule, aim to dress one step above the level of clothing employees in the organization wear daily.

No. Wait for them to bring it up but do your research and be ready to discuss it when they bring it up. This means, know the range that is appropriate for the role and that you’re comfortable with going into the interview.  

Typically, serious salary negotiation conversations happen after the interview process, once an offer has been made. For more information on the salary negotiation process, check out our career resource page on the topic.

It’s up to you and every situation is different, but in general we don’t advise it. According to the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, under the law, employers generally cannot ask disability-related questions or require medical examinations until after an applicant has been given a conditional job offer. Employers are permitted pre-offer to ask limited questions about reasonable accommodation if they reasonably believe that the applicant may need accommodation because of an obvious or voluntarily disclosed disability, or where the applicant has disclosed a need for accommodation.

It’s up to you and every situation is different, but in general we advise waiting for the employer to broach the subject. If an employer asks if sponsorship is needed, be honest about if you’re applying for OPT, an H1B visa, or another means of being employed in the US.

Some employers will ask you to do a sample exercise as part of the interview process to see how you would perform a particular task for them. You may want to review some examples of appropriate asks. However, if an employer is asking you to do what feels like TOO much before hiring you, be wary. There are some factors to consider. If you’re unsure, come speak to us in drop-in advising – we're happy to help!