Job Interview Do’s and Don’ts

1. Research:

• Do: Research the role, company, and industry thoroughly.
• Don't: Hold back from asking the HR rep or recruiter what to expect.

2. Preparation:

• Do: Know your answers to the most common questions.
• Don't: Neglect seemingly easy ones like "tell me about yourself."

3. Stories:

• Do: Have 5+ stories from past roles that clearly show your strengths.
• Don't: Hope to just come up with good examples on the spot.

4. Practice:

• Do: Find someone else you can practice answers out loud with.
• Don't: Over-rehearse to the point that you sound robotic.

5. References:

• Do: Line up your references ahead of time in case they ask.
• Don't: Pick someone unless you're confident they'll be positive.

6. Attire:

• Do: Research the dress code in advance (or ask if you're unsure).
• Don't: Take a risk - if you can't figure it out, go more formal.

7. Timing:

• Do: Arrive early and leave extra time in case things go wrong.
• Don't: Take any chances here - being late is a terrible start.

8. Respect:

• Do: Show respect to everyone - the intern, the receptionist, etc.
• Don't: Think your interviewer is the only person who gets a say.

9. Body Language:

• Do: Smile, make eye contact, and have a firm handshake.
• Don't: Face away or cross arms.

10. Tone:

• Do: Stay positive and authentic.
• Don't: Badmouth other people or exaggerate details.

11. Answers:

• Do: Lead with your headline, keep it concise, and stay structured.
• Don't: Fail to answer the question asked or ramble on too long.

12. Pauses:

• Do: Pause before answering whenever helpful.
• Don't: Assume silence is bad - it shows you're thoughtful.

13. Questions:

• Do: Come ready with questions that show you're prepared.
• Don't: Ask only about logistical things like timing and pay.

14. Fit:

• Do: Pay attention to whether you like their actions and demeanor.
• Don't: Forget this is mutual: you're interviewing them too.

15. Follow-Up:

• Do: Send a thank you note that's personalized (email is fine).
• Don't: Overthink it - brief, fast, and customized beats stalling.

16. Growth:

• Do: Write down what did and did not go well after the fact.
• Don't: Miss a chance to grow - this interview likely won't be your last.

Credit:George Stern. Thank you for sharing such an insightful and well-researched article.