How to Ace an Interview - Part 1: Before the Interview Tips

The interview tips they won’t typically tell you

Interview Tips

Research

First thing you’re going to do? Research. Companies want to hire someone who will benefit the company and increase profits. So be that person. There is no better way to show your desire to land the job than to research and show genuine interest.

But you already knew that. Everyone researches the company. I want you to dig deep. Don’t just regurgitate the company’s mission statement. Read their recent finances, blog posts, or press releases. As creepy as this may seem, stalk their social media. Find the higher-ups or the person interviewing you and research anything you can: their LinkedIn, Instagram, X, TikTok. Anything that gives you more insight into what they want helps you become the perfect hire.

Finally, research their “why.” Companies don’t hire for fun. If there’s a job listing open, it’s because something is missing. Find out why this position is open—maybe the last person made mistakes you can learn about. You’ll use this in the interview.

Study

Aside from researching the company, a key component many skip is studying themselves. Your resume reflects you. You need to know it inside and out. This should be easy, it’s your life. But you must be able to elaborate on anything you included.

Think about why you added each item and the lessons you took from them. Most importantly, connect those experiences to something applicable to the job. If you ran a club in college, connect it to how you resolved conflicts, something that would be useful in an HR role, for example. Employers want to see that your experience has impact, not just participation.

Practice

At the end of the day, interviewing is a skill. Some people can go in unrehearsed and nail it. But not all of us are wired that way. So prepare. Use your friends or ChatGPT. Upload your resume, give it a job description, and ask for a mock interview with sample questions.

You may not feel motivated to prep, but this is the energy it takes to maximize your chances. Also, create a question deck. Make your own, ask ChatGPT, or improvise—but always ask a question during your interview. Be careful, though. Don’t ask a question just to ask it. If they already answered your question, don’t repeat it. That can make you look inattentive. Be sharp. Ask something relevant.

Here’s my personal go-to: 

“What does this company specifically expect from the employee they choose to hire for this position?”

Check out our other article on interview tips during the interview. Good luck!