Let me tell you a story about your perfect interview. It’s a short and simple story. You make it look easy.

  • You have reviewed all the material you can find on the company and position
  • You arrive slightly before your interview feeling mentally sharp from your full night of rest
  • You greet the receptionist with warmth
  • You greet your interviewers with a wide smile and professional enthusiasm
  • You are relaxed and enjoying the opportunity to meet other industry professionals
  • You listen carefully to their questions, pause before responding, and provide concise, honest, and on-topic answers
  • You ask simple contextual questions and prepared questions and listen carefully to understand.
  • You conclude the interview with gratitude for the opportunity and share your attraction to the role, if appropriate.
  • You ask for their preferred next step and schedule the next meeting before leaving
  • You send a gracious thank you note (hand written for extra points) to all the interviewers

That is how you nail the interview.

Questions, answered

The short version.

How should I prepare for a job interview?
Review all the material you can find on the company and the position, get a full night of rest, and arrive slightly before your interview feeling mentally sharp. Preparation is what makes the rest of the interview look easy.
How should I handle myself during the interview?
Greet the receptionist with warmth and your interviewers with a wide smile and professional enthusiasm, then relax and enjoy meeting other industry professionals. Listen carefully to questions, pause before responding, and give concise, honest, on-topic answers. Ask simple contextual questions along with prepared ones, and listen carefully to understand.
What is the best way to close a job interview?
Conclude with gratitude for the opportunity and, if appropriate, share your attraction to the role. Then ask for their preferred next step and schedule the next meeting before leaving, so momentum never stalls.
Should I send a thank-you note after an interview?
Yes, send a gracious thank-you note to all the interviewers, and a handwritten one earns extra points. It is the final step in nailing the interview.