Interviews are the main part of any hiring process. For getting the dream job anyone would have to clear multiple rounds of interviews and tests. To prepare for interviews people usually search “What are the best interview preparation websites?”
The biggest challenge that career aspirants face even after cracking the first-level written tests with ease, is passing interviews. If you have a good know-how of the particular career along with good reasoning, vocabulary and aptitude skills, getting past the written tests need not be a nerve-racking affair.
If you are looking to crack the upcoming job interviews, this article will provide the best interview preparation websites and seal a place in the career of your choice.
- Top 10 Sites For Interview Preparation
- Which Website is Best for Preparing for Interview?
- Where can I Practice Interviewing?
- What Are the 7 Preparations for Interviews?
- What are the Top 10 Interview Tips?
- How can I Practice Online Interviews?
- How can I Improve my Interview Skills?
- What are 3 Good Interview Questions?
Top 10 Sites For Interview Preparation
Interview preparation is a key element when looking for a job. We all want to be above the bar and outsmart every individual in the room. That’s why we got you covered by availing of the best top 10 interview preparation sites that will enable you to be at par excellence. These sites include:
1. AMBITIONBOX
Just like any other interview site ambition enables the candidate to prepare for the interview. Their outstanding factor is the fact that companies, provide their profiles, and employees also provide the salaries and ways to pass the interviews and how they are framed.
2. ACETHEINTERVIEW
Ace provides the most pertinent information, they help most candidates get confidence which greatly increases their chances of getting a job. Providing the ideal guide and tips is also another major factor that enables candidates to land their dream job. In addition, they have the best services where they appreciate and encourage you.
3. GeeksforGeeks
It was founded in 2008 and the best part is that it focuses on all the categories of coding practice questions from simple to the most advanced.
Read Also: Top 10 Sites to Review Your Resume For Free
This is the place that every developer knows about as it provides answers to every development topic. It has all the previous years’ questions and is categorized by topics, companies, levels, etc.
The best way to use GeeksforGeeks is for multiple coding problems for practicing and that too starting from basics to advance level.
4. Leetcode
Leetcode operates under one main agenda which is to help you land your dream job. One distinguishing factor about them is that they keep track of what has been happening over the years and they provide interview resources that will help the user effectively. It is mostly of great help for testing skills in algorithmic skills and above all, they provide information about work ethic.
5. Gainlo
Gainlo helps the interviewers to interact effectively like how they would do so in real life. They have amazing workers who will guide you step by step by scheduling an appointment for you so that you can get the best services. Moreover, they provide interview tips and hacks which will be of great help.
6. CareerCup
It was founded in 2005 and its interview question section allows you to filter coding questions by companies, categories, positions, etc.
The main page is mainly focused on the newly updated interview questions that are possible to be asked in the upcoming interviews. This is a great place to practice coding questions from the target companies.
7. Codercarrier
Codercarrier is one of the sites that helps with the interview preparation but mostly it is concerned with numbers and algorithms. It has a good structure, it also works best in analysis hence facilitating understanding.
8. Interview-up
Interview-up is also an emerging site that satisfies the needs of the candidates. It ensures that the candidates have been attended to very well and their questions are answered. They also create confidence in the candidates and they steer them to success.
9. Interview best
Interview best is a good site that enables candidates to prepare extremely well for their interviews. They have the best services as they provide you with the required questions for the interview and how you may answer them. Furthermore, they have a comprehensive list that covers a larger sector of job interviews in different forms.
10. IndiaBix
It helps with learning and practicing aptitude questions. It contains various sections that are primarily focused on the tips, tricks, and resources to be outsmarted at various levels and rounds of the interview.
It is a great repository that helps you to prepare and learn aptitude questions that are framed based on the previous interview questions.
Which Website is Best for Preparing for Interview?
1. Glassdoor
This website comes with a complete package for anyone preparing for Job Interviews. You can have a glimpse of what the company is all about. There are reviews from its current and previous staff which you can read by signing up for an account.
There are interview preparation tips provided by employees that have previously cracked interviews for a specific company. All the steps that you will go through are mentioned even with the Interview questions that were asked the people.
2. GeeksforGeeks
It is the website that every developer knows about as it provides answers to every development topic. It has got all the previous years’ questions categorized in topics as well as companies for which they were asked.
Almost all of the tech companies hire on the basis of a coding round. The website has got multiple coding problems for practicing and that too starting from basics to advance level.
3. CareerCup
CareerCup is another great website to prepare for an Interview. It has got multiple resources to support a learner. You can have tips for improving your resume and building a strong and influential one.
On the main page of the website, you will be shown newly updated Interview Questions. You can answer the questions that you know and can also ask for your questions.
There are options to know about new career fields and salaries associated with each. The website is mainly focused on providing resources for Software Engineering Interview Preparations.
4. Reddit Interview Topics
There is a special subreddit on the website Reddit which provides a lot of information about Interviews. Anyone preparing for any kind of Interview can find a good chunk of knowledge and answers.
If you have recently faced any tech interviews you can also submit the related knowledge. The answers are not focused on any general field but rather on the base topics from people all around the world. People usually discuss their queries and how they overcome the difficulties faced during the process of hiring.
You will surely learn a lot of things from people who have already experienced the fear and nervousness that you might feel.
5. Zety Blog
Zety is an online resume builder website that helps you in building a perfect resume. The website also runs a Blog where you can get a lot of tips to prepare for an interview well.
The blog shares articles about Career Advice, Tips to find jobs, Tips on clearing interviews, Building a better resume and CV, and a lot more topics.
It also has articles about handling your work-life schedules and procedures. Read these articles to clear any kind of Interview.
6. HackerRank
This amazing website is very much popular among coders and developers. HackerRank organizes various coding contests and rewards the winners for their hard work. Students at HackerRank can practice their coding, Prepare for interviews and also join a contest.
There are companies that are hiring through HackerRank all over the world. So any student can code the programs and companies will select candidates for hiring according to their performance. Even if you are preparing for some developer-level exams like Machine Learning or Python Developer you can test your skills on the platform with coding rounds.
7. IndiaBix
Every company while hiring new candidates takes an aptitude test. There are questions related to simple mathematics including topics like Ratio, Number Series, Quadratic Equations, etc.
IndiaBix helps students in learning and practicing aptitude questions. The questions are formed according to the one that is asked in Interview aptitude tests. There are also tips, tricks, and resources for every round for interviews.
8. AmbitionBox
Quite similar to Glassdoor and provides both reviews for companies and tips for cracking their interviews. AmbitionBox also provides salaries related to various fields as disclosed by the employees.
These salaries are specific to companies and do not reflect accurate figures. Working on practice tests will help you understand how the interview tests are taken.
You can also learn about tactics and basic personality development tips to rock the interviews.
9. Pinterview Blog
Pinterview provides mock tests build by professionals to help you prepare well. There are multiple fields that you can prepare through the website.
On a basic note, the blog offers tips and tricks for facing interviews for various companies. The company list includes TCS, Infosys, HCL, and lot more big business houses. The blog could be subscribed and thus lets the learner get the latest information about the same.
10. Quora
Quora is a question-answer website and is listed here for a valid reason. The community includes people from around the world having a variety of fields, interests, and cultures.
Anyone using Quora can ask questions and get them answered by experts from around the world. There are already thousands of questions answered about interview preparation tips and resources. So you can check them too for your journey through the process of getting hired.
Where can I Practice Interviewing?
Practicing for an interview is an important step in the interview preparation process. When you have an interview for a new job coming up, you want to practice for the interview to make sure you are as prepared as possible.
We will now discuss everything you need to know about practicing for a job interview including practice questions with tips and example answers. Follow these steps to use job interview practice to prepare for an interview:
1. Prepare your interview space
The first step in the practice interview process is to prepare your interview space. Try to find a space that is clean and quiet. You may want to set your interview space up in an area that has a table and chairs to make the scene feel more like an actual interview space.
2. Decide whether you will practice alone or with someone else
There are several options available for practicing for an interview. Some people hire a career coach or job search coach to help them practice for the interview and coach them through the job-search process. But you can also practice for an interview with a friend or family member. You can even practice by yourself if no one else is available to practice with you.
3. Gather a list of practice questions
Next, you will need to gather a list of questions to practice answering during your practice interview. If you are doing your practice interview with a career coach or job search coach, they will probably gather the list of questions for you. If you are practicing with a friend or family member, you may want to ask them to gather questions so you won’t know which questions they will ask.
If you choose the practice questions yourself, you can ask the person you are practicing with to ask the questions in a random order so you won’t know when to expect each question. If you are practicing alone, you can write each interview question on a flashcard and shuffle the cards for the same effect.
4. Dress for the interview
Next, you should try to wear the same thing during your practice interview that you plan to wear to the real interview. This will help you ensure you are comfortable in the outfit you have chosen and that the outfit won’t cause unnecessary distractions to you or the interviewer during the interview. Doing this also helps you make sure your outfit is prepared before the day of your interview.
5. Practice answering questions
Next, it is time to start practicing answering questions. You should practice answering general interview questions, behavioral interview questions and questions that are specific to the position you are applying for. Even if you are practicing alone, you should practice answering questions out loud to help you prepare for the real interview. You can also take notes while you answer each question of ways to improve your answer.
6. Ask for feedback
Finally, you should ask the person who is practicing with you to provide you with feedback. Hopefully, this person will be able to find areas in which you can continue to practice to improve before your real interview. If you are practicing alone, you can watch yourself in a mirror or record yourself and provide yourself with honest feedback as you go through your practice interview.
What Are the 7 Preparations for Interviews?
Now that you have an interview, there are certain things you will want to do in advance to prepare for it.
Remember, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, so you’ll want to do your best in preparing for your interview in advance.
1. Pick your outfit:
What you wear in your interview is an absolutely crucial part of how to prepare for a job interview. After you choose your outfit, make sure it is cleaned and pressed and you have the appropriate accessories and shoes to go with it. It doesn’t hurt to try the outfit on ahead of time, just to make sure everything fits and you look great.
Then put your outfit aside for the day of your interview and have it ready to go. Now that you have this crucial step out of the way, you can concentrate on the rest.
2. Practice greeting your interviewer:
You should always greet your interviewee with a friendly smile and firm handshake. If you do this right, you will set off the right energy and the chances of the interview going well will increase. This is a small and simple step that you should always do to prepare for your interview.
3. Study your resume and know everything about it:
Any work experience or skills you have listed on your resume are fair game to talk about during the interview. Your resume is all the interviewer has to go by in order to get to know you. They may pick things out from it and ask you to elaborate.
Even though you may have a previous job listed that was many years ago, the interviewer may ask you to explain what you did at that job and you are responsible for providing an answer. This is one step you absolutely won’t want to skip on how to prepare for a job interview.
4. Practice your answers to the most common interview questions:
If you don’t know what these are, do your research and find out or see one of my other articles. You’ll want to have your answers ready and practice them. You should always be able to answer “Tell me about yourself” and “Why do you think you would be great for this job?” The employer doesn’t know, so it’s up to you to sell it.
Don’t completely memorize your answers so they come out rehearsed, but have a clear idea of what you are going to say. When you are asked, you want your answer to come out intelligently and naturally. Be open to other questions as well and really know what you can offer to the company.
5. Research the company and the job position you are applying for:
Write down any questions you may have about either so you can ask them during the interview. If there any requirements of the job that you are unsure of, you should definitely ask during the interview. It always looks nice when you go into an interview with intelligent questions. It shows you put effort into preparing for the interview.
However, never ask questions just to ask questions. The interviewer will see right through that. Your questions should be genuine and relevant.
6. Find out the type of interview you will be going on:
There are several common types of interviews such as one on one, group, and behavioral. You shouldn’t assume you will get a certain one. Don’t be afraid to ask your recruiter what kind of interview will have if you don’t know – the interview will be more beneficial to both parties if you are prepared.
7. Print out the directions to the interview and be on time:
Allow enough time to get there and anticipate traffic. It’s ok to be up to 10 minutes early, but no more than that. Otherwise, the interviewer may not be ready for you. Bring the phone number of your interviewer just in case you get lost or are going to be late. If you are going to be late, call to let the interviewer know.
What are the Top 10 Interview Tips?
When you have successfully mastered the dual arts of how to create a resume and cover letter, and you begin receiving requests for interviews, it’s time to understand how to succeed in the job interview so that you are ever closer to your goal of obtaining one or more job offers.
Below we discuss the ten most important job interviewing tips for job seekers.
1. Conduct research on the employer, hiring manager, and job opportunity
Success in a job interview starts with a solid foundation of knowledge on the jobseeker’s part. You should understand the employer, the requirements of the job, and the background of the person (or people) interviewing you.
The more research you conduct, the more you’ll understand the employer, and the better you’ll be able to answer interview questions as well as ask insightful questions. Scour the organization’s website and other published materials, search engines, and research tools, and ask questions about the company in your network of contacts.
2. Review common interview questions and prepare your responses
Another key to interview success is preparing responses to expected interview questions. First, ask the hiring manager the type of interview to expect. Will it be one-on-one or in a group? Will it be with one person, or will you meet several members of the organization? Your goal is to try to determine what you’ll be asked and to compose detailed yet concise responses that focus on specific examples and accomplishments.
A good tool for remembering your responses is to put them into a story form that you can tell in the interview. No need to memorize responses (in fact, it’s best not to), but do develop talking points. There are excellent tools available to help you with interview questions and responses. Also, consider using the STAR Interviewing Technique.
3. Dress for success
Plan out a wardrobe that fits the organization and its culture, striving for the most professional appearance you can accomplish. Remember that it’s always better to be overdressed than under, and to wear clothing that fits and is clean and pressed. Keep accessories and jewelry to a minimum. Try not to smoke or eat right before the interview, and if possible, brush your teeth or use mouthwash.
4. Arrive on time relaxed and prepared for the interview
There is no excuse ever for arriving late to an interview. Short of a disaster, strive to arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled interview to complete additional paperwork and allow yourself time to get settled. Arriving a bit early is also a chance to observe the dynamics of the workplace.
The day before the interview, pack up extra copies of your resume or CV and reference list. If you have a portfolio or samples of your work, bring those along too. Finally, remember to pack several pens and a pad of paper to jot notes. Finally, as you get to the offices, shut off your cell phone. (And if you were chewing gum, get rid of it.)
5. Make good first impressions
A cardinal rule of interviewing is to be polite and offer warm greetings to everyone you meet, from the parking attendant to the receptionist to the hiring manager. Employers often are curious about how job applicants treat staff members, and your job offer could easily be derailed if you’re rude or arrogant to any of the staff.
When it’s time for the interview, keep in mind that first impressions — the impression interviewers get in the first few seconds of meeting you — can make or break an interview.
Remember that having a positive attitude and expressing enthusiasm for the job and employer are vital in the initial stages of the interview; studies show that hiring managers make critical decisions about job applicants in the first 20 minutes of the interview.
6. Be authentic, upbeat, focused and concise
Once the interview starts, the key to success is the quality and delivery of your responses. Your goal should always be authenticity, responding truthfully to interview questions.
At the same time, your goal is to get to the next step, so you’ll want to provide focused responses that showcase your skills, experience, and fit with the job and the employer. Provide solid examples of solutions and accomplishments, but keep your responses short and to the point.
By preparing responses to common interview questions, you’ll ideally avoid long, rambling responses that bore interviewers. Always attempt to keep your interview responses short and to the point. Finally, no matter how much an interviewer might bait you, never badmouth a previous employer, boss, or co-worker. The interview is about you and making your case that you are the ideal candidate for the job.
7. Remember the importance of body language
While the content of your interview responses is paramount, poor body language can be a distraction at best, or a reason not to hire you at worst. Effective forms of body language include smiling, eye contact, solid posture, active listening, and nodding.
Detrimental forms of body language include slouching, looking off in the distance, playing with a pen, fidgeting in a chair, brushing back your hair, touching your face, chewing gum, or mumbling.
8. Ask insightful questions
Studies continually show that employers make a judgment about an applicant’s interest in the job by whether or not the interviewee asks questions. Thus, even if the hiring manager was thorough in his or her discussions about the job opening and what is expected, you must ask a few questions.
This shows that you have done your research and that you are curious. The smart jobseeker prepares questions to ask days before the interview, adding any additional queries that might arise from the interview.
9. Sell yourself and then close the deal
The most qualified applicant is not always the one who is hired; the winning candidate is often the jobseeker who does the best job responding to interview questions and showcasing his or her fit with the job, department, and organization. Some liken the job interview to a sales call. You are the salesperson, and the product you are selling to the employer is your ability to fill the organization’s needs, solve its problems, and propel its success.
Finally, as the interview winds down, ask about the next steps in the process and the timetable in the employer expects to use to make a decision about the position.
10. Thank interviewer(s) in person and email
Common courtesy and politeness go far in interviewing; thus, the importance of thanking each person who interviews you should come as no surprise. Start the process while at the interview, thanking each person who interviewed you before you leave.
Writing thank-you emails or notes shortly after the interview will not get you the job offer, but doing so will certainly give you an edge over any of the other finalists who didn’t bother to send thank-you notes.
How can I Practice Online Interviews?
An online mock interview is a tool that can help you prepare for your next virtual interview. While friends and family members can act as your interviewer, you might want to practice your interview skills with a career counselor or another professional.
It’s most helpful to conduct your online mock interview during a video call with your mock interviewer. This way, you can emulate what a real online interview might be like. Your practice partner will ask you a series of interview questions, and you will try your best to answer them as you would in an actual interview.
You can do a mock interview with a friend or family member, or you can use an online platform that allows you to record yourself and then seek feedback from a professional. While you won’t get real-time feedback from this kind of mock interview, it does give you a chance to think about your interview responses.
Follow these five steps to complete a mock interview online:
1. Find a practice partner
Choose a practice partner that will give you honest but constructive feedback. Since the purpose of the mock interview is to learn, try to find someone who has a good deal of interviewing experience.
2. Meet over video chat
Plan a time to meet over video chat. If you are practicing with someone in your household, go to different rooms. This way, you get the real feel of an online interview. If you are preparing for a one-way video interview, then you can send your practice partner a video of you answering interview questions. Then they can review your video to make sure you answered your questions within the parameters of your interviewer’s directions.
3. Have them ask you relevant interview questions
Ask your practice partner to look up relevant interview questions on the internet. Make the experience even more realistic by having your partner keep the questions secret. During a real interview, your interviewer is highly unlikely to give you their question in advance. Learn how to come up with an answer in real-time. The more you practice this, the more you can develop your quick-thinking skills.
4. Review how you did
Once the mock interview is over, ask your partner how you did. Have them go through notes to address your strengths and weaknesses. See if they have any specific advice that you could apply to your next interview.
5. Practice again
You may want to do a few different mock interviews. You will know you are ready for the real thing when you feel confident in your answers. Try to apply the advice your practice partner told you and see if they can notice any improvements.
Follow these tips when preparing for an online mock interview:
- Learn the format of your real interview. This way, you can emulate it as closely as possible. If your interviewer wants a video recording of your responses, make your mock interview this format. The same is true if your interview wants to video chat in real-time.
- Give full-length answers. Even if you are interviewing with a friend, you should take this process seriously. Give them a full answer to every question they ask. By preparing for the real thing as much as you can, you can become a better interviewee.
- Consider your body language. Along with assessing your responses, your practice partner should pay attention to your non-verbal cues. Ask them to take note of your eye contact, posture, and overall demeanor. Since video cameras only show you from the waist up, be mindful of what you are doing with your facial expressions.
- Provide organic responses. While you should have an idea of the kind of responses you’ll give, try to not memorize every word. If you memorize your answer verbatim, your interviewer may think that you are reading from a script. Instead, have a few key points in mind.
How can I Improve my Interview Skills?
Interviewing skills are a set of interpersonal skills that allow you to interact comfortably with the interviewer and show them why you are the best candidate for the position you are applying for. Interviewing skills are the set of skills that help you highlight your best hiring features in every aspect the interviewer is paying attention to.
During the interview, the interviewer will pay attention to more than what your answers are to each question. They will also be looking for how comfortable and confident you are, how well you communicate, what your body language is saying, how you portray yourself and how you will fit into their work environment.
How you deliver on the interview starts long before you walk in the front door. Being prepared beforehand is important and is having a cheery and professional outlook. Here are several tips you can start using to improve your interviewing skills:
1. Know how to use the job description
The first step in improving your interviewing skills is to know how to use the job description when preparing for an interview. The job description provides valuable information about the types of skills and characteristics the employer is looking for in a qualified candidate. It also tells you the duties and responsibilities for the position.
You can use this information to prepare mock-interview questions that are geared toward the skills and experiences the employer is looking for. You can also use it as a checklist to think about specific experiences and examples to use in your answers.
2. Research the company
Next, you should try to gather as much information as possible about the company you are interviewing with before the interview. The more you know about the company, the better you will be able to answer questions in a manner that shows you are a good fit for their culture. This research can also help you ensure the company is a good fit for you.
You should try to learn things such as what the company’s mission and vision statements are, what their values are, how the company is different from its competitors and what the company culture is like. You can usually gather this information from the company’s website, social media pages and online reviews.
3. Review your resume
Next, you should review your resume and ensure it highlights the skills and strengths that make you the best candidate for the position you are applying to based on the information you gathered from the job description and your research about the company. You should also make sure the information in your resume is accurate and that you know the important facts in your resume well so you can refer back to it during the interview.
4. Prepare your clothing in advance
Next, you should try to choose what you will wear to the interview. Preparing what you wear before the day of your interview will give you enough time to ensure that everything is in order for your appearances. Try on your clothing for fit and determine if purchasing something new is in order.
Perhaps you’ll decide upon needing accessories such as a belt, tie or stockings for a cleaner, composed look and will have time to put that together beforehand. Getting this together beforehand will prevent last-minute wardrobe mishaps. It will also save you precious time on the day of your interview.
5. Practice for the interview
One of the best ways to improve your interviewing skills is to practice for the interview beforehand. Practicing for an interview can include several things such as working on your body language and nonverbal communication skills, wearing your interview outfit to ensure you are comfortable in it and answering questions you expect the interviewer to ask out loud to a friend, on-camera or in the mirror.
The more you practice before your interview, the more comfortable and confident you will appear during your interview.
6. Prepare questions for the interviewer
At some point during your interview, usually toward the end, the interviewer will ask if you have any questions for them. You should always try to have at least a few questions prepared to ask the interviewer.
However, it is important to make sure the questions you plan to ask do not have answers that can be easily found online with thorough research. You should try to ask questions about the company, the specific position you are applying for or any details you would like more information about.
7. Perform an informational interview
Next, you may want to consider finding someone to interview who works at the company or in the industry of interest. An informational interview allows you to expand your professional network and gather valuable insight about a specific company’s culture or industry tips that can help you stand out as a better candidate during a job interview.
You can find and reach out to industry and company insiders on social media. Make sure you disclose the fact that you have applied or are interviewing for a position with their company when asking for the informational interview. Once they agree to meet, you can ask questions about how they got their start in the industry, what skills they think are most important to being successful in the role and what qualities the company looks for in new hires.
8. Be observant and listen closely to the interviewer
It is important to remain attentive to what the interviewer is saying throughout the interview. You should try to pay close attention to everything the interviewer says to ensure you can answer each question appropriately. Try not to allow things going on around you to distract you from the conversation with the interviewer.
In addition to listening closely to the questions they ask, try to focus on how they respond to the answers you give to each question. You might be able to learn new information that will help you provide better answers to questions they ask you later in the interview. Doing this will show the interviewer you are interested in what they are saying and prove your ability to pay attention to detail.
9. Know how to respond when you need time to think
During your interview, the interviewer might ask you a question you don’t immediately have an answer for. It is important to know how to respond when this happens. It is ok to take a minute to think about your answer, just let the interviewer know that it’s a great question and you need a minute to think about your answer.
Doing this will show the interviewer you can respond calmly when faced with a challenge and will also highlight your problem-solving skills.
10. Be polite to everyone you meet
In addition to the person who is performing your interview, you may meet several other people throughout the company during your interview.
For example, you may be greeted by a receptionist or secretary, be escorted to the interview room by someone from human resources, interview with one or several supervisors or managers and see other employees as you are walking through the company. It is important to be friendly and courteous to everyone you meet because this will show the interviewer how well you will fit into the company’s culture.
What are 3 Good Interview Questions?
Below is a list of 3 common job interview questions, along with answering techniques that will help you dazzle your prospects, and hopefully, secure the role you want.
1. Could you tell me about yourself and describe your background in brief?
Interviewers like to hear stories about candidates. Make sure your story has a great beginning, a riveting middle, and an end that makes the interviewer root for you to win the job.
Talk about a relevant incident that made you keen on the profession you are pursuing and follow up by discussing your education. In the story, weave together how your academic training and your passion for the subject or industry the company specializes in, combined with your work experience, make you a great fit for the job. If you’ve managed a complex project or worked on an exciting, offbeat design, mention it.
Example: “I come from a small town, where opportunities were limited. Since good schools were a rarity, I started using online learning to stay up to date with the best. That’s where I learned to code and then I went on to get my certification as a computer programmer. After I got my first job as a front-end coder, I continued to invest time in mastering both front- and back-end languages, tools, and frameworks.”
2. How did you hear about this position?
Employers want to know whether you are actively seeking out their company, heard of the role from a recruiter, or were recommended to the position by a current employee. In short, they want to know how you got to them.
If someone recommended you for the position, be sure to say their name. Don’t assume that the interviewer already knows about the referral. You’ll probably want to also follow up with how you know the person who referred you.
For example, if you and Steve (who recommended you) worked together previously, or if you met him over coffee at a networking event, mention it to give yourself a little more credibility. If Steve works at the company and suggested that you apply for the job, explain why he thought you’d be the perfect fit.
If you sought out the role yourself, be clear about what caught your eye — extra bonus points if you can align your values with the company and their mission. You want to convince the hiring manager that you chose their company, over all other companies, for a few specific reasons.
Lastly, if you were recruited, explain why you took the bait. Did this role sound like a good fit? Does it align with the direction you want to take your career? Even if you weren’t familiar with the organization prior to being recruited, be enthusiastic about what you’ve learned and honest about why you’re interested in moving forward with the process.
Example: “I learned about the position through LinkedIn as I’ve been following your company’s page for a while now. I’m really passionate about the work you’re doing in X, Y, and Z areas, so I was excited to apply. The required skills match well with the skills I have, and it seems like a great opportunity for me to contribute to your mission, as well as a great next move for my career.”
3. What type of work environment do you prefer?
Be sure to do your homework on the organization and its culture before the interview. Your research will save you here. Your preferred environment should closely align to the company’s workplace culture (and if it doesn’t, it may not be the right fit for you). For example, you may find on the company’s website that they have a flat organizational structure or that they prioritize collaboration and autonomy. Those are key words you can mention in your answer to this question.
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If the interviewer tells you something about the company that you didn’t uncover in your research, like, “Our culture appears buttoned-up from the outside, but in reality, it’s a really laid-back community with little competition among employees,” try to describe an experience you’ve had that dovetails with that. Your goal is to share how your work ethic matches that of the organization’s.
Example: “That sounds great to me. I like fast-paced work environments because they make me feel like I’m always learning and growing, but I really thrive when I’m collaborating with team members and helping people reach a collective goal as opposed to competing. My last internship was at an organization with a similar culture, and I really enjoyed that balance.”
