You need five things for any job interview: multiple copies of your resume, research on the company, prepared answers to common questions, questions to ask the interviewer, and the right setup (whether that means professional clothes for in-person or a tested tech setup for video). Beyond those essentials, a handful of smaller items can keep you from scrambling at the last minute. Here’s everything to prepare, broken into what to know, what to bring, and what to do after.
Research the Company Before Anything Else
Walking into an interview without company research is the fastest way to seem uninterested. Start with the company’s own website. Read the “About Us” page, the mission statement, and any culture or values section. Check the careers page for how the company describes the role you’re interviewing for, and compare it to the original job posting. Note the specific skills, experience, and duties listed so you can match them to your own background during the conversation.
Then go beyond the company’s own marketing. Search the company name in Google News to see recent press releases, product launches, or any difficulties. Look up their LinkedIn page to see recent hires, promotions, and how many people work there. Browse employee reviews on Glassdoor, which often has an interview questions section that can give you a preview of what you’ll be asked. If it’s a publicly traded company, skim the most recent earnings report or annual report for a sense of financial health. For startups, check their profile on Crunchbase for funding history.
Research your interviewer, too. Look them up on LinkedIn to learn their role, how long they’ve been at the company, and whether you share any connections or experiences. Finding a point of commonality, even something as simple as attending the same university, gives you a natural conversation starter. Finally, identify at least two or three competitors so you understand where the company fits in its market. This kind of preparation lets you speak with specificity instead of generalities, which interviewers notice immediately.
What to Bring to an In-Person Interview
Print at least three to five copies of your resume on clean white paper. You may meet additional people you didn’t expect, or the interviewer may not have a copy in front of them. Keep the pages in a folder or portfolio so they stay crisp.
Beyond your resume, bring:
- A list of references. Have three professional contacts with names, titles, phone numbers, and email addresses typed on a single sheet. You may not need it, but handing it over when asked saves a follow-up email.
- A notebook and pen. Jotting down a name or detail during the conversation shows you’re engaged. It also gives you something useful to review afterward.
- Your prepared questions. Write out three to five questions for the interviewer. Having them on paper means you won’t blank when they ask, “Do you have any questions for me?”
- A portfolio or work samples. If you have relevant projects, designs, writing samples, or case studies, bring printed copies and have a digital version on your phone or a USB drive as a backup.
- Your calendar. Whether it’s an app or a paper planner, you want to be able to confirm a second interview or start date on the spot.
- Your phone, silenced. Turn off vibration too. A buzzing phone in a quiet office is just as distracting as a ringtone.
A few small items make a bigger difference than you’d expect. Breath mints, a lint roller, a stain remover pen, and a travel-size deodorant can rescue you after a long commute. If you’re wearing dress shoes that aren’t comfortable for walking, wear casual shoes on the way there and switch before you enter the building. Bring a water bottle so you’re not parched when you sit down.
How to Set Up for a Video Interview
If your interview is virtual, your tech setup is your first impression. Use a laptop or desktop computer with a webcam rather than a phone or tablet, since some video platforms don’t run reliably on mobile devices. Charge your device fully and plug it in if possible. Download whatever platform the employer specifies (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, Webex) well before the interview day, and run a test call to check your camera and microphone. Most platforms have a built-in audio and video test function.
Position your camera at eye level so you’re looking straight at it, not down or up. Frame the shot so your full head and shoulders are centered on screen. Close every browser tab, app, and notification you won’t need during the call. Background downloads or a pop-up notification can freeze your video or pull your attention at the wrong moment. If your username on the platform isn’t professional, change it before the call.
Your environment matters as much as your hardware. Find a quiet, well-lit room where you won’t be interrupted by pets, roommates, or street noise. Face a light source so your face is illuminated, not silhouetted. A blank wall or a tidy bookshelf behind you works well. If you wear glasses, adjust the angle of your light to minimize lens glare. If you’re in a shared space, tape a “Do not disturb” note to the door.
Always have a backup plan. Before the interview, ask for a phone number you can call if the connection drops. Keep your phone on silent but within reach. If your video or audio cuts out, close and reopen the app first. If that doesn’t fix it, call the interviewer immediately, explain the issue, and ask whether you can continue by phone or reschedule.
Questions to Prepare for the Interviewer
Every interview ends with some version of “Do you have questions for us?” Saying “No, I think you covered everything” signals low interest. Prepare at least three to five questions, and aim for ones that show you’ve thought about the role rather than ones you could answer with a quick website visit.
Strong questions fall into a few categories. For understanding the day-to-day work, try: “What would you like to see me accomplish in my first three to six months?” or “Can you show me examples of projects I’d be working on?” For growth, ask: “What do you envision as the growth path for this role?” or “What are the immediate and long-term priorities?” For team dynamics, ask about learning curves for new team members or what tools and programs the team uses daily.
If the position is newly created, ask what prompted the company to create it and how they see it evolving. If someone held the role before, ask what the previous person did to succeed. These questions do double duty: they give you genuinely useful information about whether the job is right for you, and they demonstrate that you’re already thinking like someone who works there.
What to Wear
Dress one level above what employees at the company wear daily. If the workplace is business casual (chinos and button-downs), wear a blazer or a polished dress. If it’s a formal corporate office, go with a full suit. When in doubt, lean slightly more formal. Wrinkled or stained clothing sends a message no matter how strong your answers are, so check your outfit the night before and have a backup ready.
For video interviews, the same standard applies from the waist up. Solid colors in muted tones look best on camera. Avoid busy patterns or bright white, which can cause glare or distort the image.
Send a Thank-You Note After
A thank-you email within 24 hours of the interview is expected, not optional. Collect the full name and email address of every person you spoke with. If you can, ask for a business card at the end of the conversation. For a panel interview, you can either send personalized notes to each participant or send one note to your primary interviewer and mention the others by name. If your interview was by phone or video and you only have one contact, write to that person and reference the other participants.
Keep the note brief. Thank them for their time, mention something specific you discussed that reinforced your interest in the role, connect your experience to one of the position’s priorities, and offer to provide any additional information. Three to five sentences is enough. This isn’t a formality. It’s your last chance to reinforce why you’re the right fit while the conversation is still fresh in the interviewer’s mind.