Top Tips: Interviews

This will help you answer questions — and stand out from less-prepared candidates.

• Seek background information
  • Use tools like Careernomics or MBA-Exchange, Firsthand/Vault, or Hoovers for an overview of the organization and its industry profile.
  • Visit the organization’s website to ensure that you understand the breadth of what they do.
  • Review the organization’s background and mission statement.
  • Assess their products, services and client-base.
  • Read recent press releases for insight on projected growth and stability.
• Get perspective
  • Review trade or business publications.
  • Seek perspective and a glimpse into their industry standing.
• Develop a question list
  • Prepare to ask about the organization or position based on your research.

• Analyze the job description
  • Outline the knowledge, skills and abilities required.
• Examine the hierarchy
  • Determine where the position fits within the organization.
• Look side-by-side
  • Compare what the employer is seeking to your qualifications.

Most interviews involve a combination of resume-based, behavioral and case questions. We encourage you to meet with us to practice telling your story in the best possible way.

Check out the following resources to help

• BigInterview
• Review the Behavioral Interviewing to understand the STAR method and review sample interview questions. Develop a working document of interview answers/examples.
• For case interviewing skills, take advantage CaseCoach. It takes lots of case practice to succeed in case interviewing. You will want to prepare months in advance, as soon as you submit consulting applications.

Even if you are meeting on the phone or virtually with a camera, it is important to dress to professionally

• Go neutral
  • Conservative business attire, such as a neutral-colored suit and professional shoes, is best.
• Err formal
  • If instructed to dress “business casual,” use good judgment.
• Plug in that iron
  • Make sure your clothes are neat and wrinkle-free.
• Grooming
  • Be sure that your overall appearance is neat and clean.
  • Facial hair trimmed or shaven.
  • Hair combed.
  • Conservative makeup

Regardless of method for interviewing it is good to have some things on hand.

• Copies of your resume
• A notepad or professional binder and pen
• A list of references
• Information you might need to complete an application
• A portfolio with samples of your work, if relevant

It is estimated that over 90% of the message we communicate is nonverbal. Here are some pointers:

• Start ahead: Remember that waiting room behaviors may be reported.
• Project confidence: Smile, establish eye contact and use a firm handshake.
• Posture counts: Sit up straight yet comfortably. Be aware of nervous gestures such as foot-tapping, playing with your hair, saying “uh-huhm” (as if you are rushing them).
• Be attentive:  Don’t stare, but maintain good eye contact, while addressing all aspects of an interviewer’s questions.
• Respect their space. Do not place anything on their desk.
• Manage reactions: Facial expressions provide clues to your feelings. Manage how you react, and project a positive image.
• Tone: Be conscious of your tone. Make sure what you are saying matches how you say it. If you say you are enthusiastic about an opportunity, your tone should be enthusiastic.
• Virtual: Turn on your camera and make sure to look at the person who is speaking.

Many interviews end with “Do you have any questions?” …You should always have questions!

• Bring a list
  • You may say, “In preparing for today’s meeting, I took some time to jot down a few questions. Please allow me to review my notes.” 
• Be strategic
  • Cover information not discussed or clarify a previous topic — do not ask for information that can be found on the organization’s website or in the job description.
    • In your opinion, what makes this organization a great place to work?
    • What would you consider the most important criteria for success in this job? How will you know that I’m succeeding at 30/60/90 days?
    • In my research for today, I noticed the organization’s values of XX. How does this impact company culture?
    • How will my performance be evaluated?
    • What are the next steps in the hiring process and what is the projected hiring timeline?

This sequence will help you generate interview prep materials, profession-specific advice, and company research customized to any role for which you are being considered.

Instructions: Use these prompts* to create a comprehensive interview prep guide. Make sure you substitute your specific information to get the most accurate results. For each new interview target or company, replace the job description and resume as needed. Adapting your personal background and resume details will make the answers authentic to your experience.
*We recommend using Perplexity.

1. Questions the Interviewer Might Ask (Based on Job Description)
   “I am a [insert major/degree] student who has been invited for an interview for the position of [insert job title] with [insert company]. Here is the job description [insert full job description]. What are some questions the interviewer might ask during the interview for this role?”
2. Creating Tailored Answers Using My Resume
   “Attached is my current resume. Can you help me come up with strong, relevant answers to some of the interview questions you suggested, using my experiences and details from my resume? Do not make up any information. However, you can suggest responses in places where there are resume/skill gaps”
3. Relating a major/degree to the Role
   “How can I relate my [insert major/degree] to [insert position]? I need to explain in an interview how my [insert major] foundation is connected and valuable for this [insert job title] job.”
4. Anticipating and Handling Interview Challenges
   “What challenges might I face in this interview, considering my background? If you were the interviewer, what concerns or hesitations would you have about my fit for the role, and how should I be ready to address them?”
5. Organizing All Answers into an Interview Prep Study Guide
   “Can you format all this information (role summary, required skills, likely questions, tailored answers, connection to my finance degree, likely interview challenges and preparation tips) into a comprehensive study guide for my upcoming interview? Please use distinct sections and ensure you separate the likely interview questions from the sample answers—put all questions in one section and all sample answers in another.”

Instructions:
Replace [industry name] with your target industry (e.g., fintech, healthcare) and [job title] with the specific role (e.g., Product Manager, Data Analyst). Paste the whole prompt into Perplexity, Copilot, or ChatGPT to receive a comprehensive, interview-ready summary.

Prompt:
I am preparing for a job interview for the position of [job title] in the [industry name] industry. Please generate a professional, up-to-date overview, organized by the following sections:

Industry Overview & Context

1. Major Industry Trends
   How do current economic factors (e.g., inflation, interest rates, consumer demand) impact the industry?
   What emerging technologies are transforming this sector?
   How is globalization affecting the industry (trade, supply chains, competition)?
   What key regulations or policies are shaping the industry today?
2. Business Model Fundamentals
   How do companies in this industry generate revenue?
   What are the primary revenue drivers and main cost centers?
3. Competitive Landscape
   Who are the leading organizations or market players?
   What sets top performers apart? What are their major strengths and weaknesses?
4. Offerings & Operations
   What typical products/services are provided in this industry?
   How are goods/services produced or delivered?
   What are the standard pricing strategies?
   How do organizations differentiate their offerings?
5. Customer Segments
   Who are the main customer or client types?
   What market segments exist, and how do needs or behaviors differ?
   How do companies tailor offerings for diverse customers?

Position-Specific Insights

1. Technical & Industry Knowledge
   What specialized technical, analytical, or industry-specific skills are required for this role?
   Which software tools, digital platforms, or programming languages are essential?
   What relevant market research or data analysis skills are most valued?
2. Typical Responsibilities & Workday
   What does a standard day in this role look like (structure, common tasks, hours)?
   What are the most common assignments or projects?
   How much client, customer, or cross-functional interaction is expected?
3. Key Soft Skills & Workplace Challenges
   Which interpersonal, collaborative, or leadership skills matter most for success?
   What challenging or high-pressure situations are typical, and how are they handled?
   Why is teamwork important, and how is it demonstrated in this role?
4. Standout Skills & Career Signals
   What specific skills, experiences, or achievements set top performers apart in this position?
   What kinds of project work, leadership, or industry exposure are especially valuable?
   Are there recent “hot topics” or knowledge areas that help candidates stand out?
   What are effective, practical ways to demonstrate readiness and impact in interviews or on a résumé—beyond formal degrees or certifications?
5. Professional Development & Networking
   What continuous learning, training, or upskilling is most valued in this job?
   Are there respected conferences, online courses, or workshops relevant for this position?
   What industry associations, professional groups, or networks are beneficial for someone in this role?
   Please answer in a professional, concise manner, using recent examples, data, and trends specific to both the [industry name] industry and the [job title] role wherever possible. Do not make up any answers.

*Adapted from Ronald Mitchell’s “9 Things you Need to Know about the Industry & Position before every Interview”

Human Resource/HR Interview/ Video Interview

These are generally 30 minutes or less and a quick call with someone from HR (human resource) to gage a few different things from you before deciding to move you on to a first-round interview. They can sometimes be asynchronous video/virtual interviews (like Hirevue) take a look at our virtual interview support for more details here.

These calls are quick by HR to check that (1) you are still interested (2) you are who your resume said so they are checking some skills (3) can see if you’ve done some preparation for the job and ask them good questions on the benefits/salary/company/etc. to see how interested or motivated you are for that role at that company.

It is good to prepare for it like you would a bigger interview as you never know the types of questions you can get, but in the questions, you prepare for this call, make sure they are ones an HR person can answer. They most likely don’t know the day-to-day tasks of the job or what is needed to succeed, but ask them about the company culture, benefits, or structures for an answer.

First-Round Interview

After the HR interview or video interview (if you even have one) you can be asked to return for what we call a first round interview. Companies can have multiple rounds of interviews in all different styles or just have one interview. That you can learn as you do your research into the company during your interview prep above. However here are a few of the different styles of interviews you may see.

Second-Round Interview

Expect that you might meet with some of the same team members from the first-round; some of the questions might repeat and you will have the opportunity to gather more data.

• Be yourself throughout the interview process.
  • Avoid false representation/creating “stories”
• Research the company and the position
  • Always understand the company’s competitors, the industry, profits and client-base
  • Understand how this position fits into the organization and the goals of the organization
• Answers: Provide details
  • Review the details of your S.T.A.R. Stories
  • Focus on results & learning
• Prepare smart questions
  • Your questions should be based on your knowledge of the company and not information that can be easily found on the website
  • Stay away from generic questions. Ask thoughtful and insightful questions to show you prepared
• Present your value proposition
  • Illustrate how you fit with the company culture and vision
  • Verbalize how your experiences and skills will impact and benefit the organization

Schedule an Appointment with a career coach for any questions you have or to do a mock interview.

• One-on-One Interview – this would be an interview with just you and one other person.
• Panel Interview – this is an interview with you and 2+ people from the company asking you questions.
• Group Interview – this is when you and multiple other candidates are interviewing together (either through working a case, solving a problem, or simulating something)
• Assessments – are often sent by email for you to do at home within a time period to see your technical skills
• Case Interview – this is typical in consulting, but some ‘mini-case interviews’ happen in finance as well, were during the interview you are asked to walk us through how you would approach solving or presenting a case to your client.
• Super Day – these are long days were candidates may have multiple types of interviews in the same day, either alone or in groups.
• Dinner/Meal Interview – often part of a super day when you are eating a meal with your interviewers, feels casual but note that you are often still watch to see if you meet their qualifications, motivation, and fit.