How to Prepare for a Job Interview

By Daniel Dahlinger and Chat GPT

With the recession looming, tech layoffs ongoing and many people in a position where they may been needing to interview for a job, I figured… why not ask my lovely friend Chat GPT how to prep for a job interview. As always, my original thoughts will show up in italics.

1. Research the company and the specific role you are interviewing for. This will help you understand the company’s mission and values, as well as the skills and experience that the role requires. It’s important to generally understand the mission and values of the company so that you’re not going in blind!
2. Review the job description and make a list of the specific skills and experiences that the employer is looking for. And also know how to talk about how YOU POSSESS THOSE SKILLS!
3. Prepare answers to common interview questions. Some common questions include:

• Tell me about yourself
• Why are you interested in this role?
• What relevant experience do you have?
• What are your strengths?
• What are your weaknesses?

4. Practice your answers out loud with a friend or family member to make sure they are clear and concise. Good idea, you don’t want to sound rehearsed, but you do need to be able to present yourself in a manner that is organized.
5. Dress professionally for the interview. It is important to make a good first impression, so make sure you are well-groomed and dressed in business attire. I’d say yeah, this is kinda important but also make sure that you’re not completely out of fashion for the place you’re interviewing at. I’d say a good rule of thumb is dress a little bit nicer than the day-to-day attire at that office. Do they wear button downs? Throw on a jacket. Do they wear jeans and polos? Throw on a button down. Etc, etc, etc…
6. Make a list of questions to ask the interviewer. Asking questions shows that you are engaged and interested in the role. Some potential questions include:

• What do you enjoy most about working for the company?
• Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
• What are the biggest challenges for someone in this role?
• What is the purpose of this role? What problem are you trying to solve by filling this role?
• What does a successful hire look like for you? What should I plan to accomplish in my first 6 months in this role?
• What does the day-to-day look like? How much time should I expect to spend in meetings?
• Also ask any questions related to deal-breakers when it comes to compensation, benefits, and work-life balance. I’d even consider getting the matter of compensation out there if it wasn’t already established and you’re interested in the role.

7. Review the location of the interview and plan your route in advance. Make sure you arrive at least 10-15 minutes early to give yourself time to settle in and compose yourself. Very good idea.
8. Bring copies of your resume, cover letter, and any other relevant documents to the interview. This will allow you to refer to your experience and accomplishments during the interview. Yep. Good advice here.
9. During the interview, maintain good eye contact and engage with the interviewer. Listen carefully to their questions and take a moment to think before answering. BLAH BLAH BLAH sure I guess this is good advice!
10. At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer for their time and express your interest in the role. If appropriate, you can ask about the next steps in the hiring process. Yep, good advice!

Any more advice ChatGPT?

One additional tip is to prepare for potential behavioral questions. These are questions that ask you to describe a specific situation from your past and how you handled it. For example, the interviewer might ask “Tell me about a time when you had to work with a difficult team member. How did you handle the situation?”

To prepare for these types of questions, it can be helpful to think of specific examples from your past experience where you faced a challenge and overcame it. This will help you provide specific and relevant answers during the interview.

Thanks ChatGPT!