It is normal to feel nervous about your interview. Prepare yourself with these pre-interview tasks.

Details

• Review the details of the interview such as time, location, in-person or virtual, and who you are interviewing with.
• Ask questions if you are unsure about interview details.
• Try some common strategies to calm your nerves.  
• If you need to cancel or reschedule your interview, contact the person you worked with to schedule the interview.  
• Interview formats differ depending on the hiring manager and open position. Many interviews include an interview panel, but you are encouraged to ask to learn more about what to expect. 

Prepare

• You might find it helpful to have a printed or digital resume, cover letter, interview notes, position description, notebook and pen, and a water bottle ready for your interview.
• Choose what to wear. As a general guideline, choose clothes that fit your personality, align with the work environment, and make you feel good. If you are not sure, choose more formal clothes than what you might wear on a typical workday.
• Prepare questions for the interviewer to help you decide if the position is a good fit for you. Read this article for ideas of questions you want to ask.  
• Fuel your body with quality sleep, food, and water before the interview. 

Virtual Interviews

• Practice using Microsoft Teams. This is the meeting software Revenue uses for virtual interviews.
• Choose a quiet location with reliable internet access and a neutral background. You can also use the blur background feature in Teams.
• Think about lighting. Avoid having a window or bright light behind you, as this will make it hard to see you on camera.
• Be ready to join your interview at least five minutes before the start time to make sure you are set up.
• Have a phone ready in case your internet fails so you can call in. A contact number should be included in your appointment invite.  

Accommodations

Follow the instructions in the job posting to request accommodations. Examples of accommodations include: American Sign Language interpreters, technology requests, advanced copies of questions, or providing preferred interview times.

Understand the Role

Get ready to share why you are a great fit.  

• Think about how you will connect your qualifications to the position.
• Typically, we send a full position description to candidates who are offered an interview. If you did not get one, contact the Human Resources staff member listed in the job posting to request it. The position description is more detailed than the job posting.
• Review Revenue’s vision, mission, and values.  

Interview Questions

Create a list of possible interview questions specific to the role you are interviewing for. 

• Read through the minimum and preferred qualifications and think about them as questions. For example: Experience with customer service becomes, “Tell me about a time where you delivered exceptional customer service.”
• Prepare for behavioral-based interview questions. These are open-ended questions that ask candidates to describe specific situations they've encountered in the past.  Use the STAR model to answer these common types of questions:
  • ​Situation: Summarize a situation relevant to the question  
  • ​Task: Name the specific task or problem
  • ​Action: Describe the actions you took and the skills you used
  • Results and Relate: Include measurable outcomes and make a clear connection between the results of the situation and the responsibilities of the job   

Prepare Your Answers

Review your resume and prepare for additional common interview questions, including: 

• “Tell us about yourself.”
• “Can you give us an overview of your qualifications?”
• “Tell us about your strengths.”
• “What is an area where you see an opportunity for improvement?”
• “Why do you want to work with us?” 

Incorporate your skills and experiences along with your personality and qualities as a candidate to stand out and be memorable.  

Practice

Practice a mock interview with a trusted peer, colleague, or career coach. Try to include as many pieces of an actual interview as you can. Consider the length of the interview, time of day, clothes, and workstation set up. If you have not used Teams before, try using it for your mock interview. 

If you are unable to practice with someone else or want additional practice, try these strategies:  

• Rehearse your responses and say them out loud. This builds confidence and helps you feel less nervous.
• Record a video of yourself to evaluate your body language, tone, pace, and filler words. Filler words are short words like “ah” and “um” or phrases like “you know.”
• Practice with a tool like Google Interview Warmup or LinkedIn Interview Prep. 

It is the day of the interview. This is your chance to show us who you are and why you are a great fit. 

First Impression 

Make a strong first impression. Respond confidently and let your personality shine through. 

• Answer questions confidently, connecting your qualifications and examples to the position. You have practiced – you can do this!
• Take a deep breath when you need it. Research shows deep breathing can reduce stress and improve focus during interviews. 

Stay Calm 

Try to stay calm if you cannot think of a response to a question. Try these strategies: 

• Say something like, “That is a great question. I am going to take a moment to gather my thoughts.” A brief pause is often all your mind needs to get ideas flowing again.
• If you still cannot think of a specific example, or if you’re unsure how to answer a technical question, tell them how you would approach the situation instead. 

Ask for What You Need 

Remember, it is ok to ask for what you need during the interview. These are some common examples: 

• “Could you please post the questions in the chat? I want to make sure I address everything.”
• “Could you repeat that question please?”
• “I am going to take a moment to re-read the question before I continue my response. Thanks!” 

A Strong Close 

These tips will help you succeed through the end of the interview: 

• Tell them how you see yourself as a good fit for the role and the team
• Re-emphasize your genuine interest in the position
• Share additional, relevant information about yourself that you did not get a chance to talk about
• Thank the interviewers for their time and the opportunity 

Congratulations on completing your interview! Take time to celebrate this accomplishment and unwind. 

In the interview, the hiring manager will give you a timeline for the hiring process. If you have questions about your application, please contact the Human Resources staff listed on the job posting.

It is common practice to follow up with a thank you e-mail after an interview.