The Layoff Series: How To Prepare for an Interview

For many people, interviews are simultaneously the best and worst part of job searching. When you schedule one, it means that your resume knocked their socks off and your skills align with what they’re looking for, but it also means more than a few nerves to face.

The key to kicking those nerves to the curb is to be prepared and this whole blog post is dedicated to exactly that. You’ll learn how best to research a company, what notes to have on hand, and we’ve even got a template for your follow up email.

This post is part of The Layoff Series, a series of blog posts built to help jobseekers get back on their feet after a layoff. Be sure to check out the other articles in the series What To Do After a Layoff and 7 Tips To Organize Your Job Search, to learn how to handle a layoff from step one.

How To Prepare for an Interview

You did it! You got past the application stage and you’ve got an interview. Now it’s time to get ready…here’s what you need to do.

Do Your Research

Before interviewing, do a deep dive into the company, products or services they offer, and the person (or people) you’ll be interviewing with. The easiest way to do this is to check out the company’s About page on their website and look through their LinkedIn to see some of their history and current initiatives. It’s also a good idea to do a quick Google search to see any recent news article about them.

If the company sells a particular product or service, sign up for a free trial or test out whatever you can. If it’s not accessible to you, look through case studies on their website to learn more about their customers and the problems they’re solving for.

To really impress, make note of the things that are particularly appealing to you and mention them early in the interview. For example, “I loved that [COMPANY NAME] shared those pictures from your in-person meeting. Is that a meeting you all do often?”

It can be a great way to break the ice and learn more about the company’s culture before diving into the full interview.

Use Notes

One of the biggest misconceptions I see when people are talking about the hiring process is thinking that candidates aren’t allowed notes during an interview. Remember, the recruiter or hiring manager you’re working with is likely taking questions off of notes and taking notes throughout the interview…you can, too!

It’s great to have a few things memorized, but there’s nothing wrong with having notes for any particular stories or achievements you want to remember to convey. 

In your notes, make sure you have:

1. Your elevator pitch: A 30 to 45-second pitch about who you are and how you’re a fit for the role. Career and Executive Coach, Renata Junkova, explains, “A persuasive and memorable pitch, perceived as an opening speech that summarizes: WHO YOU ARE, WHAT YOU DO, WHY THEY SHOULD HIRE YOU.”  So keep it short, clear, and relevant to the job you're interviewing for.

2. Answers to common interview questions: Prepare for questions like, “Why do you want to work at this company?”, “Tell me about a conflict you faced at work and how you dealt with it.”, and “What are you looking for in a new position?” The Muse has some excellent templates for answering all of those questions and more here. 

3. How your skills align with the requirements of the job: Remember to focus all of your answers towards how you can do the job. Don’t be afraid to highlight the keywords in the job posting in your answers!

4. Overviews of any impressive projects you’ve handled: Brag about yourself! Remember to highlight the goal of the project, what you did, and what the results were.

5. A response to any gaps in your employment: It’s likely the recruiter will ask about any gaps in your employment. When you’ve faced a layoff, it can feel overwhelming to tackle this question. Remember to be honest, optimistic, and bring it back to the role you’re interviewing for. Here’s an example to work with: “I was recently laid off due to internal restructuring at my previous company. While it certainly threw a curveball my way, I took it as an opportunity to reevaluate my goals and focus on applying for roles that align with my hopes of growing as a Project Manager. I began working on my Google Career Certificate in Project Management. I’m excited to apply what I’ve learned to this role!”

Practice, Practice, Practice

We’re going to say it again. That’s how important it is. Practice!

It can feel awkward at first to practice for your interview, but it really does help! You don’t have to put a ton of effort into practicing. You can just record yourself answering the questions, or video call with a friend and have them play the interviewer. You can even utilize our Interview Prep tool that takes you through some simple quizzes to make sure you’re all set to sit down with that interviewer.

If you’re doing a virtual interview, be sure to record in the same location using the same audio setup you’ll be using in the interview. Then you can feel confident that your headphones work and the interviewer can hear and see you!

Dress For Your Best

Now that doesn’t mean you need to wear a floor-length ball gown, but wearing an outfit that makes you feel confident, comfortable, and powerful is the way to go. If you’re doing a virtual interview, be sure to try out the outfit with any virtual or real-life background you’ll be using. Some colors or patterns may become distracting when on camera so when you’re practicing your interview, throw on your outfit to be sure you won’t run into any problems!

When in doubt, dress up. Business casual is the best option for pretty much any interview. 

Take a Deep Breath

Interviews are nerve-wracking. Whether it’s your first or your 50th, interviews often make people feel judged, uncomfortable, anxious, etc. Take a few minutes before your interview starts to take some deep breaths. We recommend trying the box breathing technique which can help to calm your nerves and help you come to the interview with your best foot forward.

If you can, try to get some fresh air as well. Go on a walk or open a window before your interview to help get your creative juices flowing and get in the right headspace to impress!

Have Questions at the Ready

Most interviews end with the interviewer saying, “So did you have any questions for me?”

One of the biggest mistakes that candidates make is not asking any questions. It can feel like it’s better to let the call end naturally, but asking thoughtful questions shows that you’re engaged and invested.

Here are some questions to consider asking:

1. How does your leadership team interact with lower level employees?

2. How is [COMPANY NAME] planning to evolve in the next five years?

3. What do you like most about working for [COMPANY NAME]?

4. What sort of collaboration with other teams and colleagues can this role expect?

Pre-Write Your Follow up Email

Following up after an interview is an easy way to stand out from the crowd. If you have a template put together, it’s easier to get that email sent out right after your interview! Remember to plug in some details from the interview that can help reiterate important points you want to hit home.

If you’re facing some writer’s block, here’s a template to start with:

Dear [Name of the Interviewer],

Thank you for taking the time to meet with me about the [job title] role. It was a pleasure to learn more about the position and [company name] and I was so impressed to hear that [company’s recent accomplishment].

I’m confident that I can excel as a [job title] on your team and I would love to bring my experience with [experience or skill] to the position.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out if you or your team has any questions or needs any additional information.

I look forward to hearing from you!

Thanks again,

[Signature]

We hope that every interview goes off without a hitch, but remember, if you need some extra support, 1-on-1 career coaching is available to our members. Simply login and schedule a time with our team of expert coaches!