How To Nail The Interview
How To Nail The Interview is a Villanova Career Center guide that helps students prepare for interviews and present themselves professionally. The guide explains how to research an employer, practice interview responses, make a strong first impression, answer questions clearly, ask thoughtful questions, and follow up after the interview.
This resource can help students prepare for job, internship, phone, virtual, technical, case, and behavioral interviews.
The guide includes ten tips for your next interview:
- Do your research: Learn about the company, industry, mission, culture, clients, recent news, future projects, and trends.
- Practice: Prepare to talk about your goals, activities, projects, employment, skills, and experiences. Students can also complete a mock interview through the Career Center or use Big Interview for virtual practice.
- Be early and polite: Plan ahead for in-person interviews, test technology for virtual interviews, and be respectful to everyone you meet.
- Dress and act appropriately: Wear professional attire, stay friendly and engaged, avoid slang or overly casual language, and keep responses positive.
- Organize your thoughts: Give complete but concise answers, pause before responding when needed, and use specific examples.
- Be specific: Explain what you did, why it mattered, and how your experiences connect to the role.
- Make a bridge between you and the employer: Use the job description and employer research to show how your skills match what they are looking for.
- Ask questions: Prepare thoughtful questions that show interest in the role, company, team, and industry.
- Send a thank you note: Send a personalized thank you message within 24 hours to everyone who interviewed you.
- Reflect and evaluate: Consider whether the role, environment, organization, and career path are a good fit for you.
The guide also covers career readiness competencies that students can reflect on when preparing interview examples:
- Career and Self-Development
- Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Equity and Inclusion
- Leadership
- Professionalism
- Teamwork
- Technology
Students can also use this resource to prepare questions to ask employers, such as:
- What kinds of projects or assignments can I expect to work on?
- Can you describe the company culture and work environment?
- What are the opportunities for professional growth and advancement?
- How does the company support employee development and learning?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the team or department right now?
- How is success measured for this position?
- How does the company foster teamwork and collaboration?
- What is the preferred communication style within the team?
- How does the company promote diversity and inclusion in the workplace?
- What is the most important quality needed to succeed in this role?
This guide explains the STAR Method for behavioral interviewing:
- Situation: Describe the context or situation.
- Task: Explain the specific challenge, responsibility, or goal.
- Action: Describe the steps you took.
- Result: Share the outcome and impact of your actions.
The guide also explains other types of interviews, including case interviews, technical interviews, and assessments. For phone and virtual interviews, students are encouraged to test their technology, choose a quiet and well-lit location, dress professionally, maintain eye contact with the camera, practice active listening, prepare brief notes, use confident body language, and minimize interruptions.
Students who need a private space for a virtual or phone interview can contact the Career Center about reserving the Employer Engagement Suite, based on availability.
