Job Interview
Are we a good fit? A job interview gives both sides the opportunity to get to know each other. Employers want to find out if your profile matches the advertised position. At the same time, you can assess whether the responsibilities, team, work environment, and values align with your expectations. The goal is a working relationship that is a good fit and promising for both sides.
Good preparation helps you feel more confident going into the interview and allows you to showcase your personality and skills.
Preparations
Learn about the organization, its field of activity, and the position being advertised. Also consider:
- Which tasks interest you the most?
- Which values are important to you?
- What qualifications do you bring to the position?
- Why do you want to pursue this role?
Prepare a few specific examples that you can use to describe your experiences. These can include professional achievements, as well as situations in which you overcame challenges, took on responsibility, or learned something new. It helps to have a clear structure: What was the initial situation? What task or challenge did you face? What specific actions did you take? And what was the result or what did you learn? This will allow you to present your skills in a clear and convincing way.
Tip: Even smaller projects, academic achievements, internships, part-time jobs, or volunteer work can provide meaningful examples.
Introducing yourself
You’ll often be asked to tell us a little about yourself. This isn’t about reciting your entire resume.
Instead, select the experiences, career milestones, and strengths that are particularly relevant to the specific position. A brief self-introduction of about two minutes is usually enough to present your background, your motivation, and your key skills.
AI can help you prepare. However, it’s important that you phrase your answers in your own words and come across as authentic during the interview.
Helpful Tips for the Interview
- Be on time. Arriving five minutes before the appointment is sufficient.
- Allow enough time for your commute.
- Save the contact information of the person you’ll be meeting with in case of unforeseen circumstances.
- For online interviews, test your equipment—camera, microphone, and internet connection—in advance. Choose a quiet environment and have important documents ready.
- Take your time to answer. You don’t have to respond immediately.
- Prepare for typical questions about your motivation, strengths, areas for development, teamwork, learning processes, or career goals.
- Show respect for former employers, colleagues, or organizations.
- Prepare your own questions, for example, about responsibilities, the team, onboarding, development opportunities, or the next steps in the selection process.
You don't have to be perfect
Many people feel nervous before a job interview. This is completely normal, and the interviewers are aware of it. You were invited because your profile sparked their interest and because they want to learn more about you.
It’s not about answering every question flawlessly. What’s much more important is that you describe your experiences clearly, show interest in the position, and come across as authentic.
After the interview
Questions about the next steps in the application process:
- Will there be additional rounds of interviews?
- When can you expect a response?
- What is the timeline going forward?
Thank the interviewer for the conversation, and then jot down your key takeaways:
- Who participated in the interview?
- Which requirements were emphasized in particular?
- What stood out to you in a positive way?
- What questions still remain unanswered?
- Does the position still align with your expectations?
This reflection will help you with future applications and with your decision-making.
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Mastering the Online Interview
Online interviews are now a standard part of the application process in many industries. With a little preparation, you can avoid technical glitches and focus entirely on the interview.
- Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection well in advance.
- Check that the invitation link works and that you have the necessary software installed.
- Choose a quiet place with as few distractions as possible.
- Make sure you have a tidy, professional background.
- Ensure you have good lighting—ideally from the front.
- Keep your resume, job posting, and notes handy.
- Turn off notifications on your computer and smartphone.
- Log in 5 minutes before the appointment.
- If possible, look at the camera instead of at your own video feed. This creates more eye contact.
- Speak at a normal pace and take short pauses, as there are sometimes delays online.
- If technical problems arise, stay calm and address them openly.
- Have a glass of water ready.
- Use keywords as a guide, but avoid reading entire answers verbatim.
Technical difficulties can also occur on the employer's end. A brief connection drop or an audio issue usually won't determine the success of your application.
More important than technical perfection are your preparation, your authenticity, and your interest in the position.
Ask someone you trust to conduct a practice video interview with you. Even a 10- to 15-minute test run can often help you better assess the camera angle, sound quality, and how you come across.
An online interview is also about getting to know you as a person—not about delivering a perfect presentation. The focus is on your experience, your motivation, and your personality.