Interviewing for Your First Job? Here’s How to Nail It, According to a LinkedIn Career Expert

Looking for your first “real” job—sorry, getting paid by your parents for doing chores doesn’t count—is exciting. It firmly places you into the ranks of adulthood and everything that comes with it (Responsibilities! Regular paychecks! Endless meetings!). But before you can settle into your newfound career, you have to actually land the job first–and that means nailing your first job interview. Although a procrastinate-and-cram strategy likely worked for most of your school exams or papers, first job interviews take careful preparation and practice. From body language to key answers you should have in your back pocket, here are 12 job interview prep tips from LinkedIn Career Expert Blair Decembrele to help you make a good impression and ace that meeting.

1. Research ahead of time.

Researching a company ahead of time involves more than Googling their name and reading the about section of their website. Decembrele advises you to “learn as much as you can about the company before the first interview. The most successful candidates research a company in advance to learn about its business culture and interests. Start by studying the employer’s Company Page on LinkedIn, and then search for other recent news and information about the company.”

2. Clean up your digital footprint.

It’s true what they say about not getting a second chance to make a first impression, and that applies to your digital life as well. Says Decembrele, “First impressions happen even before you step foot in the door, and the impression you make online is just as important as the one you make in person. Interviewers may eliminate candidates because of inappropriate social media profiles or photos, so be sure your online presence matches the in-person impression you want to leave.”

3. Spotlight your skills.

Even if you don’t have much prior work experience, think about the skills you’ve learned through other projects, or temporary or volunteer work, that could be applicable to the job you’re applying for. Most candidates won’t be a 100 percent match for a job description on paper anyway, so think about what can set you apart. “More than 85 percent of employers say that skills will be increasingly more important for hiring in the future world of work, so be sure to showcase what you’ve learned in your career,” says Decembrele. You can also validate your skills on your LinkedIn profile with LinkedIn Skill Assessments—according to Decembrele and LinkedIn, early results show that when candidates complete Skill Assessments, they are 30 percent more likely to get hired.

4. Be punctual.

It should go without saying, but punctuality is very important. Your interviewers have taken time out of their day to meet with you, so the least you can do is be respectful and show up on time. “Better yet,” says Decembrele, “arrive early to show your eagerness for the job.”

5. Dress professionally.

With the exception of certain industries, most companies don’t adhere to a strict dress code, but you don’t want to show up way over- or underdressed. Decembrele’s job interview prep suggestion: Look at the company’s LinkedIn page or social media platforms to get a sense of the culture. When in doubt, ask. “If you have a connection at the company, ask for advice to get a sense of how formal or informal the office might be. You can also ask how employees dress; since half of interviewers say they’ve eliminated a candidate because of unprofessional attire, dressing the part is key,” says Decembrele. (And you can shop no-fail job interview essentials here!)

6. Use strong body language.

You may have heard that doing a “power pose” can make you feel more confident, and regardless if you believe it, body language is important for nonverbal communication and to connect with other people. Decembrele’s tips include:

• Start with a firm handshake.
• Sit up straight to show you’re focused and paying attention.
• Lean in to demonstrate a high level of engagement in the conversation.
• Don’t forget to smile.

7. Know what you want.

One of the biggest mistakes to avoid, says Decembrele, is not knowing what you’re in it for. She advises people to take time to figure out what are your must-haves for a job—whether it’s a certain type of culture, flexible work schedules, number of vacation days, growth opportunities, etc. Remember, it’s not just the company interviewing you; you’re also interviewing the company to make sure it’s a good fit for you.

8. Ask questions.

A job interview should be a two-way dialogue, and a great way to get more information about the role, team, and company is to simply ask. According to Decembrele, “interviewers say that asking well-informed questions is one of their top qualifications for a candidate, so ask questions to show you’ve done your homework and are interested in learning more about the company.” Here are a few suggested first job interview questions, though use your best judgment depending on the interview and situation.  

• What are the company’s most important values?
• Where do you see the company in the next year? What about in the next five years?
• What is the work environment like? Is it more autonomous or collaborative?
• What was a recent challenge the company faced, and what did management/employees learn?
• How do you measure success?  
• What continued learning is offered, if any, for employees?

9. Look out for any red flags.

Not all job interviews go smoothly, and sometimes early warning signs can save you heartache down the line. Decembrele says one red flag to watch out for is a boss that isn’t a good fit for you. The relationship with your manager can be the difference between an environment where you can grow and thrive and one where you feel directionless and stagnant. “Having a supportive manager is a crucial part of your success and happiness at work, yet more than half of working professionals have never asked about the management style of the person they’d be reporting to, and only a handful research the background of their would-be boss when interviewing,” says Decembrele. Try to get a sense of what it would be like to report into a prospective manager and whether or not your working styles can coexist together.

10. Be prepared with some key interview answers.

Interview questions will vary from job to job, but many times, companies use more broad questions to determine if a candidate is a cultural fit. Here are some questions Decembrele suggests you should be prepared to answer. If you want to practice ahead of time, Linkedin has some job Interview Prep tools, where you can get advice from real hiring managers and watch and send videos.

• Tell me about yourself.
• What is your greatest weakness?
• Why should we hire you?
• What would your coworkers say about you?
• Tell about a time you failed or made a mistake.

11. Leverage your network.

You may be surprised to find someone in your professional network who either works for the company you’re interviewing at or knows someone who works there. Reach out to people in your LinkedIn network and ask for a recommendation, advises Decembrele, because candidates who are referred by a company employee are more likely to get hired. After all, that signals you’ve been pre-vetted by another employee.

12. Don’t forget to follow-up!

After a grueling round of interviews, you probably just want to go home and take a nap or meet up with some friends for happy hour, but proper follow-up is as key as job interview prep. Just as the first impression was important, make sure you leave a good last impression as well by following up with a thank you—either email or handwritten—with each interview. Bring in something you discussed with the specific interviewer vs. writing a generic thank you to everyone. “Use your thank you note to reinforce your qualifications for the job or to add something you forgot to cover in the interview,” says Decembrele.

Did these first interview tips help you? Tell us in the comments or ask your job interview prep questions below!