How to prepare for your first professional interview

Your first interview can feel like an exam you cannot study for. It is not. Panels in NGOs, banks, telecom companies and government offices ask very similar questions, and good preparation matters more than experience. Here is how to get ready, step by step.

Before the day

1. 1Read the job advert again and list the three or four things they need most.
2. 2Spend 30 minutes on the organisation: its website, what it does, where it works, recent news or projects.
3. 3Prepare three or four short stories from your studies, volunteering or work: a problem you solved, a time you worked in a team, a time you made a mistake and fixed it, something you are proud of.
4. 4Practise your answers out loud, ideally with a friend who plays the panel.
5. 5Plan the journey so you arrive 10 to 15 minutes early. For an online interview, test your connection and camera the day before.

The questions almost every panel asks

• "Tell us about yourself." Not your life story: one minute on what you studied or do now, one or two relevant experiences, and why you want this job.
• "Why do you want to work here?" Use your research: name something they do that you care about and connect it to your skills.
• "What are your strengths?" Pick two that match the job and give a short example for each.
• "What is your weakness?" Choose a real one that does not ruin the job, and say what you are doing about it.
• "Tell us about a time you solved a problem" or "worked in a team". This is where your STAR stories go.
• "What are your salary expectations?" Find out the usual range for the role first. You can give a range or say you are open to the organisation's scale.
• "Do you have any questions for us?" Always have two ready (see below).

Panel interviews

NGOs, UN agencies and government offices often interview with a panel of three to five people. Greet everyone, look at the person who asked the question when you start your answer, and include the others as you continue. If you do not understand a question, it is fine to ask them to repeat it. Taking a few seconds to think is better than a rushed answer.

What to wear and how to come across

• Clean, ironed and modest professional clothes. A shirt and trousers, or a suit for banks and international organisations. A professional dress and hijab are normal and respected.
• Follow the interviewer's lead on greetings. Some people prefer not to shake hands; a warm greeting and a nod are always fine.
• Sit upright, keep your phone silent and out of sight, and speak a little slower than usual.
• It is normal to be nervous. The panel expects it. Preparation makes it smaller.

What to bring

• Two or three printed copies of your CV.
• Your certificates, originals and copies, in a folder.
• Your ID.
• A pen and a small notebook, with your questions written in it.
• Names and contact details of two referees you have already asked.

What to ask at the end

Asking good questions shows real interest. Two are enough. Avoid starting with salary or leave; those come later.

• "What would a normal week in this role look like?"
• "What would success look like in the first three months?"
• "Who would I work with most closely?"
• "What are the next steps, and when can I expect to hear back?"

After the interview

1. 1Within 24 hours, send a short thank-you email or message: thank them for their time and repeat in one sentence why you are a good fit.
2. 2Write down the questions you were asked while you still remember them. They will come again.
3. 3If you hear nothing by the date they gave, send one polite follow-up.
4. 4If you are not chosen, you may ask for feedback. Every interview makes the next one easier.