1. Before the interview

Research the organisation and the people

• Read the vacancy text / website / future vision of the organisation carefully. Tip: always save the vacancy text when applying.
• Connect with WUR alumni working at the organisation through LinkedIn. You may want to ask them what it is like working there and if they have any tips for your interview. 
• Look up the persons with whom you have the job interview via LinkedIn: you can get to know their background and functions.
• Reflect on the organisation's values and culture. Think about how your own values, interests and experiences connect with the organisation.

Prepare your story

• Think about 3 strengths of yourself, preferably strengths that match the vacancy requirements. Prepare concrete examples that illustrate these strengths by describing the situation, your role, the actions you took and the result you achieved. Think about examples from your studies, student jobs, extracurricular activities, volunteering, exchange experiences or personal projects that demonstrate relevant skills. 
• Also think about 3 points of improvement. When discussed during the interview, elaborate on that you want to develop these points.
• Think about the things you still want to learn. What kind of skills would you like to gain in the job? This is particularly important when applying for an internship.
• Prepare a short personal introduction (1-2minutes), your pitch. Explain who you are, what motivates you and how your studies, experiences and interests have led you to apply for this opportunity.

Prepare for the conversation

• Make sure you have prepared questions beforehand that you can ask during the interview. 
• Remember that an interview is not only about proving that you are the right candidate. It is also an opportunity to find out whether the organisation, team and role are a good fit for you.

Practical preparation

• It can be useful to research salary ranges and employment conditions beforehand. This helps you understand what is realistic and prepare for possible discussions about compensation.
• You may use AI tools such as ChatGPT to practices interview questions, analyse a vacancy or improve your pitch. However, make sure that your answers remain authentic and reflect your own experiences and motivation.
• Make sure that the photo you use on your CV is comparable with what you currently look like.

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2. During the interview

Before you walk in

• Wear professional and clean clothing. If the organisation is informal, adjust your outfit accordingly.
• Bring a notebook and pen with you, so you can write down keywords during the interview.
• Bring a copy of the vacancy text, your CV and motivation letter.
• Make sure you arrive on time, approximately 10 minutes before the interview starts.
• Write down the contact details of the person whom you have the interview with. If you are delayed, you can contact them to let them know you will arrive a bit later.

Making a good impression

• Try to be yourself during the interview, be authentic. Tell personal examples, show them who you are as a person, but keep it professional.
• Try to have a bit of small talk when you are on the way to the room where the interview will be held.
• Show the persons whom you have the interview with why you want to have the position. Be specific and clear, show your interest/motivation.

Answering and asking questions

• Answer the questions. Try to stick to the point and not talk endlessly by giving too much information. If you do not know the answer, state that you want to think about it and will get back to it later. The interview should be a conversation instead of a monologue of answers. So, try to answer the questions short and powerful, so the interviewers have time to respond to your answers.
• Ask questions yourself as well. Asking thoughtful questions shows your interest and helps you determine whether the role and organisation are a good fit for you. Max. 5 questions is sufficient. 

What to expect

• An interview often takes 30 minutes – 1 hour.
• The number of interview rounds and candidates invited can vary considerably depending on the role and the sector. Often max. 6 candidates are invited for the first job interview. At a second interview, often there are 2-3 candidates left.

During an online interview

• Pay attention to the light: are you well visible?
• Pay attention to your background: what do you show? (No moving objects/persons, your bed, or distracting filter).
• Make sure you are comfortable: sit on a chair in which you sit straight and well.
• Put away your phone (and on silence) so that you cannot be distracted.
• Test your internet connection on beforehand.
• Get to know the program/software in which you will have the interview. Do you not know it? Look it up and watch a tutorial.
• Make sure you sit in a quiet spot. If the interview is in MS Teams, you can turn Noise Suppression to High. For more information: Reduce background noise in Teams meetings - Office Support.
• In case there is no waiting lobby, you will be accepted to the interview meeting immediately. So, prepare yourself for this, make sure you have your pitch ready because the interview starts right away.
• An online interview often takes about 30 minutes.

Questions you could ask

• What does success look like in this role during the first 3, 6, 12 months? 
• What would a typical day or week look like for someone in this position?
• Can you tell me more about the team I would be working with?
• What opportunities are there for learning and development? 
• How would you describe the company culture?
• What are the next steps in the recruitment process?

Questions you do not have to answer

Employers should focus on your suitability for the role. If you feel uncomfortable answering a personal question, you may politely redirect the conversation to your qualifications and experience.

You should not be asked, and are not required to answer, questions about:

• Ethnicity
• Religion
• Gender
• Marital status
• Illnesses
• Sexual orientation

 

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3. The end of the interview

• Thank the interview committee for their time. Ask about the next steps and when you can expect to hear back from them.
• If you want, you can ask if there were many people interested in the vacancy. Often this is mentioned by the organisation. Do not ask how many applicants there are.
• Do not say that you would also like to apply for other positions within this organisation. This does not show your motivation for this specific position. (When you hear you did not get selected for this position, you can mention that you are very interested in the organisation and ask if there are any comparable positions available).
• Remember that an interview is a conversation aimed at discovering a good fit between both parties. The organisation is looking for a suitable candidate, but it's also important that the position aligns well with your own needs and preferences.

 

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4. After the interview

If you are selected:

• Congratulations! Take the time to carefully review the job offer, including the employment conditions, salary, benefits, working hours, and any other relevant agreements. Make sure you fully understand the terms before making a decision.
• Consider whether the position aligns with your career goals, interests, values, and personal circumstances. Accepting a job offer is an important decision that can have a significant impact on your professional development and work-life balance.
• If anything in the offer is unclear, do not hesitate to ask the employer for clarification. It is perfectly acceptable to request additional information or time to consider the proposal before responding.
• You may also find it helpful to discuss the offer with a family member, friend or another person whose opinion you value. For general career-related questions and resources, you can also contact Student Career Services. Ultimately, the decision is yours, and it is important that you feel confident and comfortable with your choice.

If you are not selected:

• Ask for feedback. Why were you not selected and what could you improve for future interviews? Constructive feedback can help you to improve your interview skills.
• Stay professional and react friendly to the rejection. Leaving a positive impression may be valuable, as recruiters can sometimes inform you about other opportunities.
• If you are still interested in the organisation, consider asking whether there are any similar positions available.