Now that you’ve got an interview lined up, it’s time to get ready. We’ve assembled 6 of the best interview tips for job seekers in 2025 to help you convince the hiring manager you’re the top candidate for the role.

You spent hours researching companies, tailoring your cover letter, and finally landed an interview. But how do you actually stand out once you’re in the room?The interview is where employers decide if you’re the right fit, so preparation is key. As Monster notes, “tangible evidence of your skills … makes a good job interview” — that’s what distinguishes great candidates from good ones (Source: Monster).

Here are our top 6 strategies to succeed in any interview. These actionable tips will guide you on how to impress before your interview, shine during the conversation, and leave a lasting positive impression afterward.

Research the company your interviewing with.

Before your interview, take the time to research the company you’re applying to. Go beyond just visiting their website — try to understand the company’s background, products or services, size, and location. You don’t need to memorize every detail, but knowing whether they have 20 employees or 20,000, whether the office you’ll work at is one of many, or if the company is part of a larger organization will give you useful context.

Learning about the company helps you understand the type of candidates they value, allowing you to position yourself effectively during the interview.If the company has a product or service you can explore, try it out. Experiencing their offerings firsthand provides insight into their target audience, strengths, and challenges — observations your interviewer will likely appreciate.

Moreover, thorough research signals to your interviewer that you are diligent and genuinely interested in the role.

To gather detailed information about the company, consider:

• Visiting the official website, especially the “About Us” and product/service pages
• Checking the company’s LinkedIn profile and staff profiles to see potential colleagues
• Exploring their social media channels (Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, Facebook)
• Reading online reviews on sites like Glassdoor or Quora
• Looking up recent news articles via Google News or industry publications

Always have some questions ready

Once you’ve researched the company, turn your attention to preparing thoughtful questions for your interview.

For example, even if you already know some answers, try to uncover details about:

• The team you’d be working with and how they collaborate
• Current or upcoming projects and initiatives
• Opportunities for growth and professional development
• How the company culture and values are applied in practice
• Challenges the team or organization is currently facing

You can practice using AI tools like ChatGPT and other platforms designed specifically for interview preparation. Having these questions ready allows you to engage in a meaningful conversation with your interviewer. It demonstrates genuine interest in the role and shows that you are proactive in making an informed decision.

If you’re unsure what to ask, consider looking at similar roles on LinkedIn, Glassdoor, or company websites to identify topics that matter most to team members in that position.

By preparing a few well-thought-out questions in advance, you ensure you leave a positive impression and convey that you’re both curious and invested in contributing effectively to the team.

Provide examples of things you have done

In addition to preparing for common interview questions, make sure you have concrete examples ready that demonstrate your abilities, skills, and past achievements.

For instance, if you’re interviewing for a project management role, think about past projects where you successfully collaborated with a team, managed budgets, or kept tasks on schedule. Specific examples like these help your interviewer understand how you would perform in the role.

Whenever possible, quantify your accomplishments with measurable results. This could include budgets you managed, project timelines you met, team sizes you led, or performance metrics you improved. Having these numbers in mind allows you to naturally incorporate them into your answers when the opportunity arises.

Behavioral questions — such as “How do you handle conflict?” or “Tell me about a time a project was behind schedule” — are designed to see how you approach real-world challenges. If you’re unsure how to structure your responses, try using the STAR method:

• Situation – Describe the context or challenge you faced.
• Task – Explain your specific responsibility or goal.
• Action – Share the steps you took to address the situation.
• Result – Highlight the outcome, ideally with measurable impact.

Using STAR helps you present your examples clearly and logically, keeping your answers focused while showing interviewers your skills and accomplishments in a structured way.

Be prepared for the typical HR question

Thinking about the dreaded HR question, “What’s your biggest weakness?” can feel stressful, but preparing in advance can help you handle it with confidence.

This question isn’t meant to trip you up — everyone has weaknesses. What interviewers are really looking for is self-awareness, humility, and a willingness to grow. The key is to answer honestly, but also spin it in a positive, forward-looking way.

Here’s how to prepare:

• Identify a real weakness you’ve faced in your professional life.
• Explain what steps you’re actively taking to improve it, such as training, education, reflection, or seeking feedback from colleagues or supervisors.
• Practice articulating the story so it flows naturally, showing both awareness and action.

For example, you could frame your answer like this:

“I’ve noticed that I can sometimes get caught up in details, which can slow down my workflow. To improve, I’ve started using project management tools to prioritize tasks, I schedule regular check-ins with my team, and I actively ask for feedback to ensure I’m staying on track.”

If you want to take it a step further, you can use AI tools like ChatGPT to rehearse, asking questions like:

• Tell me about yourself
• Why should we hire you
• Describe a challenge you've failed and how you handle it
• And some other common questions

Practicing your answer ahead of time — whether with AI or a friend — will help you stay calm, confident, and ready to turn a tricky question into an opportunity to showcase your growth mindset.

Prove you are a good fit

During an interview, your job is to demonstrate your skills and fit for the role, but the interviewer isn’t there to argue with you. If you claim abilities that aren’t clearly evident, the interviewer might make a mental note and move on.

That’s why it’s important to clearly showcase the skills and experience you do have. Don’t assume the interviewer automatically knows what you’re capable of — take the opportunity to provide concrete examples and explain your expertise. AI tools like ChatGPT is a great help to sharpen your expression. Simply Google “10 best AI interview copilot tools in 2025” to get started.

If you leave the interview thinking you nailed it but didn’t highlight your skills effectively, the interviewer might not have fully recognized your abilities. By being intentional about presenting your strengths, you ensure your experience and qualifications are fully understood and appreciated.

Don't be Arrogant

Effectively presenting your skills and accomplishments during an interview shows the interviewer that you’re confident, capable, and a strong fit for the role.

It’s your responsibility to make sure the interviewer understands what you bring to the table. That doesn’t mean being arrogant — it means clearly communicating your contributions and the value you’ve added in past roles.

At the same time, be mindful of how you describe team achievements. You didn’t accomplish everything on your own, and you won’t work in isolation at this company either. Phrasing like “I led a team that achieved [specific result]” or “Our team accomplished [result], and my role was to [specific contribution]” strikes the right balance between confidence and humility.

By framing your experience this way, you demonstrate both leadership and teamwork skills, while giving the interviewer a clear picture of how you operate in collaborative environments.

Frequently asked questions about job interviews

How should you follow up after an interview?

Following up after an interview is just as important as preparing for it. Here’s how to do it effectively:

• Send a thank-you email within 24 hours, expressing appreciation for the interviewer’s time.
• Reiterate your interest in the role and briefly highlight how your skills match their needs.
• Mention a specific part of the conversation or topic that resonated with you.
• Keep your email concise, professional, and positive.

What are common mistakes to avoid in interviews?

Even strong candidates can make simple mistakes that affect their chances. Avoid these pitfalls:

• Talking too much without giving clear examples or staying on topic.
• Being overly negative about past jobs, colleagues, or employers.
• Failing to research the company or the role beforehand.
• Forgetting to ask questions, which can make you appear disengaged.

How can you prepare for behavioral interview questions?

Behavioral questions help interviewers understand how you act in real situations. Prepare by:

• Identifying past examples of teamwork, problem-solving, leadership, and conflict resolution.
• Structuring your answers using the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
• Practicing aloud so your stories are clear, concise, and compelling.
• Quantifying results when possible, using numbers, timelines, or other measurable outcomes.

How to make a great first impression?

First impressions set the tone for the entire interview. Make yours count by:

• Arriving on time or a few minutes early to show reliability and respect.
• Dressing professionally）in a way that fits the company culture.
• Offering a firm handshake and confident body language.
• Greeting the interviewer with a genuine smile and maintaining good eye contact.

About OfferGenie

Since its launch, OfferGenie has been helping 2684 job seekers from all backgrounds and experience levels prepare for interviews more effectively and land their dream jobs faster.

OfferGenie provides a suite of AI-powered tools, including live interview, mock interview, job apply, and resume optimization support, designed to give candidates a competitive edge in today’s job market.

Led by a team of career experts, AI specialists, and HR professionals, OfferGenie has been recognized for its innovation in interview preparation and has been featured in top career and tech publications.