What to do before, during, and after an interview

Before the interview: do the homework

Most of an interview is decided before it starts. Research the company's history, mission, and recent activity, and reread the job description so you can connect your experience to what the role actually requires. Indeed's career editors also recommend looking up your interviewer's professional background and preparing several questions of your own to ask at the end. If you found the role through LiveRec, your Live Recruiter has usually already spoken with the employer, so ask what the hiring manager cares about most.

Practice out loud, not just in your head. A mock interview with someone you trust exposes weak answers while there is still time to fix them, and preparing a few short work stories gives you material for behavioral questions, where the STAR method (situation, task, action, result) keeps answers structured. Handle logistics the night before: plan your route, prepare your clothes, print copies of your resume, and get a full night's sleep.

During the interview: be present and concise

Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before the scheduled time, silence your phone completely, and treat everyone you meet as if they were the hiring manager, because their impressions often reach the decision-maker. Sit up, listen actively, and give yourself a moment to process each question before answering.

Keep answers honest, specific, and tied to the job's requirements, and stay positive about previous employers even when a role ended badly. Ask the questions you prepared, and take brief, discreet notes; asking thoughtful questions signals genuine interest in the team and the work.

Before you leave, and right after

Ask about the decision timeline and next steps before the conversation ends, so you know when and how to follow up. Then, while everything is fresh, write down interviewer names, key points from the discussion, and an honest self-assessment: which answers landed, and which you would improve.

Send a personalized thank-you note within 24 hours that references something specific you discussed. Submit any requested documents promptly, and let the people you listed as references know a call may be coming.

The waiting period

If you have not heard back, a brief, polite follow-up one to two weeks later is appropriate, provided you respect whatever communication preference the employer stated. In the meantime, keep your search moving: continue applying, keep interviewing, and debrief with your Live Recruiter, who can often get direct feedback from the employer that you would never hear otherwise.