When an interview invitation arrives, reply promptly, confirm the date, time, format and people, research the company and role, prepare a few specific stories, test the setup and send a short thank-you afterwards. A clear plan for the first day after the invitation makes everything that follows easier.
How quickly should you reply?
Reply within a working day if you can. A quick, polite answer shows interest and makes scheduling easier. If you cannot confirm yet, say when you will.
What should you confirm in your reply?
Write down every detail, and ask about anything missing.
- The date, time and time zone.
- The format: phone, video or in person, and the link or address.
- How long it will last.
- Who you will meet, with names and roles.
- Whether you should prepare anything, such as a task or a portfolio.
- Who to contact if something changes.
What does a good reply look like?
Here is a short example. Hello Sam, thank you for the invitation. I would be glad to speak with you about the support specialist role. Thursday at 2 pm Eastern works for me. Could you confirm whether it will be on video, who I will be speaking with and how long to allow? Thank you, and I look forward to it.
What if the time does not work?
Say so politely and offer two or three alternatives. Do it as soon as you can. Most interviewers expect to adjust times.
How do you research the company and role?
Spend an hour on it.
- Read the job posting again and list the top five requirements.
- Read the company's own website and recent news, so you know what they do.
- Look up the people you will meet, to understand their roles.
- Note two or three questions that come from your research.
How do you prepare your stories?
Most interview questions ask for an example from your past. A simple pattern helps: describe the situation, the task you had, the action you took and the result. This is often called the STAR method. Prepare four or five short stories that cover problem-solving, teamwork, a mistake you learned from and a result you are proud of. Keep each to about two minutes.
How do you practise?
Say your answers out loud, or record yourself. Ask a friend to ask follow-up questions. Practise explaining your resume in one minute. If the role is technical, practise explaining a project in plain language.
How do you prepare for a video interview?
Test your setup the day before.
- Check your camera, microphone and internet connection.
- Use a quiet place with the light in front of you.
- Close other apps and silence notifications.
- Have the link, a copy of your resume and a notepad ready.
- Join a few minutes early.
Which questions should you ask the interviewer?
Prepare three. Good ones are about the work: what success looks like in the first months, how the team works and what the next steps are. Avoid asking about things you could have found on the website.
What should you do after the interview?
Send a short thank-you message the same day. Mention one thing you enjoyed discussing and restate your interest. Then update your tracker with the date, the people you met and the next step.
What should you check the day before?
Run through this list.
- The time, time zone and link or address.
- Your resume, the posting and your notes in one place.
- Your four or five stories, said out loud once.
- Your three questions for the interviewer.
- Your clothes, camera, microphone and internet connection.
- A plan for getting there, if it is in person.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Common problems are easy to prevent.
- Replying late or leaving details unconfirmed.
- Not researching the company.
- Giving long, general answers with no example.
- Criticising a former employer.
- Having no questions to ask.
- Forgetting to send a thank-you.
How does Ragiles career support help with interviews?
With Ragiles career support, our team schedules interviews for you and provides mock interviews and interview support. The number depends on your plan. We cannot promise a job offer. See the plans and the placement fee on the career support page.
Common questions
Is it acceptable to ask for more time? Yes, if you ask politely and give a date.
What should I wear? Dress one step smarter than the day-to-day dress of the company.
What if I do not hear back? Wait until the date they gave. If there was none, send one polite follow-up after a week or so.
