Day 21, here we are again! But this time, we’re coming in stronger because we remember our worth and value. Maybe we’ve even sparked interest from a recruiter. They’ve written to you or called you. You feel happy, excited, and a little frightened too.

What are you going to say? What will they ask? Will you be able to answer?
Yes, you will. Just breathe.

A typical hiring process today begins with a wide funnel. About 250 applicants apply for a single job posting. Only around 20 percent get an initial interview, and of those, only 10 percent move beyond the first round (Recruit CRM, LegalJobs).
Once you’re in the pipeline, you may go through three to five rounds. Only two to four candidates usually make it to the final stage (Jobera). Some companies conduct up to seven or more interviews before making a decision (Axios).

So be patient, stay grateful, know your worth, and try to enjoy the process.

How do you enjoy the process? By being prepared. Review your resume again. You might be asked to walk through it, and you need to be ready to explain everything you’ve included. These are your experiences, but if they happened six months or six years ago, you’ll need to refresh your memory and speak about them with confidence.

Take time to study the company, understand the role, and become familiar with the language used in the job description. Reflect that language in your answers when possible.

When they ask, “Tell me about yourself,” share what matters. Who are you? What makes you a strong fit for this role and company? Talk about your experience, your skills, and your education. Keep it conversational. The person interviewing you wants to hire someone who is both qualified and enjoyable to work with. If you love traveling, mention it, but explain how it has helped you grow, stay curious, and build a global mindset that supports your work.

Remember every organization is looking for problem solvers. Make sure to use the STAR method when answering behavioral questions:

• Situation: What was happening? For example, engagement on our mobile platform was low.
• Task: What did you need to achieve? For example, increase daily active users by 20 percent.
• Action: What did you do? For example, cleaned and analyzed data, handled missing values, identified trends, and proposed recommendations.
• Result: What was the outcome? For example, daily users increased from 50 to 60 in two months, leading to a boost in revenue.

Stay calm. Relaxed. Present. Easier said than done, but it’s important. This is just a job interview. Most people go through many before landing the right one. If you don’t get selected, that doesn’t reduce your value. It just means it wasn’t your opportunity yet. The right one will come at the right time. Don’t let anxiety make you give a version of yourself that isn’t true to who you are.

One question recruiters love to ask is about salary expectations. Use tools like the Labor Market Tool to research job titles, required skills, and average salaries in your area. If a salary range is posted, refer to it. Share a thoughtful range based on your experience, skills, and location.

Prepare some questions of your own too. Ask about the team, the next steps, or how success is defined in the role.

And do not forget the thank-you email. It is important. It shows professionalism, interest, and appreciation. It also keeps the conversation going.

We are here for you through it all. Visit the Career Development Center. We will help you prepare with mock interviews and give you the tools to present your best self at every stage.

Book an appointment here, email us, or call (651) 962-6761.
You have what it takes. Let’s get you to that offer.