How to Prepare For an Interview.

Preparing for interviews is crucial to make a positive impression and increase your chances of landing a job. Each interview is an opportunity to showcase your skills and passion for public health. Proper preparation, confidence, and a genuine interest in the organization and the field will make you a strong candidate.

There are many types of job interviews. Below are some tips to help you prepare for most interviews. To dive deeper into your preparation, see our behavioral interview and case interview sections.

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Research the Organization

  • Familiarize yourself with the organization’s mission, values, their areas of expertise, recent projects related to public health, any recent news articles, etc.
  • Understand their target population, areas of focus, and how they contribute to the public health sector.
  • Stay informed about current public health issues, trends, and developments. Being up-to-date demonstrates your passion and interest in the field.

Understand the Position

  • Review the job description for the position you are interviewing for to identify the key responsibilities, required skills, and qualifications.

Prepare relevant examples from your experiences that demonstrate how you possess the desired qualifications noted in the job description. This is particularly important for behavioral questions.

    • For example, for consulting interviews, focus on examples where you worked as part of teams, serving clients / customers, and using innovative thinking to tackle problems.
    • Some say for every standard interview question or bullet in the job description to have at least 3 examples or stories from your experience that you could use to highlight your experience in that area.

Practice for Your Interview (!!)

  • Practice answering common questions relevant to the type of interview. People aren’t often used to talking about their accomplishments and quantifying them!
  • Don’t memorize answers but have some strong points about your experience and background ready to incorporate into your answers.
  • Role playing with a friend and using online resources to practice before your interview will help you feel confident and comfortable during your real interview.

Practicing in advance will help you enjoy the conversation & collect the information you need to make an informed decision as well!

Prepare Questions to Ask

  • Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer about the organization, the team, and the projects you would be involved in.
    • Develop your questions from the company website, job description, related news, LinkedIn, etc.
    • These should not be focused on salary or benefits until these topics are brought up to you — likely by HR. They can be about where the last employee moved to, career trajectory, etc.
  • Asking questions shows your enthusiasm and proactive attitude.
  • For sample questions to ask, check out the CCD website and don’t underestimate the power of Google.

Dress Professionally

  • Dress in professional attire that aligns with the organization’s culture. When in doubt, it’s better to be slightly overdressed than underdressed.
  • Interview outfits do not have to be gendered.

Know Where the Interview Will Be Conducted & Arrive Early

  • For an in-person interview, aim to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Punctuality reflects your commitment and professionalism and allows you to relax and get your mind ready for the interview.
  • For a video interview, turn on your computer early. Close all extra tabs and test your video and audio before the interview is scheduled to start.

Be Positive & Enthusiastic

  • Maintain a positive attitude throughout the interview and show enthusiasm for the opportunity in everything you say and do.
  • Use positive body language that exudes confidence and openness. This includes sitting forward in your chair, hand gestures, and making eye contact.
  • Smile and breathe.

Practice Good Communication Skills

  • Articulate your thoughts clearly and concisely.
  • Maintain eye contact and active listening during the conversation.
  • It is okay to jot down quick notes. Just ask if it’s okay in advance.

Additional Interview Tips: Video Interviews

Dive deeper into your interview preparation by exploring the following sections: