This article was updated on May 6, 2026, to reflect the latest information.
TL;DR: Good interview tips start with preparation, and preparation is what separates candidates who get the offer from those who don't. With employers receiving an average of 180 applicants per hire and only 1 in 5 interviewed candidates landing the job, how you show up in the room (or on screen) matters. This guide covers five interview preparation tips from a senior recruiter, plus her advice on calming nerves and making a strong impression from start to finish.
Job searching has always had its moving parts, and interview prep is no exception. Best practices shift. New formats emerge. Questions like "Are one-page resumes still a must?" and "Should I send a thank-you note?" keep coming up, and the answers aren't always obvious.
We sat down with Shannon Clarke, senior recruiter at health information network organization Surescripts, to get some clarity. Shannon has spent 15+ years conducting interviews and recruiting across sales, customer support, DevOps, finance, and strategy. She's seen a lot of candidates walk through the door, and she knows exactly what sets the prepared ones apart.
A quick note before we dig in: Shannon doesn't subscribe to the one-page resume rule. "Two pages are absolutely fine if you have the experience to fill them," she says. And on the thank-you note front? She's a fan. "I think thank you's are great. You should do it and be thoughtful about it. Don't write a novel, people are busy!" she says, laughing. "But they appreciate that sincere thank you, and I often hear from hiring managers who are pleased when they receive one."
That tracks with what the data shows. According to a CareerBuilder survey, 22% of hiring managers say they're less likely to hire a candidate who skips the post-interview thank you.
Read on for the other pieces of wisdom Shannon has picked up over her career.
Five tips for your next interview
1. Start with the job description
Before anything else, open the job posting and read it carefully… the whole thing.
"If you start with reviewing the job description, you'll be able to ground yourself in what they are looking for and how you fit in," explains Shannon. "Look at both the responsibilities and qualifications, because many times you can try to figure out what they might ask you based on that."
This step does double duty. It helps you anticipate likely questions, and it gives you a framework for deciding which of your experiences are most relevant to bring up. If a role emphasizes cross-functional collaboration, think of a specific story that shows you working across teams. If it emphasizes data fluency, have a number-backed example ready.
2. Practice your pitch out loud
Knowing your story in your head and being able to tell it smoothly under pressure are two different things.
"Be able to explain your career thus far and related career experience in a concise manner. Time in interviews goes by fast," Shannon says. "If you don't walk through it and you don't practice actually saying your answers out loud, you might just get tripped up in the interview."
This applies to your overall career narrative (the "tell me about yourself" response) and to specific behavioral questions. Run through your answers with a friend, record yourself, or simply talk it out in the car. The goal is to get comfortable enough that the words come naturally, even when you're nervous.
3. Know the company — not just the job
Hiring managers notice when candidates have done their homework, and they notice when they haven't. According to research, 47% of interviewers say they wouldn't offer the job to a candidate with little knowledge of the company.
"Be able to explain the company and what they do," Shannon advises. "Start by checking the company's website to learn the ins and outs of the organization. Then you can check out a company's presence on websites like Glassdoor, LinkedIn, YouTube, and gather a variety of perspectives, or see if you have any connections at that company."
Go beyond the homepage. Look at recent news, their LinkedIn page, employee reviews, and any public statements from leadership. If you have a connection who works there, a 15-minute conversation can tell you more than an hour of browsing.
4. Come with questions you actually care about
Asking good questions is more than a formality. It signals engagement, intellectual curiosity, and that you're evaluating the role as much as they're evaluating you.
"Take a few minutes before the interview and think about what you want to know," Shannon advises. "It could be about the culture, it could be about the work, it could be about how the team works together. You want to ask in a genuine way, because it shows that you're invested in the opportunity."
Avoid questions that are easily answered by a quick Google search. The best questions come from your research. Things you genuinely want clarity on, or topics you want to explore further based on the conversation you've already had.
5. Bring examples of your achievements
Stories with specifics stick. Vague answers about what you're "good at" don't.
"Don't hesitate to reveal your accomplishments by using concrete examples," says Shannon. "If you can quantify your experience with numbers, great, but I think the biggest deal is to be able to give an example of when and how you did something. Be sure to reference the company and details of the project, and talk about both soft and hard skills that you used and displayed."
Before the interview, jot down three to five accomplishments from your career — ideally ones with measurable outcomes. Think in terms of: What was the situation? What did I do? What was the result? That structure, sometimes called the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), gives your answers shape and makes them easier for an interviewer to follow and remember.
How to manage nerves
Interview anxiety is real, and it's common. Feeling nervous before a high-stakes conversation doesn't mean you're underprepared — it means you care. Here are Shannon's strategies for keeping nerves in check.
Give yourself a pep talk
"Think of all you have accomplished, whether it's at work or in your personal life. You got this. Be confident. Show them the best you," Shannon says.
This isn't just feel-good advice. The research backs it up: confidence is one of the most visible factors in interview performance, and candidates who walk in with a settled sense of their own value tend to come across more clearly and compellingly.
Let your preparation do the work
Nerves often spike when we feel unprepared. The flip side is also true: thorough preparation is one of the most effective ways to calm down before an interview.
"If you review the job description, write down applicable skills and examples, and practice answering questions in a shorter time frame, you won't feel quite as nervous," Shannon explains.
The more you've rehearsed your answers and researched the company, the more your brain can relax into the conversation instead of scrambling to generate responses on the spot.
Remember: you're interviewing them too
One of the most useful reframes for interview anxiety is shifting from "I need to impress them" to "we're figuring out if this is a good fit for both of us."
"You're the one that's in charge of your next decision," Shannon says. "Be sure to ask questions to get a sense of the company culture to validate that the company is a good fit for you."
That mindset shift changes the dynamic. You're no longer auditioning. You're having a professional conversation between two parties who both have something to evaluate.
What Surescript looks for
Working at Surescripts since 2016, Shannon has recruited across departments: sales, customer support, DevOps, finance, strategy, and more. Over the years, she's developed a clear sense of what fits within the Surescripts environment.
"We like people that care about the work they do and about making a difference. We like people that want to contribute and want to continue to learn. This is a great place for that," she says.
That combination (genuine investment in the work, a desire to grow, and a collaborative orientation) is what Shannon looks for across roles and seniority levels. If that resonates with you, Surescripts might be worth a closer look.
FAQ: Interview tips and preparation
How far in advance should I prepare for a job interview?
Most career experts recommend starting your prep at least two to three days before the interview. Use that time to review the job description, research the company, prepare your stories, and practice your answers out loud. The more lead time you give yourself, the more settled you'll feel going in.
What should I research before a job interview?
Start with the company's website, mission, and recent news. Then check employee reviews on Glassdoor, look at the company's LinkedIn page, and, if possible, connect with someone who works there. Shannon also recommends going back to the job description itself, which can tell you a lot about what the team values and what the role actually requires day-to-day.
Is it still important to send a thank-you note after an interview?
Yes. Shannon encourages it, and so does the data. A CareerBuilder survey found that 22% of hiring managers say they're less likely to move forward with a candidate who doesn't send one. Keep it short, personalize it with something specific from your conversation, and send it within 24 hours.
How do I calm interview nerves?
Preparation helps more than anything else. The more you've rehearsed your answers and researched the company, the less your brain has to scramble during the conversation. Shannon also recommends giving yourself a genuine pep talk beforehand, reflecting on past accomplishments can help reset your mindset before you walk in.
What should I bring or have ready for a job interview?
At minimum: a clear sense of the role, a prepared career narrative, three to five specific achievement stories, a list of thoughtful questions, and copies of your resume if it's an in-person interview. For video interviews, test your audio and video setup ahead of time and make sure your background and lighting are professional.
Ready to put these interview tips to practice? Check out open roles at our website and find an opportunity that fits your skills and goals.
