Interview Do's and Don'ts: Complete Checklist

Interview Do's and Don'ts: A Complete Checklist

Interviews reward preparation more than charisma. Even highly qualified candidates lose offers because of avoidable missteps — arriving flustered, talking over the interviewer or forgetting to research the company — while well-prepared candidates consistently outperform their raw credentials. Whether you're interviewing for your first job or your tenth, this checklist covers the behaviours that impress hiring managers and the mistakes that quietly sink applications.

Key Takeaways

• Research the company and rehearse your answers before every interview.
• Arrive five to ten minutes early, dressed appropriately for the workplace culture.
• Support your answers with specific examples rather than general claims.
• Listen fully before answering; ask thoughtful questions of your own.
• Never badmouth a previous employer, exaggerate your experience or lie about anything.
• Send a brief thank-you message within a day of the interview.

Before the Interview: Do's and Don'ts

Do's

• Research the organization. Know what it does, who its customers are and what the role involves. Skim the company website, recent news and the posting itself.
• Rehearse common questions aloud. Practice "tell me about yourself," your strengths and a story about a challenge you solved. Saying it out loud is very different from thinking it.
• Prepare your questions. Aim for three to five genuine questions about the team, the work and expectations.
• Plan your logistics. Confirm the address or video link, test your tech for virtual interviews and choose your outfit in advance.
• Bring copies. A few resumes, your references list, and a notepad and pen.

Don'ts

• Don't leave preparation until the night before.
• Don't memorize scripted answers word-for-word — you'll sound robotic and panic if the question shifts.
• Don't assume a virtual interview is casual; treat it with the same formality as an in-person meeting.
• Don't show up with a coffee cup in hand or gum in your mouth.

During the Interview: Do's and Don'ts

Do's

• Make a good first impression. Greet everyone warmly — including reception staff — with a smile, eye contact and a firm but comfortable handshake.
• Listen fully, then answer. A short pause before responding shows thoughtfulness; interrupting signals impatience.
• Use concrete examples. A simple structure keeps answers strong: the situation, the action you took and the result. One detailed example outweighs three vague claims.
• Show enthusiasm honestly. Mention specific things about the role or organization that interest you.
• Stay aware of time. Keep answers focused — generally one to two minutes — and let the interviewer guide the conversation.

Don'ts

• Don't badmouth anyone. Criticizing a former boss or coworker reads as a warning about your future behaviour, even if your complaint is fair.
• Don't lie or exaggerate. Interviewers probe claims, and discovering one inflated detail undermines everything else you said.
• Don't focus only on what you want. Salary, vacation and benefits matter, but leading with them before demonstrating value puts the emphasis in the wrong place.
• Don't check your phone. Keep it silenced and out of sight.
• Don't ramble or dominate. A monologue is not an answer; if you notice the interviewer's attention drifting, wrap up and invite their next question.

Quick Reference Table

Situation	Do	Don't
Asked about weaknesses	Name a real one and how you're improving	Claim you have none or pick a humble-brag
Asked something unexpected	Take a breath; reason through it aloud if needed	Blurt an answer or go silent
Salary comes up early	Deflect politely until an offer stage, or share a researched range	Guess a random number or demand aggressively
Interview runs long	Follow the interviewer's lead	Keep checking the clock
You don't know something	Say so, and explain how you'd find out	Fake expertise
Ending the interview	Thank them, restate interest, ask about next steps	Leave without clarifying the follow-up process

After the Interview: Do's and Don'ts

Do's

• Send a thank-you message within 24 hours. Keep it to a few sentences: thank them for their time, reference one specific moment from the conversation and reaffirm your interest.
• Reflect while it's fresh. Note which questions challenged you so you can prepare better next time.
• Continue your job search. Until an offer is signed, keep applying and interviewing elsewhere.

Don'ts

• Don't send multiple follow-ups if you don't hear back immediately; one polite check-in after the stated timeline is enough.
• Don't post about the interview on social media, and don't connect with the interviewer on LinkedIn with a demanding message.
• Don't stop your search while waiting — hope is not a strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What should I wear to an interview?

Match or slightly exceed the workplace's normal dress code. For a corporate office, that typically means business attire; for a startup, clean and neat business casual usually fits. If in doubt, it's safer to be slightly overdressed than underdressed. Well-groomed shoes matter more than most people expect.

How early should I arrive?

Five to ten minutes is ideal for in-person interviews. Arriving much earlier can pressure the interviewer, and arriving exactly on time leaves no buffer for signing in. For video interviews, join the waiting room a few minutes ahead with your camera, microphone and lighting already tested.

Is it acceptable to admit I'm nervous?

Briefly, yes — acknowledging nerves once with a smile is human and rarely hurts you. What damages you is letting nerves control the interview: rushing answers, freezing or avoiding eye contact. Preparation is the best antidote, since confidence grows from familiarity with your own material.

Should I bring up salary in the first interview?

Generally, let the employer raise it. If asked about expectations early, it's fine to share a researched range while noting you're flexible depending on the total opportunity. Detailed negotiation belongs at the offer stage, once the employer is convinced of your value.

Final Thoughts

Interview success is mostly a series of small, controllable behaviours: showing up prepared, listening carefully, giving evidence-based answers and treating everyone respectfully. Before your next interview, run through the do's and don'ts above and pick two or three items to sharpen. Then rehearse your stories one final time out loud — the candidates who feel ready usually are.