Job interview

What It Means

A job interview is a meeting, in person, by phone or on video, where an employer asks about your experience, skills and judgment to decide whether to hire you. It runs both ways: you also find out what the job involves and whether you want it. Federal law limits some of what an employer may ask, and the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) explains those limits on its website.

How People Say It at Work

• "I've got a second-round interview on Thursday."
• "They asked me where I see myself in five years."
• "The interview went well, I think."

The Breakdown

How to prepare (Buhata's suggestion, built on CareerOneStop's interview tips)

1. Research the employer and the job. CareerOneStop says this helps you answer questions, show enthusiasm and form your own questions.
2. List the common questions for the role and practice your answers on paper and out loud, each with a real example from work or school.
3. Prepare three questions to ask, such as what a typical day looks like, how performance is measured, and what training is offered. CareerOneStop notes that asking none can read as a lack of interestInterest rateThe yearly percentage a lender charges for borrowing money, not counting fees; the APR adds certain fees to show a fuller cost. See more.
4. Plan the logistics: the time, the address or video link, what to bring, and how long it takes to get there.
5. Leave pay alone until the interviewer brings it up or makes an offer, as CareerOneStop advises.
6. Afterward, write down what you were asked and send a short thank-you message.

Try it today. Pick the question you dread most and say your answer out loud twice, with one example from your own work.

Good to Know

Under the laws the EEOC enforces, employers can't discriminate against applicants because of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, transgender status and sexual orientation), national origin, age (40 or older), disability or genetic information. Before a job offer, an employer can't ask about a disability or ask questions likely to reveal one, and can't ask about genetic information such as family medical history. An employer may ask whether and how you can do the job, and about your education, work history, certifications and licenses. The EEOC says questions about marital status and the number of children are often used to discriminate against women and may violate Title VII if used to deny or limit a job.

Related Terms and Categories

• Resume

  A short document that sums up your work history, skills, education and results for an employer, usually sent with a job application.

• Cover letter

  A short letter sent with a resume that says which job you want, why you fit it and why this employer, in your own voice.

• Salary negotiation

  Discussing pay and other terms with an employer before you accept a job offer, to reach a starting salary that fits the role and your skills.

• Resume gap

  A stretch of months or years with no paid job on your work history, often from caregiving, health, study, a layoff or a long job search.

• Total compensation

  The full value of what an employer pays for your work in a year: base pay plus bonuses and the employer's spending on benefits such as insurance and retirement.

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