You’ve had your eye on this organization for a while — one that aligns with your purpose and potential. You finally hit send on your resume for what feels like a dream role… and now, you’ve landed the interview. Momentum is building. Let’s go. 

Landing the interview is just the beginning. Now it’s time to prepare with intention. Go beyond just showing up — do your homework. Learn everything you can about the organization: explore recent news, understand their mission, and take time to get to know the person you’ll be meeting. Thoughtful preparation shows you’re not just interested — you’re invested. 

Interview with Curiosity  

Preparing a thoughtful list of questions to ask during your interview isn’t just a smart move — it’s a powerful way to take ownership of your career journey. It signals to the interviewer (and to yourself) that you’re not only interested in the role, but also intentional about where and how you want to grow. 

Kiersten Kanaley, Vice President of Talent Acquisition Operations at Cleveland Clinic, shares: “Great interviews are conversations. When a candidate comes in asking how they can grow and add value, it becomes a mutual discovery — and that’s where the best connections begin.” 

Interviews are a two-way conversation. Asking the right questions helps you understand the team, the culture and the leadership — and whether this is a place where you can thrive. 

“It’s a two-way mirror,” Kanaley adds. “The right questions give insight into the company’s values and the manager’s leadership style, helping you see your future path more clearly.” 

Below are a few example questions to guide you. You likely won’t have time to ask all of them — so choose the ones that will offer the clearest picture and help you make a confident decision: 

• Show you did your homework  

• • I’ve noticed one of your company’s core values is ___. How does that come into practice in this role or on this team? 

• • I recently read about ___ in the news. How will this affect your organization? 

• Organization/team culture 

• • What’s an idea that the people closest to the work have brought you? How did you choose to implement or not implement the idea? What feedback did you hear from the team after making this decision? 

• • How is success measured and celebrated?  

• • Thinking back to other people who have been in this position, what differentiates good vs. great? 

• Ranking your fit on the team  

• • Based on what you’ve learned about me, is there any additional information you would need to advance me in the next stages of this search?  

• • If someone absolutely excelled in year 1 in the role, what would they have done?  

• • What are some other elements besides salary that play into total compensation for this role? 

Be a S.T.A.R.  

When discussing your background, demonstrate that you have experience in recognizing a problem and taking action to address it. “Be prepared with clear and concise responses,” Kanaley says. “Your answers should be tight, and you should be able to respond in 2-3 minutes. What was the situation, action and result? Be specific.”  

She suggests the S.T.A.R. formula, which breaks the answers down into a series of steps:  

• Situation: Briefly explain the situation that needed attention. 
• Task: Talk about the task or tasks you undertook to address the situation.  
• Action: Describe the specific actions that you took to carry out these tasks.  
• Result: Explain how your actions achieved positive outcomes that successfully addressed the situation. 

Follow Through with Intention 

After the interview, take the time to follow up — not just as a formality, but as a reflection of your values and professionalism. 

A thoughtful, handwritten note is a small gesture that leaves a lasting impression, says Kanaley. “When paired with a timely follow-up email, it shows intention, care, and gratitude. It tells the interviewer their time mattered — and that you’re someone who leads with both purpose and respect.”