What Do You Say in an Interview for Your First Job?

Dr Jo Winchester — Academic, Drama Teacher & Future-Ready Educator

Landing your first job interview can feel like stepping onto a stage for the first time — exciting, nerve-wracking, and full of possibility. The good news? You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be prepared, curious, and ready to show what you can do.

This guide is your step-by-step checklist to help you walk in with confidence and walk out proud of how you showed up.

1. Before the Interview: Do Your Homework

Research the organisation. Find out what they do, who they help, and what makes them different. Look for their values, recent projects, or community involvement — these are great talking points.

Re-read the job description. Highlight keywords and key skills — they’ll become your talking points during the interview.

Know your stories. Think of three or four examples that show how you’ve solved problems, worked in teams, or learned something new fast. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers.

Prepare your outfit and logistics. Plan what to wear, test your tech if it’s online, and know exactly where you’re going (or logging in).

Bring your kit. Notebook | Pen | Copy of résumé | Questions for them | Water bottle | Confidence.

2. Master the Questions

Common questions include:

• “Tell me about yourself.” → Start with the present, then the past, then the future.

• “Why do you want to work here?” → Show you understand their mission and how you fit in.

• “What are your strengths?” → Match your strengths to what the job needs.

• “What’s a weakness?” → Be honest, then show how you’re improving it.

Behavioral

questions (“Tell me about a time…”) let you share your stories using the STAR method.

Questions to ask them:

• “How would you describe success in this role?”

• “What’s the team culture like?”

• “What are the next steps in the process?”

• “Was there anything in my answers you’d like me to expand on?”

Strong candidates ask as well as answer.

3. Show, Don’t Tell

Use examples, not adjectives. Say “I led a project with three classmates that increased attendance by 20%,” not “I’m a natural leader.”

Mirror their language. If they talk about teamwork, use teamwork words.

Watch your body language. Sit tall, smile, make eye contact. Confidence beats perfection every time.

Practice out loud. Record yourself or ask a friend for a mock interview. Notice your pacing, tone, and posture.

4. Nail the Logistics

Arrive early (or log in five minutes before). Silence your phone and close extra tabs. Bring ID if required. Have backup tech ready (charger, hotspot, printed résumé). Take a deep breath — calm beats caffeine every time.

5. Follow Up Like a Pro

Send a thank-you email within 24 hours.

“Thank you for the opportunity to meet today. I really enjoyed hearing about [team/project name] and I’m even more excited about [role].”

Reflect on what went well and what you could improve next time. If you don’t get the job, politely ask for feedback — it’s valuable practice.

Stay in touch. Follow the company on LinkedIn or send a short connection note.

6. Mindset Matters

• You’re not being judged — you’re being discovered.

• The interviewer wants you to succeed.

• Every interview is practice that builds skill and confidence.

Final Thoughts

Interviews aren’t about perfection — they’re about connection. When you prepare with curiosity, communicate with warmth, and follow through with professionalism, you stand out.

Book a one-on-one mentoring session with Dr Jo Winchester before your first interview — she’ll help you get clear, confident, and future-ready for whatever opportunity comes next.

Follow @FutureofWorkwithDrJo for more free resources and mentoring for young Australians.