How to Prepare for a First-Round Design Interview
By: Stephanie Kaiser
Tags: Design Process, Job Search, Interview, Design

Image by Andrew Neel via Unsplash

Preparing for a technical interview is typically pretty straightforward: review your fundamentals, practice various design challenges, and complete an audit of the company’s website and/or mobile app. A first-round interview is a bit more elusive. It is primarily an opportunity for the design manager and team to get to know the applicant. The personal focus makes it hard to know how to prepare and easy to underestimate the preparation required.

Here’s my process for preparing for a first round design interview.

1. Know the Job Description and Your Resume

Be prepared to concisely speak about everything on your resume as it relates to the position you are interviewing for. I print out copies of the job description and my resume so I can highlight and make notes directly on them.

Think about specific experiences you have had or projects you have worked on that speak directly to the duties and requirements listed on the job description. Connecting the dots between your story and the needs of the company and position, and having specific examples top of mind, will help you clearly communicate why you are a great fit for the job at hand.

2. Research the Company and Your Interview Team

If you are a UX/UI designer, I shouldn’t have to explain why research is important! It is fundamental to any project, and interviewing is no different. Thorough research allows you to be specific about the value you can add to the company and team, demonstrate your interest in the role, evaluate if this role and company are right for you, and help you feel more confident and prepared going into the interview.

When researching your interview team, look for any overlap or commonalities that you have, both personal and professional. Lived in the same city? Went to the same college? Both dog lovers? Same MBTI type? All of these things will help you make a connection, build rapport, and ultimately feel more at ease during the interview.

Your research on the company should span from small details to big picture values. It’s a good idea to know who the CEO, COO, CTO, and Head of Design or Creative Director are. Other small but useful details are when the company was founded, where its headquarters are, and how many employees it has. You won’t always be asked about these things, but knowing them will communicate a high level of thoroughness and respect.

Get a sense of the company’s mission and values by reading their website, checking out their social media accounts, reading news articles about them, and talking to current employees if at all possible. While doing this research, keep an eye out for information about their core product or service offering, problems they are trying to solve, company culture, what technology they use, and who their customers and competitors are.

3. Prepare (Thoughtful) Questions

You will almost always be asked if you have any questions at the end of an interview, and you should always have some prepared. Skipping this step can cause you to come off as uninterested or unprepared. As I am researching, I keep a running list of thoughts and questions that are specific to the company and role. I also often ask about what made the previous person in this role successful, how the design team is structured, what their current goals and initiatives are, and the biggest problems they are currently facing.

It is also a good idea to jot down any questions that arise during the interview. I write down just enough keywords to help jog my memory later but not distract me from the current conversation.

4. Hone Your Elevator Pitch

One of the first questions you are typically asked is, “So tell us about yourself.” This can be an easy one to get lost in, especially if you are new to the field or, like me, have switched careers a couple times. Preparing your pitch beforehand will help you communicate the most important parts of your experience for the job at hand. Keep it short and sweet and focus on:

What you currently do;

Why you love what you do;

What skills you have that set you apart;

Why you will fit into the company culture.

I usually practice my pitch a couple times to make sure it’s concise and flows well, but to keep it natural and conversational I avoid memorizing or writing out every word.

5. Don’t Underestimate the Small Talk

The very first question you will likely be asked is, “How are you doing today?” This may seem like just a pleasantry, but I view it as the first question of the interview. This is, after all, an interview designed to allow the team to get to know you. “How are you doing today?” is an opportunity to talk about what is exciting you right now and provide some personal details.

Did you just finish a new book? Attend a cool event? Watch a good movie? Here’s your chance to share: “I’m doing great! I just finished this really interesting book, Where the Crawdads Sing, and I can’t stop thinking about it. Are you familiar with it?”

Don’t be afraid to be personable; you are more than just a designer and they are here to get to know you!

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How do you prep for first-round interviews? I would love to hear about it! → Website | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads