Anna Wintour’s 4 Interview Tips for Landing the Perfect Job

Before you even begin the hiring process, you have to find a position you’re interested in. Whether you’re searching for your first job or changing careers, Anna has a few tips for what to look for in a new job.

1. 1. Experiment: When it comes to your career, it’s important to know what you want and have a strong sense of your goals. But that shouldn’t prevent you from experimenting. Sometimes the best way to discover what you want to do is by doing things you don’t want to do.
2. 2. Build Confidence: If you are at the beginning of your career, think about how you can use your early jobs to diversify your skill set, build the confidence to take creative risks, learn as much as possible, and, bottom line, try everything.
3. 3. Find a Mentor: Anna emphasizes the importance of working for others at the beginning of your career rather than trying to make it on your own. Finding a leader whom you admire and, ideally, look to as a mentor is as important as finding a job that appeals to you. Do your research, and try to work for someone who will push you and help you develop into a future leader in your field.
4. 4. Learn From Every Job Opportunity: You may not be able to choose who you work for, but you can keep your wants in mind when you are interviewing and applying. Look for jobs in which you’ll be under someone you respect—you may not want to be an assistant, but the opportunity to support an industry leader whose career you hope to emulate may lead to other opportunities. And even if your boss does not become your mentor, glean as much insight and knowledge from them as you can and take that information with you into your next position.

So, you’ve found your dream job and been offered an actual interview. Yay! Now what? Whether it’s a traditional or behavioral interview, phone interview, first interview, or second interview, and whether you’re talking to a recruiter, hiring manager, human resources representative, or your potential employer, the interview is your time to show off your communication skills and make a good first impression. An in-person interview is an opportunity to show how your body language supports your message. This means making eye contact, avoiding fidgeting, and, of course, starting with a firm handshake. If your cover letter touts your ability to anticipate needs, show up to an in-person interview with extra copies of your résumé. This is your time to put your words into action.

1. 1. Tell the Truth: Let’s say you know that your interviewer loves the theater. Unless you really love the theater and can rattle off your favorite shows, don’t try to impress them by discussing subjects that you’re not actually interested in. Chances are you’ll end up sounding disingenuous.
2. 2. Be Prepared: Do your research about the job you are applying for and the person you are interviewing with. Know what your goal for the interview is and what you think you would contribute to the position you are interviewing for. This means not only knowing the job description, but also the company culture and dress code. Go beyond reviewing common interview questions (always a good idea!) and try to dive deeper into why you think you would be a great fit for the job.
3. 3. Be on Time: In fact, be early—it’s the best way to make a good impression. Always give yourself more than enough time to the interview location. Arriving late is a big red flag for many employers.
4. 4. Be Yourself: Authenticity is key—whoever is interviewing you will know if you are posturing. Be direct and very clear about what it is you want to do with your life.

At the end of the interview, there will typically be an opportunity for your to ask your own questions, so make sure you have some. Follow up with a thank-you note to acknowledge the time your interviewer put into talking to you, and to remind them that you exist. It’s easy to get discouraged after a less-than-perfect interview, but try to use what you’ve learned to do better in your next interview.

Keep a cheat sheet and write down any specific questions that you struggled with during the interview. Add a list of specific examples to your list of questions so that you can rehearse for the next job interview.

Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour knows how to build teams and steer them towards success. In Anna Wintour’s MasterClass on creativity and leadership, the current Artistic Director of Condé Nast provides her distinct and priceless insight into everything from job interview skills to time management tools.

Want to up your interviewing skills to land the next great gig? The MasterClass Annual Membership provides insights from celebrated business leaders and managers like Anna Wintour, Howard Schultz, and more.