The Indeed
Workbook
Tips, activities and inspiration for your job search
How to
use this
workbook
Job search is a journey, and no one does
it alone. In this workbook, you’ll nd tips,
activities and inspiration to guide you as
you take the next step in your career.
The activities in this book can be done on
your own, with the help of someone else or
in a group. The goal for each is to help you
focus on a specic step in your search and
fully prepare to land the job you want. There
is space throughout the book for you to
type directly in it to complete the exercises
and checklists.
During your job search, remember that
we’re here to help. If you have questions
that aren’t answered in the workbook, visit
indeed.com/job-market for more guidance.
You can also reach out to our support team
on Facebook, Twitter at
@IndeedSupport or at indeed.com/help.
We’re cheering for you.
Making any kind of change in your life
is hard, and nding a new job is no
exception. Fortunately, job searching
is a skill and like any skill, you’ll get
better with practice. By breaking up
your search into distinct steps, you’ll
be able to thoughtfully complete each
task, getting closer and closer to your
destination along the way.
We’ve surveyed hundreds of people to
map the phases of a job search. What
follows in this workbook are the insights
we gained from those conversations.
The job
search
journey
Making
a change
Everyone’s job search begins dierently.
Some people choose to make a career
change, others nd themselves looking
for a job through no choice of their own.
It’s deeply personal and only you can
know when searching for a job feels right.
No matter how your job search has begun,
an important rst step is considering what
you really want to do at work. If you’re new
to the workforce, decide how to apply the
skills you’ve gained in life or in school to
a job. If you have work experience, you
may want to progress in the same career,
change career paths, or be unsure of the
course you’re on.
I’ve been in my current job
for about three years, and I
feel good about where I’m
at, but I’m always keeping an
eye on the job market to see
what else is out there.
GERARDO R., 35
“
What are your proudest accomplishments?
List out the moments in your career or education that have made you proud. Why do you take pride in
these accomplishments?
How might those three things be useful to employers?
What skills are you interested in learning or getting better at?
What are three things that you do very well?
If you’re not sure what kind of job you’d like, you can learn about what dierent jobs entail by
browsing go.indeed.com/career-paths.
Getting specic about what you want will help you decide where to focus your search and
prepare you to condently answer interview questions about why you’re attracted to a particular
role. The following activities can help you do that.
01 02 03
Identify your values and interests
At this stage, it’s also helpful to identify what motivates you at work. Typically, people are driven
by the things they value and nd genuinely interesting. From the lists below, circle the values
and interests that matter to you. Note that these are just examples to help you get started, you
may think of additional values and interests along the way.
Values
Advancement
Adventure and taking risks
Autonomy
Community
Creative expression
Diversity
Environmental conservation
and sustainability
Family
Helping others
Honesty and integrity
Inuencing others
Innovation
Leadership
Learning and education
Making a dierence
Morality
Power
Money
Prestige and recognition
Service to others
Social interaction
Traveling and cultural
exchange
Variety of tasks
Working alone
Working as a team
Work/life balance
Interests
Acting
Advising and mentoring others
Advertising
Art
Community service
Creative media
Entrepreneurship
Environmental conservation
Event management
Fashion
Film
Healthy living
Law and legal practices
Leadership
Literature
Mathematics
Media participation
Musical performance
Personal relationships
Politics
Programming
Project management
Public speaking
Publishing
Research
Science
Sports
Teaching
Technology
Testing and measuring results
Writing and editing
Take stock of your proudest accomplishments, strongest skills and personal interests to
begin thinking about where you’ll go next.
Identify your values and interests and reect on how you might nd these in a job.
If you’re not sure which jobs are right for you, learn about career paths
at go.indeed.com/career-paths
Review your social media proles and check your privacy settings. Potential employers
may look at these pages.
BEGINNING A JOB SEARCH
CHECKLIST
06
Exploring
the market
Once you have a solid idea of what
you’re looking for in your next job, you
can continue to narrow in on the right
opportunities by identifying your priorities.
Requiring a certain wage, specic
benets, location or commute time are
all reasonable lters for your job search.
Knowing your requirements sets you
up for success when you search as
well as when you’re applying and going
through the interview process. When
you know what you need from a job,
you’ll be in a stronger position to
negotiate with employers.
I’ve been in the retail industry
for years, with over 16 years
of management experience,
so it’s really important for me
to nd a job and a salary that
meet my expectations.
STEFAN A., 53
“
Examples of must-haves
You can identify your requirements by listing out your must-haves and where you may be
exible. Your lists might look something like this:
On Indeed, you can lter job search results by salary,
location, and type (full time, part time, internship, etc.).
Use these lters to start seeing jobs that meet your
requirements. You can also type a specic benet into
the search bar.
Because this is an exploratory phase, you may want to
save jobs that look appealing and return later to apply.
When you save a job, you’ll see it on your My Jobs
dashboard in your Indeed account. If you don’t already
have an Indeed account, you can create one for free at
secure.indeed.com/account.
You can also set up job alerts to receive email updates
when employers post new jobs matching your preferences.
Get started at indeed.com/alert.
The industry or discipline you want to
work in
A wage or salary you can’t go below
Benets like health insurance or paid
time o
Location and commute time
Examples of where you may be
more exible
If you’re interested in
the ability to work from
home, you can type
“Work from home” when
searching and scan the
results for jobs that are
a match for you.
FOR EXAMPLE
You aren’t attached to a particular
job title (associate, specialist or
another designation)
Working at a small business versus
a large company
Would like but don’t need added
benets such as the ability to work
from home
The amount of travel your job entails
List out your must-haves
List out areas where you may be exible
Identify your must-haves in a job and where you’re exible.
Explore what employers are oering by using lters on Indeed.
Save jobs that interest you and set up job alerts to see when new jobs are posted that match
your preferences.
EXPLORING THE MARKET
CHECKLIST
09
Writing a
resume
The purpose of a resume is to present
your most relevant experiences and
qualications in a format that’s easy
for employers to read.
Contact information
Your full name, the city where you live,
your email address and phone number.
Because this personal information is
sensitive, you should be cautious about
who you share your resume with.
There are many ways to do this successfully, but every resume contains the same
essential elements:
Relevant work and
volunteer experience
Most people list their experience
beginning with their most recent job.
Don’t include everything you did in
your past jobs. Instead, focus on
achievements over responsibilities.
Relevant educational
degrees or certications
The importance of your educational
background will vary based on the job
or industry you’re interested in.
Relevant skills and your
level of mastery
For example, “conversational Spanish”
or “familiar with Microsoft Excel”
vs. “uent in Spanish” or “expert at
Microsoft Excel”.
Sharing your resume with employers
On Indeed, you can upload your existing resume or create
one from scratch. With this Indeed Resume, you can easily
apply to many jobs without uploading a new attachment
each time. If you’d like to be contacted by employers about
relevant opportunities, you can set your Indeed Resume to
“public.” Your personal information won’t be shown until
you agree to communicate with an employer.
To ensure you get maximum exposure, the resume you
publish to Indeed should be an all-purpose resume
that’s rich in keywords employers are using in their job
descriptions. These are the keywords employers may
use when they search for candidates.
To explore resume samples and templates by job title,
visit go.indeed.com/resume-samples.
See the following pages for two samples can that be
adapted for any job.
Using space eectively
The typical resume is two pages maximum, so make sure
all the information you’ve included is essential. If you are
having trouble deciding what is essential, ask yourself if
what you’re including is relevant to what the employer is
asking for in the job description.
It’s also important to consider the kind of work you truly
want to be hired to do. In other words, don’t include past
experience for tasks you strongly dislike doing. Keep the
experiences that you want to keep building on and match
what the employer is looking for—this meets the denition
of essential information to include on your resume.
Format your experience as a list of short, scannable
statements, rather than writing out dense paragraphs.
Too wordy
Applied expert budget
management skills to
achieve a 20% reduction
in departmental expenses
through diligent research,
identifying signicant
ineciencies.
More concise
Achieved 20% departmental
cost savings by eliminating
ineciencies.
TIP
12
Student Resume Example
Horatio Hiller
100 University Street, College Town, NY 12345
917-555-1234
hhiller@email.edu
OBJECTIVE
I am a creative and highly motivated student seeking a part-time internship where I can lend my knowledge
of digital advertising to help your organization improve protability and grow my industry experience.
EDUCATION
New York University
Major: Advertising
Expected Graduation Date: May 20XX
GPA: 3.8
Relevant coursework: Media Planning, Psychology in Advertising, Communication Law
Clubs: Ad Club, Student Newspaper, Students for Environmental Action (SEA)
EXPERIENCE
Grey Media Agency | New York, New York
Digital Advertising Intern, May 20XX – August 20XX
Served as lead advertising intern as part of a summer-long apprenticeship program
Assisted in building, launching and managing Google AdWords campaigns for leading clients
Successfully grew client ad spend return-on-investment more than 30% quarter over quarter
Student Newspaper | New York, New York
Advertising Sales Representative, August 20XX – Present
Act as primary point of contact for a subset of publication advertisers
Scout new advertiser opportunities and build relationships with local businesses
Helped newspaper increase annual ad sales nearly 20% from 2017 to 2018
SKILLS & ABILITIES
Team leadership
Verbal and written communication
Time management
Problem-solving
Adobe Creative Suite
Google AdWords Certied
Fluency in English and French
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
Elected Ad Club chair for 20XX/20XX school year
Awarded 2017 Best Student Advertising
Campaign in the retail category
Maintained Dean’s List status Fall 20XX through
Spring 20XX
Ivy Haddington
Denver, CO | (123) 456-7891 | ihaddington@email.com
SUMMARY
Engaging Senior Customer Service Representative with 15+ years of experience in fast-paced call center
environment. Skilled at transforming customer feedback into actionable insights that drive revenue,
increase customer loyalty, and improve processes.
EDUCATION
Longford Tech, Aug ‘00 – May ‘04
Bachelor of Science in Psychology
EXPERIENCE
Retail Ocean | Senior Customer Service Representative Feb ‘17–Current
Handle 250+ inbound calls per week, answering customer inquiries and resolving issues
Track trends in customer feedback and collaborate with management to determine
the root cause of issues
Created 10 customer service email scripts used across the company to interact
with customers
Crane & Jenkins | Customer Service Representative May ‘06–Jan ‘17
Answered an average of 50+ calls per day from unsatised customers related to
delays in shipment, order mistakes, and lost orders
Won #1 Customer Service Representative two years in a row for highest customer
satisfaction ratings (25% above average)
Revamped customer service phone scripts, raising customer survey ratings by 40%
Tradelot | Customer Service Representative Nov ‘02–Mar ‘06
Resolved over 100 customer complaints per week via phone and in-person
Reduced average customer representative call time by 90 seconds with intuitive intranet site
Single-handedly created customer service representative training manual, reducing
onboarding process from 8 weeks to 6 weeks
SKILLS
Fluent in French and Spanish
Customer support software and ticket systems
Complaint resolution
Service-based selling
Experienced Employee Resume Example
Resume action verbs
When you are writing out your work experience, begin each line with an action verb that
communicates what you contributed.
To introduce your
accomplishments, try:
Achieved
Capitalized
Deciphered
Discerned
Drove
Enacted
Endeavored
Established
Exceeded
Sharpened
Shattered
Sparked
Spearheaded
Steered
Stimulated
Supervised
Surpassed
To illustrate your
communication
skills, try:
Collaborated
Conveyed
Enlivened
Instructed
Performed
Presented
Spoke
Trained
For creative
positions, try:
Authored
Brainstormed
Briefed
Communicated
Conceptualized
Curated
Derived
Designed
Diagramed
Drafted
Edited
Illustrated
Imagined
Inuenced
Intensied
Modeled
Proofread
Published
Researched
Strategized
Storyboarded
Translated
Visualized
Wrote
Instead of “duties
included,”
“responsible
for,” “served
as,” or “actions
encompassed,” try:
Accelerated
Accomplished
Analyzed
Assembled
Built
Founded
Created
Constructed
Delivered
Developed
Executed
Expanded
Finalized
Forged
Guided
Handled
Headed
Improved
Increased
Initiated
Implemented
Instituted
Produced
Reached
Simplied
Volunteered
16
For sales
positions, try:
Captured
Conserved
Converted
Earned
Generated
Maximized
Negotiated
Won
For management
positions, try:
Advised
Arranged
Augmented
Centralized
Championed
Dierentiated
Directed
Empowered
Endorsed
Enforced
Ensured
Forecasted
Fostered
Identied
Integrated
Leveraged
Reconciled
Reduced
Replaced
Resolved
Orchestrated
Optimized
Predicted
Renovated
For nancial
positions, try:
Audited
Classied
Collected
Equalized
Dispensed
Halted
Investigated
Lowered
Maintained
Minimized
Recognized
Secured
For technical
positions, try:
Advanced
Architected
Automated
Coded
Deployed
Detected
Devised
Diagnosed
Discovered
Formulated
Installed
Launched
Networked
Planned
Programmed
Rewrote
Rened
Tested
Troubleshoot
Upgraded
Skills to include on resume
The best skills to put on a resume vary
by job type, career level, education and
other factors. For example, the skills most
important for a commercial truck driver will
dier from those of a marketing manager.
Before you apply to any job, take time to
review the skills that are most valuable to
the employer and tailor your resume based
on which of your personal skills fall within
their requirements.
When creating a list of skills for your resume,
only include those you know to be your
strengths. If there’s something you’re still
learning, don’t feel pressured to include
it because it appears in the job posting.
If the employer mentions a skill you didn’t
include during the interview process, you
can discuss how you’re working to learn
or improve for the role. See some example
resume skills below.
Communication skills
Managerial skills
Task delegation
Project planning
Decision-making
Team leadership
Team communication
People skills
Team motivation
Client/customer
satisfaction
Assertiveness
Conict resolution
Empathy
Negotiation
Persuasion
Life skills
Problem-solving
Creative thinking
Interpersonal relationships
Self-awareness
Relationship management
Dealing with ambiguity
Technical skills
Graphic design
Data analytics
Software prociencies
Programming
Equipment/machinery operation
Computer skills
Typing/Word processing
Systems administration
Spreadsheets
Slideshow Presentations
Email management
Industry-specic skills
Accounting
Clerical skills
Copyediting
Copywriting
Data entry
Engineering
Manual labor
Mathematics
Medical coding
Merchandising
Record keeping
Search engine optimization
Social media
Website design
Active listening
Interpersonal
communication
Verbal/Non-verbal
communication
Written communication
Constructive criticism
Public speaking
Practice writing out your work experience
As a retail sales associate, you may have been responsible for restocking the showroom
and maintaining a clean, hospitable environment. You can demonstrate what you
accomplished in that job by writing something like:
Implemented new merchandising displays which resulted in a 10% decrease in items put
on clearance.
There are a few steps to follow when writing out work experience on a resume:
01
Consider your most recent job and reect on what you accomplished
in that job
Instead of listing your duties or tasks you completed, focus on the achievements
you had and how your performance was measured.
02
Review the list of resume verbs
Choose one and begin writing out what you achieved.
03
Review the list of skills
Did you rely on any of these skills while performing your job duties?
Write a few sentences of your own
Include contact information, education, past experience and relevant skills on your resume.
Review job descriptions carefully and include the keywords employers are using.
When writing out your past experience, begin your sentences with strong action verbs and
focus on achievements instead of listing job duties.
Take time to proofread your resume before your submit it. One trick is to read it from
bottom to top to more easily catch mistakes.
Upload your resume or create one directly on Indeed. You can use this online resume to
easily apply to many jobs.
WRITING A RESUME
CHECKLIST
20
Targeted
research
Now that you have a good idea of what
you’re looking for in a job and a resume
that is easy for employers to read,
you can begin targeting specic jobs
and employers.
I want to be at a place where
I enjoy coming to work every
day and am surrounded by
passionate people. There are
some companies that instantly
stand out to me as places
where I’d love to work.
GARRETT H., 30
“
Look for companies that share your values
If you value social causes, diversity initiatives or innovation, choose a company that aligns with
these. You can begin your research at indeed.com/companies to get detailed information on
employers around the world. Read reviews from past and present employees covering areas like
company culture, salary, job advancement and work/life balance. You can choose to “Follow” a
company to get email updates when new jobs are posted.
On a company’s page, you’ll also nd a Q&A section. You can see what others are saying about
mission and benets there along with conversations on the hiring and interview process. You
can even ask a question yourself. Also, review the Careers and About Us pages on a company’s
website as well as their social media channels.
Learn about a company’s
business model
When you’re researching a potential employer, it’s
helpful to learn about how they make money.
You may also ask: Who buys their products or
services, and are they highly rated? Is the company
a start-up, or if it’s been in business for a while,
how has it grown over time? What industry is this
company in? The answers to these questions will
give you an idea of how stable this business is,
what some of their immediate concerns might be,
and how you could play a part in their success.
You can typically nd answers to these from an
internet search and from reading the company’s
website. For smaller businesses, you may be able
to nd information through your local Chamber of
Commerce or from the Better Business Bureau.
* Decipher / FocusVision on behalf of Indeed
When we asked people what made them feel connected to
an employer where they were applying, 65% said they felt a
connection when the company’s mission or vision resonated
with their own values.*
65%
Read about company
leadership and recent news
Research the employees who hold respected
positions within the company by reading
the “About Us” page and employee bios on
the company’s website. Seek out the social
media proles of executives and department
directors—What are their posts like? Are they
proud to represent the brand or work in this
industry? Some company leaders may have
been interviewed or written books and articles
that give you insight into their thinking.
Search for general news coverage and
specic industry publications for recent
updates about the company and their
competitors. Scanning customer forums and
product reviews can also help you gauge a
company’s or their products’ reputation.
This research will be especially useful as
you’re preparing for interviews—employers
value candidates who ask questions that
demonstrate they’ve researched the company.
Use your network
Seek opinions from trusted, reliable friends
and associates. After you’ve done your
research, discuss what you’ve learned with
your network. Ask people you know for the
inside scoop on their own company’s culture
and if there are opportunities. If you’re a
recent college graduate building your network
from scratch, ask university advisors for
names of alumni working at your target
companies. Consider reaching out to these
people for a coee meeting.
As you research and talk with your network,
listen for red ags. Note any signicant
events, such as widespread layos, corporate
mergers or buyouts, a new CEO, etc. Such
changes can bring opportunities, but could
also leave a volatile work environment in
their wake. If you nd yourself interested in a
company, proceed with caution.
As you’re researching, take careful notes.
Here are some templates to get you started:
Company name
Leadership/CEO
Notes
Number of employees
Founded date
Headquarters location
Visit indeed.com/companies to nd employers that share your values, learn more about
benets and see what other people are saying.
Use internet searches to learn more about the company’s business model, their products
and services, leadership and recent news.
Consult your network to see if you know anyone who works there.
Take notes on what you learn. These will be helpful when you’re applying and interviewing.
TARGETED RESEARCH
CHECKLIST
25
Company name
Leadership/CEO
Notes
Number of employees
Founded date
Headquarters location
Applying
for jobs
When you’re ready to apply for jobs,
there are a few habits that may
increase your chances of getting a
response from employers.
I nd that when I ‘own’ my job
search and actively go after
the opportunities I want, I get
better results.
LISA D., 51
“
By far the most important thing you can do
in your job search is to carefully evaluate
each job you’re applying for. When you nd
a posting you like, ask yourself if it’s a job
you’re qualied for and actually want to do.
When you’re in the middle of a job search, it
may feel like you’re increasing your chances
of getting a job if you apply for as many jobs
as possible. But our analysis of the data
shows that may not always be the case.
While this approach may increase the amount of time you spend upfront, it has the potential to
shorten your job search overall because you’re submitting great applications that employers are
more likely to respond to.
Here’s the takeaway: The right number of jobs to apply for is going to be dierent for each
person. Instead of focusing on the quantity of applications you submit, put your energy into
screening each job carefully so you can craft high quality applications. These are some actions
you may want to consider before you apply:
Read the job description from start to nish
Identify what makes this job posting attractive to you
Decide if you could do this job by reviewing examples from your background that
demonstrate the required skills and qualications
Take note of any instructions on how to apply
Once you’ve started the application, carefully read and answer any questions
Double check your responses before you submit
When we look at a month’s worth of applications on
Indeed, we nd that the group of people submitting
the highest number of applications are far less likely to
receive a positive response from employers—39% less
likely, in fact.*
39%
Stay organized
The most successful job seekers approach their search for a new opportunity with discipline.
This approach is similar to how you might prepare for an exam or tackle a tough work
assignment—you’ll need to set aside time and take it on step by step.
One of the easiest ways to stay organized is to use your Indeed account as a hub for all your job
searching. In fact, people with an Indeed account are 22% more likely to get a positive response
from employers when they apply.* Login at secure.indeed.com/account.
Writing a cover letter
Submitting a cover letter is a traditional part of a job application that isn’t always necessary
these days. However, there are situations where you should include a cover letter:
You can include the same contact information from your resume on your cover letter, too. If
you know the name of the hiring manager, address them by name (e.g. Dear Helen). If you don’t
know their name, it’s appropriate to write, “Dear Hiring Manager.” Avoid using “Dear Sir or
Madam” or “To Whom It May Concern.” These formal greetings are outdated.
When the employer has
requested a cover letter
in the job description.
When you have gaps
on your resume or other
circumstances that you
may want to explain to
the employer.
When you’re applying for
an especially creative or
competitive role and you
want to showcase your
skill set in writing.
If you’re logged in, you can quickly
save jobs as you’re searching and
return later to thoroughly evaluate
them. You’ll be able to easily see and
update the status of each job: saved,
applied, interviewing, oered and
hired. You can see this information on
the My Jobs page of your account:
indeed.com/myjobs.
From your account inbox, you can
review any messages you get from
employers. You can also more
seamlessly manage your email
subscriptions: deleting job alerts that
may no longer be relevant, pausing
alerts you may want later, or adding
new ones.
* https://go.indeed.com/job-search-habits
28
Communicating with employers
While you’re applying for jobs, it’s important to stay
on top of your inbox so you don’t miss any messages
from employers. If an employer does respond to your
application, getting back to them quickly is key.
You can nd email templates for responding to
employers at go.indeed.com/respond-to-employers.
Be sure to check your email spam settings. If you’re
using the Indeed job search app, enable notications to
get messages promptly.
For the body of your cover letter,
follow these guidelines
01
02
03
In a few sentences, explain why you’re a great
t for this specic role. State why you’re excited
about the job and the company, and how the job
matches your career goals.
In one or two paragraphs, connect your past
accomplishments with the requirements listed in
the job description. Focus on your most relevant
experience, qualications and skills. When
possible, quantify your accomplishments with
facts and data. Avoid repeating the bullet points
from your resume.
Close by thanking the employer for their time
and consideration. You may also want to sum
up your qualications for the role and express
an interest in continuing to the next stage in the
hiring process.
You can see cover letter
samples and templates to help
you write your own at
go.indeed.com/
cover-letter-samples.
CREATE YOUR OWN
What to do if you’re not hearing back
Not hearing back from employers often frustrates even the most optimistic job applicants.
If you’re applying to jobs and not hearing back, there are a few things you can do.
Carefully review jobs before applying. Focus on quality applications over quantity.
Stay organized by keeping track of your applications from your Indeed account.
Write a unique cover letter for each job, if you decide you need one.
Be on the lookout for communications from employers by checking your spam folder
and your Indeed account regularly.
If you’re not hearing back from employers, start setting application goals for yourself
and establish meaningful rewards when you reach new milestones.
01
First, it’s vital that you continue searching and applying for jobs. Set weekly goals for
yourself, targeting a specic number of applications so that you don’t get too focused on
a particular position. Goals can help you alleviate anxiety and maintain a daily routine.
02
The best part of goal setting is the reward. Take the time to recognize your
achievements—applying for those jobs, attending that networking event, surviving that
ve-person interview—and nurture your self-condence by acknowledging your eorts.
Treat yourself in simple, meaningful ways: enjoy a walk, read a good book, make time for
friends and family, and above all, practice gratitude.
03
Write down three things each day that went well and their causes. As your mindset shifts
to focus on what you’re grateful for, you will nd it easier to relax.
04
In the US, there are three million jobs added to Indeed each month. While your perfect t
might feel elusive in the moment, chances are high the right job for you is out there.
APPLYING FOR JOBS
CHECKLIST
30
Interviewing
Getting to the interview phase of the
hiring process is an accomplishment.
When you’ve secured an interview, take
a moment to congratulate yourself—
you’re among the top candidates being
considered for the role.
Prepare answers
Prep answers to commonly asked
interview questions
Prepare questions
List out the questions you want to
ask the interviewer
Work on your pitch
Practicing an elevator pitch
Consider your body langage
Practicing condence with
body language
Great job interviews should feel like a conversation, with two people asking and answering
questions. To set yourself up for success, you should spend time preparing for your interviews.
Common interview questions
It’s not possible to predict the exact questions you’ll be asked in an interview. However, by
preparing answers to common questions, you’ll be armed with a good set of talking points
which can be used in many circumstances. Here are ve common questions with example
answers. Use the space beneath the example to write your own answer. You can nd more at
go.indeed.com/top-interview-questions.
Here are a few ways to prepare
Example: “The company’s mission to help college graduates pay o student loan debt is important to
me. I would love to work for a company that is improving people’s lives this way. Finding a company with
a positive work environment and values that align with mine has remained a priority throughout my job
search, and this company is a top choice.”
Why do you want to work here?
The best way to prepare for this question is to research the products, services, mission, history and culture
of the workplace. Your answer should include the aspects of the company that your like and how those
things align with your career goals.
QUESTION #1
Example: “I’ve been passionate about user experience design throughout my professional career. I was
excited to see this company uses Adobe products because I’m well-versed in the entire suite. I’m also an
advocate for applying agile workows to design. I think it’s the most eective way to tackle large projects. I
was able to successfully build and launch an agile process in my previous role as UX manager, and we saw
considerable improvements in project speed.”
What interests you about this role?
Read the job description carefully and compare the requirements to your skills and experience. Choose a
few things you particularly enjoy or excel at and focus on those in your answer.
QUESTION #2
Example: “I’m a natural problem-solver. I nd it rewarding to dig deep and uncover solutions to
challenges—it’s like solving a puzzle. It’s something I’ve always excelled at, and something I enjoy. Much of
product development is about nding innovative solutions to challenging issues, which is what drew me to
this career path in the rst place.”
What are your greatest strengths?
When an interviewer asks you to describe your strengths, share qualities and personal attributes and then
relate them to the role you’re interviewing for.
QUESTION #3
Example: “I sometimes have trouble saying ‘no’ and end up overwhelmed by my workload. Earlier in my
career, I would take on so many projects that I’d work evenings and weekends. It was stressful. I realized
this was counterproductive, so I started using workload management tools and setting better expectations
for myself and my teammates.”
What are your greatest weaknesses?
Sharing your weaknesses can show that you are self-aware and working to improve yourself—traits that are
extremely attractive to many employers. Remember to start with the weakness and then discuss measures
you’ve taken to improve to nish on a positive note.
QUESTION #4
Example: “It was the rst day of my boss’s two-week vacation and our agency’s highest-paying client
threatened to leave because he didn’t feel he was getting the personalized service he was promised. I
spent my lunch hour on the phone with him, talking through his concerns. We even brainstormed ideas for
his next campaign. He was so grateful for the personal attention that he signed another six-month contract
before my boss even returned from her trip.”
Can you tell me about a dicult work situation and how you overcame it?
Stories are more memorable than facts and gures, so strive to “show” instead of “tell.” This is also an
opportunity to show your human side and how you’re willing to do more without being asked.
QUESTION #5
The STAR interview technique
You can prepare to answer any interview question with the STAR method. Using this
technique, you create a deliberate story arc that your interviewer can easily follow. Here’s
how it works:
SITUATION
What is the context of your story? In setting the situation, you are telling your listener when or
where this event took place.
Example: “We were working on a six-month contract for a high-value client, when our agency
merged with another, larger rm…”
TASK
What was your role in this situation?
Example: “It was my role to lead the transition for my group while also communicating with our
client to keep the project on track.”
ACTION
What did you do?
Example: “I set up weekly check-ins with the client to update them on the progress of the
merger. This cemented an important level of trust between us. I also had regular one-on-ones
with each person on the team, both to assess how they were handling the change and to make
sure we would meet our deadlines.”
RESULTS
What did your actions lead to?
Example: “We ended up completing the project on time, meeting all of their specications. It
was incredibly rewarding to navigate a lot of change and succeed under pressure.”
Reect on your past work experiences, the skills and traits you’ve identied in yourself, and
write out a few STAR answers:
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Situation
Task
Action
Result
Questions to ask your interviewers
Towards the end of the interview, you may be asked, “Do you have any questions for me?”. It’s
crucial that you have questions prepared to ask your interviewer so that you can demonstrate
your interest and enthusiasm. Here are a few example questions you can ask in interviews:
Can you elaborate on the day-to-day responsibilities this job entails?
What are the characteristics of someone who would succeed in this role?
What’s the most important thing I could do to help within the rst 90 days of employment?
What are some of the challenges you’ve seen people in this role or on this team encounter?
If I were in this job, how would my performance be measured?
What does the career path for someone in this role look like?
What other functions or departments does this team work with most often? What are the
characteristics of a successful collaboration?
What does your job look like day-to-day and how would you anticipate working with the
person in this role?
Situation
Task
Action
Result
41
Practicing condent body language
First impressions can happen quickly. The rst thing employers will see is the way you are
dressed and your body language. By practicing condent, accessible body language, you
can start the interview process on a positive note. Here are a few ways you can communicate
condence by paying attention to your body language:
While walking, hold your head up and pull your shoulders back. Your posture and stride
will help you convey professionalism and condence. You may want to practice this walk
before the interview so it feels natural.
While waiting for your interviewers, sit with your back straight and shoulders open.
Hands can rest on your lap or armrests. Feet at on the oor or crossed at the ankles. Avoid
being on your phone so you can keep your body language open and focus on being present.
Bring your things in an easy-to-hold bag or portfolio that neatly contains everything you
need—you don’t want to appear encumbered or disorganized.
Respect communal space. Don’t lounge in the waiting or interview rooms in a way that
inconveniences others (resting your feet on another chair, spreading your legs, placing your
belongings in a chair someone else could sit in, etc.).
During the interview, nd the right balance for your energy. You want to be energetic
without being aggressive. One way to do this is to avoid leaning too far back or coming
forward too much. Sit up straight using your hands to gesture rather than moving your body.
If you are sitting when someone approaches you, stand up to shake their hand.
Look them in the eyes and smile.
For a proper handshake, be rm but don’t grip their hand too strongly. Make sure your
hand isn’t limp. Pro-tip: if you happen to be on the receiving end of a limp handshake, give
their hand a gentle squeeze. This can prompt them to make their hand more rm.
Make eye contact when you’re being asked and answering questions. Eye contact
doesn’t need to be continuous or intense. Use it strategically to indicate that you’re listening
or to emphasize an important point. You want to convey to the interviewer that you are
focused on them and the conversation.
Take a pause if you need one. It can be appropriate to pause for a few seconds before
answering a question. In fact, it can help you come across as thoughtful and intent on giving
a great answer. If you need a few moments, say “That’s a great question, let me think for a
moment of the best example to give you.”
Giving an elevator pitch
Introducing yourself properly sets the stage for a positive professional conversation, whether
that’s at a networking event, with a colleague or at the beginning of an interview. One tool many
people use to make introductions simple and eective is the elevator pitch.
The three key components of an elevator pitch should address who you are, what you do and
what you want. Take time to answer the following questions to form your next elevator pitch:
Who are you?
What do you do?
What do you want?
Next, include relevant information about your background like education, work experience and specialties
or strengths. Consider the most important highlights on your resume, for example. Once you’ve got it down
to just a few points, organize them in a way that makes sense in your story.
The beginning of your elevator pitch should include your rst and last name. If you have a connection to the
person you’re giving the pitch to, you can mention that here as well.
The “ask” of your pitch could be consideration for a job opportunity, internship or simply to make a
connection. Focus on what you have to oer during this section of the speech.
Example: “Hi, my name is Carlos Herrera. Thanks so much for sitting down with me today.”
Example: “After graduating with my bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, I’ve spent the last three
years building professional experience as an Executive Assistant. I’ve successfully managed
end-to-end event coordination and have generated a strong network for my colleagues.”
Example: “I was excited to learn about this opportunity in the sports management space. I’ve always
been passionate about the way sports unites people, and would love the opportunity to bring my project
management and leadership abilities to this position.”
Take your time
Try to avoid speaking too fast. Keeping
your pitch to around 75 words should help
you deliver optimal information in a clear,
digestible way.
Make it sound natural
Avoid sounding rehearsed by memorizing a
general outline or key points instead of every
word. Keep this structure in the back of your
mind and adapt your pitch for each person.
Avoid niche words and phrases
Using acronyms, technical terms or
industry-specic words and phrases can
limit your elevator pitch by confusing or
alienating your audience. Try replacing
with general, easy to understand language.
Asking friends or family for feedback can
be useful for this step.
Practice condence
Keep your chest high, shoulders back,
smile, and use a strong voice when
delivering your pitch. If you’re nervous, try
mentally reversing roles: If you were the
person being pitched to, you’d likely be
happy to listen and help the inquirer as
best you could.
Elevator pitch delivery tips
Practice your answers to common interview questions and use the STAR technique to
prepare examples you can use to answer other questions.
Recall specic experiences that prove your skills and strengths to “show” rather than “tell.”
Practice condent, positive body language by looking at your smile in the mirror, holding your
chin high and shoulders back when you walk and practicing your handshake with a friend.
Write a compelling elevator pitch for networking and interviewing by answering the
questions “Who are you?” “What do you do?” and “What do you want?”
For more information on interviewing, including etiquette, what to wear, and how to follow up,
visit go.indeed.com/interviewing-advice.
INTERVIEWING
CHECKLIST
43
Taking
your next
career step
* Decipher/FocusVision on behalf of Indeed
Making any kind of change in your life is
hard. By simply beginning a job search,
you’ve taken a big step. Wherever you
go next, we’re here to support you and
cheer you on. If you’ve made it through the
search and landed a job, we’d love to hear
your story. Share it at gotajob.indeed.com.
For many people, keeping an eye
on new job opportunities is a part of
continuous career development, even
once you’ve found a new job. In fact,
92% of top performers say they
search for jobs at least a few times
each year.*
Take stock of your proudest accomplishments, strongest skills and personal interests to
begin thinking about where you’ll go next.
Identify your values and interests and reect on how you might nd these in a job.
If you’re not sure which jobs are right for you, learn about career paths at
go.indeed.com/career-paths.
Review your social media proles and check your privacy settings. Potential employers
may look at these pages.
BEGINNING A JOB SEARCH
CHECKLIST
Identify your must-haves in a job and where you’re exible.
Explore what employers are oering by using lters on Indeed.
Save jobs that interest you and set up job alerts to see when new jobs are posted that match
your preferences.
EXPLORING THE MARKET
CHECKLIST
Include contact information, education, past experience and relevant skills on your resume.
Review job descriptions carefully and include the keywords employers are using.
When writing out your past experience, begin your sentences with strong action verbs and
focus on achievements instead of listing job duties.
Take time to proofread your resume before your submit it. One trick is to read it from
bottom to top to more easily catch mistakes.
Upload your resume or create one directly on Indeed. You can use this online resume to
easily apply to many jobs.
WRITING A RESUME
CHECKLIST
Checklist Summary
Visit indeed.com/companies to nd employers that share your values, learn more about
benets and see what other people are saying.
Use internet searches to learn more about the company’s business model, their products
and services, leadership and recent news.
Consult your network to see if you know anyone who works there.
Take notes on what you learn. These will be helpful when you’re applying and interviewing.
TARGETED RESEARCH
CHECKLIST
Carefully review jobs before applying. Focus on quality applications over quantity.
Stay organized by keeping track of your applications from your Indeed account.
Write a unique cover letter for each job, if you decide you need one.
Be on the lookout for communications from employers by checking your spam folder
and your Indeed account regularly.
If you’re not hearing back from employers, start setting application goals for yourself
and establish meaningful rewards when you reach new milestones.
APPLYING FOR JOBS
CHECKLIST
Practice your answers to common interview questions and use the STAR technique to
prepare examples you can use to answer other questions.
Recall specic experiences that prove your skills and strengths to “show” rather than “tell.”
Practice condent, positive body language by looking at your smile in the mirror, holding your
chin high and shoulders back when you walk and practicing your handshake with a friend.
Write a compelling elevator pitch for networking and interviewing by answering the
questions “Who are you?” “What do you do?” and “What do you want?”
For more information on interviewing, including etiquette, what to wear, and how to follow up,
visit go.indeed.com/interviewing-advice.
INTERVIEWING
CHECKLIST
Checklist Summary
Indeed is taking job search
services on the road
In 2020, we’re bringing to life Indeed’s
mission to help people get jobs
by oering in-person job search
services in eight cities across the US.
We believe that the job search is a
journey that no one should have to go
on alone, and with the right support
and encouragement you can take your
next steps toward getting the job.
We’re always here to help at
indeed.com/job-market.
