How to Prepare for a Job Interview
A practical plan for the days before an interview: research the employer, practise your answers, prepare questions and handle the logistics calmly.
Most interview nerves come from feeling unprepared. The more groundwork you do beforehand, the more of your attention you can give to the actual conversation on the day. This plan works for in-person, phone and video interviews, and you can fit it into a few evenings.
Research the Role and the Organisation
- Reread the job description. List the main responsibilities and required skills. These are the topics you are most likely to be asked about.
- Study the employer. Read its website, especially pages about what it does, its customers and its values. Check recent news so you can speak about current projects or challenges.
- Look up your interviewers if you know their names. Their professional profiles can tell you about their role and background.
- Understand the format. If the invitation does not say, it is fine to ask how long the interview will be, who you will meet and whether there is a task or test.
Prepare Your Stories
Many interviews include questions such as “Tell me about a time you solved a problem” or “Describe a challenge you faced at work”. Prepare five or six real examples that show the skills in the job description. A helpful way to organise each one is the STAR method:
- Situation: set the scene briefly.
- Task: explain what you needed to achieve.
- Action: describe what you personally did.
- Result: share the outcome and what you learned.
Also prepare short answers to common questions: tell me about yourself, why you want this job, your strengths, an area you are working to improve, and why you are leaving your current role. Practise out loud, ideally with a friend, but do not memorise word for word or you will sound scripted.
Plan Questions to Ask Them
Interviews are a two-way conversation, and thoughtful questions show genuine interest. Prepare three or four, such as:
- What would success look like in the first few months?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the team right now?
- How would you describe the team’s way of working?
- What are the next steps in the process?
Sort Out the Practical Details
- Plan your route and aim to arrive ten minutes early, allowing extra time for delays.
- For a video interview, test your camera, microphone and internet connection, and choose a quiet spot with a plain background and light facing you.
- Pick an outfit that matches or is slightly smarter than what people typically wear there, and get it ready the night before.
- Have copies of your resume, a notepad and the interviewer’s contact details to hand.
On the Day
Get a good night’s sleep and eat something beforehand. Take a few slow breaths before you go in. Listen carefully to each question, and it is perfectly acceptable to pause and think before answering. Afterwards, jot down what you were asked and send a brief thank-you note within a day.
