Preparation Is the Job
The interview is not where most candidates succeed or fail — preparation is. The candidates who perform best in interviews are almost always the ones who did the most work beforehand. This guide covers every stage of preparation so you walk in (or log on) with genuine confidence.
Research the Company Thoroughly
Most candidates do surface-level research. Excellent candidates go deeper. Before any interview, you should know:
- What the company does — their product or service, their market, and who their customers are.
- Their recent news — funding rounds, new product launches, expansions, leadership changes, press coverage from the last six months.
- Their competitors — who are they and how does this company differentiate itself?
- Their culture and values — look at their "About" page, Glassdoor reviews, LinkedIn posts, and anything senior leaders have published publicly.
- The team you're joining — LinkedIn profiles of the people who would be your manager, peers, and potential reports.
This research has two purposes: it prepares you to answer the "Why this company?" question compellingly, and it generates insightful questions to ask at the end of the interview.
Understand the Job Description Deeply
Read the job description three times. On the first pass, underline the skills and experiences mentioned most frequently — these are the interview's likely focus. On the second pass, map each requirement to a specific example from your experience. On the third pass, identify anything you're less confident about and prepare how to address it honestly.
The job description is essentially the interview syllabus. Every requirement is a potential question.
Prepare Your STAR Stories
Behavioural interview questions ("Tell me about a time when…", "Give me an example of…") are standard practice. The best way to answer them is with the STAR framework:
- Situation: Set the scene briefly — what was the context?
- Task: What was your role or responsibility?
- Action: What did you specifically do? (Use "I" not "we")
- Result: What was the outcome? Quantify it where possible.
Prepare six to eight STAR stories from your experience that can flex to answer different types of questions: leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, failure, problem-solving, dealing with ambiguity. Practice them aloud until they flow naturally — not memorised, but fluent.
Prepare Answers to Common Questions
Beyond behavioural questions, prepare for these standard ones:
- "Tell me about yourself" — This is your professional summary, not your life story. Two to three minutes covering your career journey and why you're here.
- "Why do you want this role?" — Show genuine interest grounded in research, not just career ambition.
- "What are your strengths?" — Pick two or three that are relevant to the role and back each with a brief example.
- "What's your greatest weakness?" — Be honest, choose something real but not a core competency for the role, and show what you're doing to address it.
- "Where do you see yourself in five years?" — Align your aspirations with realistic growth at this company.
Prepare Excellent Questions to Ask
The questions you ask signal how seriously you've thought about the role. Prepare five or six, expecting to use two or three. Good questions explore:
- What success looks like in this role in the first 90 days and first year.
- The biggest challenges the team is currently working through.
- How the interviewer would describe the culture or the team dynamic.
- What they enjoy most about working there (for interviewers who are on the team).
- What the career development path looks like for someone in this role.
Avoid asking about salary, holiday entitlement, or benefits in a first interview unless the interviewer raises it.
Logistics and Day-of Preparation
- Confirm the time, location, format, and who you're meeting — ask if you're unsure.
- Plan your route or tech setup with a buffer for problems.
- Bring printed copies of your CV, a notepad, and a pen.
- Dress one level above the company's day-to-day dress code if unsure.
- Get a good night's sleep and eat a proper meal beforehand.
During the Interview: Presence and Communication
Arrive (or log on) a few minutes early. Make eye contact, listen actively, and take a beat before answering difficult questions — it's professional, not weak. When you don't know an answer, say so clearly rather than bluffing: "That's not an area I've worked in directly, but here's how I'd approach it…"
After the interview, send a brief thank-you email the same day. Reference something specific from the conversation — this proves you were paying attention and leaves a positive final impression.