Before the Interview: Research and Preparation
The work you do before the interview matters more than anything you say during it. Candidates who prepare thoroughly come across as confident, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested. Here is your pre-interview checklist.
1. Research the Company
Go beyond skimming the "About Us" page. Understand the company well enough to explain why you want to work there specifically, not just in the industry generally.
- Products and services: What do they sell? Who are their customers? What problems do they solve?
- Recent news: Check for product launches, funding rounds, leadership changes, or earnings reports from the past 6 months
- Company culture: Read Glassdoor reviews, browse their social media, and look at their careers page for clues about values and work style
- Competitors: Know who they compete with and what differentiates them
- Growth trajectory: Are they growing, stable, or restructuring? This context shapes how you position your skills
2. Study the Job Description
Print out the job description and highlight every requirement, skill, and responsibility. For each one, write down a specific example from your experience that demonstrates that capability. If there are requirements you do not meet, prepare honest answers about how you plan to close the gap.
Pay attention to the order in which requirements are listed. Items at the top are usually the highest priority for the hiring manager. Make sure you have your strongest examples ready for those.
3. Prepare Your Stories
Most interview questions are variations of "Tell me about a time when..." Prepare 5-8 stories from your career that you can adapt to different questions. Each story should follow the STAR framework:
- Situation: What was the context? Keep this to 1-2 sentences.
- Task: What was your specific responsibility or challenge?
- Action: What did you do? Focus on your individual contributions, not the team's.
- Result: What happened? Quantify the outcome whenever possible.
Choose stories that cover a range of competencies: leadership, problem-solving, conflict resolution, achieving results under pressure, learning from failure, and cross-functional collaboration. The same story can often be adapted to answer multiple questions.
4. Practice Common Questions
You cannot predict every question, but you can prepare for the ones that come up most often:
- "Tell me about yourself" (see our dedicated guide)
- "Why are you interested in this role?"
- "What is your greatest strength?"
- "Tell me about a challenge you faced and how you handled it"
- "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
- "Why are you leaving your current job?"
- "What are your salary expectations?"
Practice your answers out loud, not just in your head. Speaking your answers reveals awkward phrasing and helps you refine your delivery. Practice with a friend or record yourself on your phone.
5. Prepare Your Questions
Always have at least 3-5 questions ready for the interviewer. Thoughtful questions show genuine interest and help you evaluate whether the role is right for you.
Strong questions to ask:
- "What does success look like in this role in the first 90 days?"
- "What is the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?"
- "How would you describe the team's working style?"
- "What do you enjoy most about working here?"
- "What is the timeline for making a hiring decision?"
Questions to avoid:
- Anything you could easily find on their website
- Questions about salary or benefits in the first interview (unless they bring it up)
- "What does the company do?" (signals zero research)
6. Handle the Logistics
For in-person interviews:
- Confirm the exact address, building entrance, and parking situation
- Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early. Do a practice drive or transit run if the location is unfamiliar.
- Bring printed copies of your resume, a notepad, a pen, and any requested documents
- Dress one level above the company's daily dress code. When in doubt, business professional is always safe.
For virtual interviews:
- Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection the day before
- Download and test the video platform (Zoom, Teams, Google Meet) in advance
- Choose a quiet, well-lit space with a clean background
- Close unnecessary browser tabs and silence your phone
- Have your resume and notes open on screen where you can glance at them naturally
During the Interview: Making a Strong Impression
The First 5 Minutes Matter Most
Research consistently shows that interviewers form initial impressions within the first few minutes. Make them count with a firm handshake (or a warm greeting on video), eye contact, and a genuine smile. Start with small talk naturally. Do not rush into your pitch.
Listen Before You Answer
Many candidates are so eager to deliver their prepared answers that they do not actually listen to the question. Pause for a moment after each question. Make sure you understand what is being asked. If a question is unclear, it is perfectly fine to ask for clarification.
Keep your answers focused. Most responses should be 1-2 minutes long. If the interviewer wants more detail, they will ask follow-up questions. Rambling for 5 minutes signals poor communication skills.
Use Specific Examples
Vague answers are forgettable. Instead of saying "I am a strong leader," describe a specific situation where you led a team to a measurable outcome. Instead of "I am good at problem-solving," walk through a real problem you solved and what the result was.
Numbers make your examples memorable. "I managed a team" is generic. "I managed a team of 8 engineers and delivered the project 2 weeks ahead of schedule" is concrete and credible.
Show Genuine Interest
Enthusiasm matters. Hiring managers consistently rank "genuine interest in the role" as one of their top evaluation criteria. Reference specific things you learned during your research. Explain why this particular company and role excite you, not just why you need a job.
Handle Difficult Questions Honestly
When asked about weaknesses, gaps, or failures, be honest without being self-destructive. Acknowledge the situation, explain what you learned, and describe what you do differently now. Interviewers are not looking for perfection. They are looking for self-awareness and growth.
After the Interview: Follow-Up
Send a Thank-You Email Within 24 Hours
A brief, personalized thank-you email keeps you top of mind and demonstrates professionalism. Reference something specific from the conversation to make it personal rather than generic. For more details and templates, see our guide on how to follow up after an interview.
Reflect and Take Notes
While the interview is fresh, write down the questions you were asked, the answers you gave, and anything you wish you had said differently. This is invaluable preparation for future interviews, whether with the same company or others.
Follow Up at the Right Time
If the interviewer gave you a timeline ("We will make a decision by Friday"), wait until after that date to follow up. If no timeline was given, a polite check-in email one week after the interview is appropriate. Do not follow up more than twice. Persistence is good. Pushiness is not.
Interview Formats: How to Prepare for Each
Phone Screens
Phone screens are typically 20-30 minutes with a recruiter. They focus on basic qualifications, salary expectations, and availability. Keep your resume in front of you and have the job description open. Stand up while you talk if it helps you sound more energetic.
Behavioral Interviews
These focus on past behavior as a predictor of future performance. Every question starts with "Tell me about a time..." Have your STAR stories ready and be prepared to go deeper with follow-up questions about your reasoning and what you would do differently.
Technical Interviews
For technical roles, expect coding challenges, case studies, or hands-on exercises. Review fundamental concepts, practice with realistic problems, and think out loud during the interview. Interviewers want to see your problem-solving process, not just the final answer.
Panel Interviews
When multiple interviewers are in the room, make eye contact with everyone, not just the person who asked the question. Address each panelist by name when possible. Send individual thank-you emails to each person afterward.
Your Pre-Interview Checklist
- Research the company, its products, culture, and recent news
- Study the job description and map your experience to each requirement
- Prepare 5-8 STAR stories covering key competencies
- Practice answers to common questions out loud
- Prepare 3-5 thoughtful questions for the interviewer
- Confirm logistics (location, parking, or video platform)
- Test your technology for virtual interviews
- Print your resume and gather materials to bring
- Plan your outfit
- Get a good night's sleep
Key Takeaways
- Thorough preparation is the single biggest factor in interview success
- Research the company well enough to explain why you want to work there specifically
- Prepare STAR stories and practice them out loud before the interview
- First impressions form in minutes, so nail your opening
- Keep answers focused (1-2 minutes) and use specific, quantified examples
- Always send a personalized thank-you email within 24 hours
- A strong resume gets you the interview. Start by making sure yours is optimized.