Preparation can help you organize examples and questions before an interview. This framework is a planning aid; interview formats and outcomes vary.
Step 1: Study the job description like a test
Use the posting to identify relevant skills and responsibilities, then prepare accurate examples from your experience. Interview questions may also cover subjects outside the posting.
Step 2: Build a story bank with the STAR method
For behavioral questions - tell me about a time - use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Prepare five or six flexible stories (a success, a conflict, a failure you learned from, a leadership moment, a problem you solved) and you'll have material for almost anything they ask.
Step 3: Nail your two-minute tell me about yourself
This opener sets the tone. Keep it to a tight arc: where you are now, a couple of relevant highlights, and why you're excited about this role. Practice it out loud until it's natural, not memorized.
Step 4: Research the company and the people
Know what they do, who their customers are, and something recent - a launch, a value, a milestone. Look up your interviewers on LinkedIn so the conversation feels informed, not cold.
Step 5: Prepare smart questions to ask
Always have three or four ready. Ask what success looks like in the role, about the team, and about current challenges. Good questions signal you're evaluating them too.
Step 6: Handle logistics the day before
- Test your tech for video calls, or map your route for in-person.
- Lay out your outfit and print extra resume copies.
- Re-read your own resume - they'll ask about it.
Before the interview, get the basics right
Review your resume and any profile you share so their facts are accurate and consistent. Check interview logistics and the employer's instructions. Current resume-template listings describe their contents; using one does not guarantee an interview outcome.
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