Prepare for a job interview

What to cover in the days before, on the day itself, and just after. Tick as you go: whatever stays unticked is exactly what will make you hesitate in the room.

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One week before

One week before
Done	To do
	Reread the job ad and highlight the five skills that come up most key Those are the ones the interviewer will test. Prepare a concrete example for each.
	Prepare three short stories: situation, action, result key Two minutes each, with a figure if you can. They will answer half the questions asked.
	Find out who will be interviewing you Their role changes everything: a future manager wants to know if you can do the job, HR whether you will stay.
	Read the company's recent news Funding round, new product, acquisition. One sentence showing you follow them beats ten minutes of theory.
	Find one thing about their business you do not understand It becomes one of your questions — the best way to ask something that does not sound rehearsed.

Your difficult answers

Your difficult answers
Done	To do
	Prepare your answer about leaving your current job key Factual, short, no criticism of your previous employer. It is a loyalty test as much as a question.
	Prepare your salary range, and the floor below which you will decline key Decide it calmly, before you are in the room.
	Prepare an explanation for any gap in your career One owned sentence is enough. Avoiding it draws more attention than explaining it.
	Prepare your answer to "tell me about yourself" key Ninety seconds maximum: where you are, what you are looking for, why them.

Your questions

Your questions
Done	To do
	Prepare four questions, including one about the team and one about how success in the role is measured key Having no questions is the most common negative signal at the end of an interview.
	Prepare your question about the next steps How many stages, with whom, by when. It saves you waiting in the dark.

The day before and the day itself

The day before and the day itself
Done	To do
	Check the exact address, the floor and the real travel time key Add twenty minutes. Arriving out of breath costs you the first five minutes.
	Test the video link, camera and microphone if the interview is remote key On the device you will actually use, not another one.
	Print a copy of your CV and of the job ad Useful for you, and for an interviewer who does not have it to hand.
	Turn off notifications on your phone and laptop

After the interview

After the interview
Done	To do
	Write down the questions asked and what you would answer better, straight away key Ten minutes later you have everything; the next day half of it is gone.
	Send a thank-you message within 24 hours Short, referring to one specific point discussed. It sets you apart at no cost.
	Note the date to follow up if you hear nothing The stated deadline, plus two working days.