1–2 Days Before: Deep Preparation

  1. 1

    Research the company thoroughly

    Read the company’s website, recent news articles, LinkedIn page and any available annual report. Know: what they do, who their customers are, how they make money, their recent developments, and the industry context. Prepare one or two specific observations about the company that you can reference naturally (“I noticed your expansion into X market last year — that’s part of what drew me to apply”). Generic enthusiasm without specifics reads as unprepared.

  2. 2

    Re-read the job description and map your experience

    Read the job description line by line. For each key requirement, identify a specific example from your experience that demonstrates that skill or quality. Prepare these examples in STAR format: Situation (brief context), Task (your responsibility), Action (what you specifically did), Result (quantified outcome where possible). Having 6–8 prepared STAR examples covers most interview questions.

  3. 3

    Prepare answers to the most common questions

    Tell me about yourself: 2-minute professional summary — background, key experience relevant to this role, why you are here. Why this company/role: specific, researched answer. Greatest strength: one genuine strength with evidence. Greatest weakness: a real one with what you are doing about it (not “I work too hard”). Describe a conflict at work: focus on resolution and learning. 5-year plan: genuine career direction, not a specific title.

  4. 4

    Prepare 3–4 questions to ask

    Strong questions: What does success look like in the first 90 days? What are the biggest challenges the person in this role typically faces? How would you describe the team culture? What are the development or progression opportunities? Avoid questions about salary and benefits in a first interview unless they raise it.

The Day Of

  • Logistics confirmed: Location, parking, video link, interviewer’s name and title
  • Arrive or log in 5 minutes early — not 15: Arriving too early can be awkward for the interviewer
  • Bring your resume: For in-person interviews, bring 2–3 printed copies
  • Video interview checklist: Camera at eye level, good lighting from in front (not behind), clean background, test audio and internet 10 minutes before
After the interview: follow upSend a thank-you email within 24 hours. Thank the interviewer, reference one specific thing from the conversation, and reiterate your enthusiasm for the role. Keep it to 3–4 sentences. The majority of candidates do not do this — it is noticed and remembered.

Frequently Asked Questions

Choose a real weakness that is not central to the job requirements. Show self-awareness (you have identified it), accountability (you own it, not a thinly veiled strength), and active improvement (what you are doing about it). Example: “I used to struggle with delegating — I preferred to handle things myself to ensure quality. Over the past year I have deliberately practised delegating to team members and following up rather than taking over, and I have seen both their growth and my own capacity improve significantly.”
Do not bluff — interviewers can usually tell. It is acceptable to say “I don’t have direct experience with that specific thing, but here’s how I would approach it...” or “That’s not something I’ve done yet, but in a similar situation I...”. Showing honest self-awareness and a thoughtful approach to gaps is far better than a fabricated answer that falls apart under follow-up questions.