Free resource
Interview preparation checklist
Less guessing at questions, more preparing the stories that answer them.
In short
To prepare for a job interview, research the role and organisation, re-read the job advert and your own CV, prepare five or six achievement stories in the STAR format, rehearse answers to the questions you are most likely to get, write down three or four questions to ask, and confirm the logistics a day ahead. Send a short thank-you within one working day.
By Chanuka Jeewantha · Updated
Most interview preparation goes into guessing questions. Better preparation goes into stories: a small set of well-rehearsed examples you can adapt to almost any competency question. This checklist starts with research, builds the story bank, then covers the questions you will face and ask, the logistics for video and in-person interviews, and the follow-up. Your CV is the interviewer's script, so read it the way they will.
Research
- Re-read the job advert and list every skill and behaviour it names
- Read the organisation's website, recent news, and its annual report or product pages
- Look up your interviewers on LinkedIn to understand their roles
- Confirm the interview format: panel, competency, technical, case study or presentation
- If the role is in another country, check local norms such as formality and how salary is raised
- Re-read your own CV and cover letter, because every line on them is fair game
Your story bank
- Five or six stories covering a result, a conflict, a mistake, leadership, change and pressure
- Each story follows STAR: situation, task, action, result
- Actions use ‘I’ rather than ‘we’, so your own contribution is clear
- Results include a number, an outcome, or what changed afterwards
- Each story takes about one to two minutes when told aloud
- You know which story answers which competency in the advert
Questions you will be asked
- ‘Tell me about yourself’ answered in under two minutes: present, past, why this role
- ‘Why do you want this job?’ answered with specifics about this role and organisation
- ‘Why are you leaving?’ answered honestly and without criticising your employer
- A real weakness, with what you are doing about it
- A salary range researched for this role, level and location
- Any gap, career change or relocation explained in two or three calm sentences
Questions you will ask
- Three or four questions written down in advance
- One about what success looks like in the first six to twelve months
- One about the team you would join and how it works
- One about next steps and timing, saved for the end
- None whose answers are already on the organisation's website
Logistics
- Date, time and time zone confirmed in writing, especially across borders
- For video: camera at eye level, light facing you, a quiet room and a tested connection
- The meeting link or platform tested the day before
- For in person: route, travel time and who to ask for on arrival
- Your CV, the job advert and your notes within reach
- Clothing matched to the organisation's norms, one level smarter
After the interview
- A short thank-you email sent within one working day
- Notes written straight away on what was asked and what you would answer differently
- Anything you promised to send, sent promptly
- A follow-up date noted if they gave a decision timeline
- Your referees told that they may be contacted
Tips
- Rehearse aloud, not in your head. Stories that feel complete in your head usually run long or lose the result when spoken.
- Record one practice answer on your phone and watch it back once. It is uncomfortable, and it shows you exactly what to fix.
- When a question does not match any story, pick the closest one and say how it applies. A relevant real example beats a polished invented one.
- When interviewing across time zones, put both local times in the calendar invite and set your alarm by your own.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
How do I prepare for a job interview in one day?
Focus on three things: re-read the job advert and your CV, prepare four or five STAR stories that match the skills the advert names, and practise your answer to ‘tell me about yourself’ aloud. Then read the organisation's recent news, write two questions to ask, and confirm the time and location or link. Rehearse stories rather than memorising scripts.
How many STAR examples should I prepare?
Prepare five or six strong STAR stories, each flexible enough to answer several questions. Cover a clear result, working with a difficult person, a mistake, leading or influencing, handling change, and working under pressure. Most competency questions can be answered by adapting one of these to the wording asked, so depth matters more than the number of stories.
Should I send a thank-you email after an interview?
Yes, send a short thank-you email within one working day. Thank the interviewer for their time, mention one specific point from the conversation, restate your interest in a line, and include anything you promised to send. Keep it to a few sentences. It rarely decides the outcome on its own, but it is a simple professional courtesy.
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