How to prepare for an interview: a plan from the invitation to the morning of.
Preparation is the part of an interview you fully control. It is less about predicting questions and more about knowing three things well: what this job needs, what you have done that matches it, and how the day will run.
Work in four stages. First, study the posting and the organisation until you can say what the job needs in your own words. Second, prepare a handful of true stories that show those needs and practise saying them out loud. Third, prepare your own questions. Fourth, settle the logistics the day before: time, format, names, route or link, and what to bring. Then rest.
A preparation plan, step by step
- As soon as you are invited. Confirm the time, the format and who you will meet. Ask the person arranging it if anything is unclear. Save the job posting, because postings are sometimes taken down.
- Study the job. Highlight every duty and requirement in the posting and group them into a few themes. Write one line for each on why you can do it.
- Study the organisation. Read its own website, recent news and anything the team has published. Look up the people you will meet on their professional profiles so the names are familiar.
- Build your stories. Choose five or six examples from your own work, study or volunteering that show the themes. Note what you did and how you know it worked.
- Practise out loud. Answer practice questions aloud, ideally with a friend or a recording. Time your opening answer and trim anything that wanders.
- Prepare your questions. Write five questions about the work, the team and how success is judged. You will probably ask two or three.
- The day before. Lay out what you will wear and bring, check the route or test the video link, and plan to arrive or log in early. Then stop preparing and sleep.
If you only have a few hours
- Reread the posting. It is the single most useful document you have. Know its top requirements.
- Pick three stories. One about solving a problem, one about working with people, one about delivering under pressure.
- Rehearse your opening. Practise your answer to “Tell me about yourself” until it is short and ends on this job.
- Check the basics. Time, place or link, names, a copy of your resume and two questions to ask.
Interview preparation checklist
| Area | Done when you can… | Where to look |
|---|---|---|
| The role | Explain the job's main purpose and top requirements in your own words. | The job posting |
| The organisation | Say what it does, who it serves and something recent about it. | Its own website and news |
| Your evidence | Tell five or six short, true stories that match the requirements. | Your resume, notes and past work |
| Your opening | Answer “Tell me about yourself” in about a minute. | Practice out loud |
| Your questions | Ask two or three questions about the work and the team. | Your notes on the posting |
| Logistics | Name the time, format, people, route or link and what to bring. | The invitation email |
Illustrative answers to adapt
Illustrative: these answers were written by TryHired to show structure. They are not real candidates' answers and were not given in any real interview. Every name, employer, number and result is fictional or a bracketed placeholder: replace each bracket with your own true details, and never claim an achievement you did not have.
Story notes template
When to use: One card per story, written while you prepare.
Requirement it shows: [a requirement from the posting] Situation: [where and when, in one line] What I did: [two or three actions, in order] How I know it worked: [the result you can prove] Lesson: [what you would repeat or change]
“What do you know about us?” (weak)
What it shows: Unprepared and generic.
I know you're a big company in this industry and that you have a good reputation. I looked at the website briefly and it seems like a great place to work.
“What do you know about us?” (stronger)
What it shows: Specific, and linked to the job.
I know you [what the organisation does, in one line], and I read about [a recent project, launch or change]. What stood out to me is [a detail that relates to the role], because in my current job I [a related thing you do]. I'd like to hear how this team fits into that.
Confirmation reply
When to use: A short reply that also settles the logistics.
Thank you for the invitation. [Day and time] works well for me. Could you confirm whether the interview will be [in person, by phone or by video], and who I'll be speaking with? Please let me know if there's anything I should prepare or bring.
Why the stronger answer works: The weak answer shows the candidate spent no time on research. The stronger one names something specific and connects it to the candidate's own work, which is what preparation is for. These answers are illustrative; use details you have checked yourself.
Disclosure: TryHired makes HIRED, a paid job-search program, so we have a conflict of interest when we mention it. Every sample on this page is free to use without buying anything.
Mistakes to avoid
- Preparing answers to dozens of questions instead of a few strong stories.
- Researching the organisation but never rereading the posting.
- Practising only in your head.
- Leaving logistics to the morning.
- Cramming late the night before instead of resting.
- Forgetting to prepare your own questions.
Prepare with your own facts
Questions people ask
How do I prepare for an interview?
How long should I spend preparing for an interview?
How do I prepare for an interview the night before?
What should I research before an interview?
How do I prepare for interview questions I can't predict?
How this page is built
Written by Maid Dizdarevic, a career coach and 8x LinkedIn Top Voice. Advice is labelled as advice. Every sample answer was written by TryHired to show structure: none is a real candidate's answer, and every employer, number and result is a bracketed placeholder for your own true details. Question lists are general practice, not a prediction of what any employer will ask.
- What a specific employer will ask: no one can know that in advance, so read the posting and prepare your own evidence.
- Your results: we never invent numbers, and you should never claim a result you did not achieve.
- Outcomes: no guide, answer or program can promise an interview or a job offer.
- TryHired editorial guidance by Maid Dizdarevic, career coach, Nov 4, 2026.