How to Prepare for an Interview: A Candidate's Working Checklist

Interviewers increasingly use structured, behavioral questions. That is good news: the questions are predictable enough to prepare for properly.

Build a story bank

Write out six to eight work stories using the STAR structure — Situation, Task, Action, Result. Aim for one story each on: a hard problem you solved, a conflict you handled, a mistake you owned, a deadline you protected, a process you improved, and a time you influenced without authority. Most behavioral questions are a variation of those six.

Research with a purpose

• Read the posting twice and highlight the five competencies it actually repeats.
• Look up the company's recent news, funding, or contract wins. Reference one specifically.
• Know who is interviewing you and what they own. Your questions should differ for a hiring manager and a peer.

Talk about money without flinching

Many jurisdictions now require employers to post a pay range, and many prohibit asking your salary history. Know your target number and your walk-away number before the first call. If asked for expectations, give a researched range and say what it is based on.

Logistics that decide the first impression

• For video: test camera, mic, and lighting the day before; sit with a light source in front of you; join two minutes early.
• Have your resume, the job description, and your questions on paper, not in another tab.
• Prepare three questions of your own. 'What does success look like in the first 90 days?' is worth asking every single time.
• Send a short thank-you note within 24 hours that references one specific thing from the conversation.

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