Interview Preparation: A Step-by-Step Checklist

Most interviews are not won by charm. They are won by preparation: knowing what the role needs, having clear examples ready, and arriving calm. This checklist breaks preparation into steps you can spread over a few days.

Three to five days before

Re-read the job description

Print it or copy it into a document. Highlight:

• The five most important requirements (often listed first or repeated)
• Specific tools, systems, or certifications mentioned
• Words that describe the work environment (“fast-paced,” “independent,” “team-based”)

These become your preparation map. Every story you prepare should connect to at least one highlighted item.

Research the employer

Spend 30 to 45 minutes on:

• Their website: what they do, who they serve, recent news, mission or values
• The team: if you know your interviewer’s name, look at their public professional profile
• Reviews and news: look for patterns, not single complaints
• People you know: an informational interview with someone there is valuable if you can arrange it

Write down two or three things that genuinely interest you. You will use them in your answers and questions.

Build your STAR stories

Behavioral questions start with “Tell me about a time when…” The STAR method gives your answer a clear shape:

• Situation: the context, in one or two sentences
• Task: what you were responsible for
• Action: what you did, step by step
• Result: what changed, with a number if possible

Prepare one story for each of the five requirements you highlighted, plus stories for these common themes:

• A time you solved a problem
• A time you handled a difficult person or conflict
• A time you made a mistake and fixed it
• A time you learned something quickly
• A time you went beyond what was expected

Our free STAR Story Builder helps you draft and time each answer.

Common questions and how to approach them

“Tell me about yourself.” Give a 60 to 90 second summary: where you are now, one or two relevant highlights, and why you are interested in this role. It is not your life story.

“Why do you want to work here?” Use your research. Connect something specific about the employer to something you care about or are good at.

“What is your greatest strength?” Pick a strength that matters for the role and back it up with a short example.

“What is a weakness you are working on?” Choose a real but manageable area, and spend most of your answer on what you are doing to improve it.

“Why are you leaving your current role?” or “Why is there a gap?” Stay brief, honest, and forward-looking. Avoid criticizing past employers. See Returning to work after a gap.

“What are your pay expectations?” Research typical pay for the role and location first, using sources like the Occupational Outlook Handbook or CareerOneStop’s salary finder. Some states and cities require employers to include a pay range in postings. A common approach is to give a researched range and say you are open to discussing the full package. Our Pay Converter helps compare hourly and annual figures.

Prepare your questions

At the end, you will almost always be asked, “Do you have any questions for us?” Have three or four ready:

• What does success look like in the first 90 days?
• What are the biggest challenges for the team right now?
• How is performance feedback given?
• What do you enjoy most about working here?
• What are the next steps in the process?

Avoid asking about things clearly answered on their website.

The day before

• Confirm the details: time, time zone, location or video link, and interviewer names
• Plan your route or log-in, with 15 minutes to spare
• Choose your clothes. When in doubt, dress one step more formal than the everyday dress code
• Print or save two copies of your resume, your reference sheet, and your questions
• Practice out loud. Say your “tell me about yourself” and three STAR stories to a friend, a mirror, or a phone recording
• Sleep. Preparation done late at night rarely helps

For video and phone interviews, test your setup. See Video and phone interviews.

On the day

• Arrive 10 minutes early for in-person interviews. Earlier than that can be awkward for the employer
• Be courteous to everyone you meet, including reception staff
• Bring: resume copies, a pen, a notebook, your questions, and a photo ID if you may need it to enter the building
• Listen to the full question before answering. It is fine to pause and think
• Take brief notes on names and key points
• Close well: thank them, restate your interest in a sentence, and ask about next steps

Handling nerves

Nerves are normal and often a sign that you care. A few things help:

• Slow breathing for a minute before you go in
• Remembering that the interviewer wants you to do well; they need someone for this role
• Treating it as a conversation, not a test
• Having water nearby

If you blank on a question, it is fine to say, “Let me think about that for a moment,” or to ask them to repeat it.

After the interview

Write down what you were asked and how you answered while it is fresh. Then send a thank-you note within one business day. Our guide to following up after an interview explains what to write and when to check in.

Your next steps

1. Highlight the top five requirements in a posting you are interested in.
2. Draft five STAR stories using the STAR Story Builder.
3. Write four questions to ask.
4. Practice out loud at least twice before the interview.