There’s a version of interview prep that almost everyone does. You know the drill: Re-read the job description, practise a few answers, look clean and smart. Then, there’s everything else, which is the stuff that actually separates people who feel ready and likely to do well from people who just feel less nervous, but are overall unprepared.
Research the company properly, not just superficially
Most candidates look up what the company does. They might have also engaged with the company. However, fewer look at how it talks about itself: the language it uses, the values it leads with, the kind of employer it presents as. Spend time on the careers page, not just the homepage. If they’re active on LinkedIn, read their recent posts. Notice what they emphasise. This gives you material to speak to during the interview without it sounding rehearsed, and it helps you ask better questions at the end.
Look up the people interviewing you
If you know who’s conducting the interview, look them up. Not in a stalky, forensic way, just enough to have some context. Their role, how long they’ve been with the company, anything they’ve published or shared professionally. People notice when a candidate has paid attention, and it can shift the dynamic of the conversation.
Prepare your questions with some thought
“Do you have any questions for us?” is not a formality. It’s part of the interview. Remember, you are also interviewing the company. Generic questions signal generic interest. Think about what you genuinely want to know: how decisions get made, what a typical first month looks like, what the team dynamic is. Questions that reflect actual curiosity about the role are more impressive than ones that could apply to any company.
Run through your examples before you need them
Most interviews involve some variation of “tell me about a time when…”. If you haven’t thought through your examples in advance, you’ll either draw a blank or reach for something vague. Pick three or four solid examples from your experience that you can adapt to different questions. They can be situations where you solved a problem, navigated something difficult, or delivered a clear result. Know the outline well enough so that you can speak about it without sounding scripted.
Sort out logistics the day before
This one sounds obvious, but sometimes we can get sidelined by the simplest detail, like which gate to enter from. Confirm the time, the location or the video link, the name of who you’re meeting, and how you’re getting there (or getting set up, if it’s remote). If it’s in person, know where you’re going, and not just the general area, but the specific entrance, how long it actually takes, where to park if needed. Turning up flustered because something logistical went wrong is an avoidable way to start.
Know what you’re going to say about why you want this role
Not a rehearsed speech, just clarity. Why this company, why this role, why now. Interviewers can tell when someone hasn’t thought about this, and the answer matters more than most candidates realise. If you find it hard to articulate, that might be worth sitting with before you walk in.
Happy job hunting!
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