How to Prepare for a Job Interview (Step by Step)

The honest playbook:

3-5 days before

• Research the company. Recent news, product announcements, leadership team, recent funding (if relevant). Pick 2-3 specific things to reference.
• Re-read the JD. Identify the three skills or experiences they care about most.
• Look up your interviewers on LinkedIn. Note where they came from, how long they've been there, recent posts.
• Map your three stories, STAR-format, with numbers, to the skills they care about.

1-2 days before

• Rehearse "tell me about yourself" out loud. 90 seconds.
• Practice 3-5 STAR answers for behavioral questions.
• Write down 3-5 questions to ask. Specific to the role and company.
• Prepare logistical things: outfit, route, what to bring, working camera/mic for virtual.

Day of

• Eat something.
• Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes early (in person) or 2 minutes early (virtual).
• Re-read your notes one more time.
• Bring 3 printed copies of resume (in person).
• Have a glass of water nearby.

What to research about the company

• Recent product launches or announcements (last 6 months).
• The team's mission and current focus.
• Leadership, CEO, CTO, the hiring manager if known.
• Recent funding (if a startup).
• Reviews on Glassdoor / Blind, for vibe, not as gospel.
• Their engineering blog or careers page, often the best source of authentic team voice.

What to prepare to talk about

• Your three best stories. STAR format. With numbers. Each should hit a different theme (leadership, conflict, success, failure).
• Why this specific role. One sentence connection.
• Your "tell me about yourself" answer. 90 seconds.
• Your weakness answer. Real, working-on-it, with example.
• Your "why are you leaving / looking" answer. Move toward, not away.

Questions to ask

Have 5-7, ask 2-3 per round. See what questions to ask in an interview.

What to ask the recruiter beforehand

It's allowed and useful:

• "How long is the interview?"
• "Who will I be meeting with?"
• "What's the format, coding, behavioral, system design?"
• "What's the dress code?"

Recruiters give you better answers if you ask in advance.

Common mistakes

• Over-preparing. Trying to memorize 30 answers makes you robotic.
• Under-preparing the company. Generic flattery without specific references signals lack of effort.
• Not asking about the format. Going into a panel interview thinking it's 1-on-1.
• Day-of cramming. Last-minute prep is too late for the big lifts.

The bigger pattern

Preparation is the difference between a 60% chance and an 80% chance per interview. Interview rates × prep × volume = offers.

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For more: how to ace an interview, STAR method for interviews, tell me about yourself interview.