In this guide
instructional guide
How to prepare for a job interview
A practical plan for interview preparation: understand the role, choose your evidence, rehearse aloud, prepare questions and settle the logistics early.
Start with what the role actually needs
Reread the advert and job description as if you were the interviewer. Separate the essential requirements from the desirable ones, and note the skills or behaviours the employer repeats. Those repeated themes are usually what the questions will test.
Then read the invitation carefully. It often tells you the format — a conversation with a manager, a panel, competency questions, a technical exercise, a presentation or an assessment centre — and who you will meet. If anything important is unclear, it is reasonable to ask the recruiter or contact before the day.
Choose your evidence before you practise answers
Most interview questions are requests for evidence. Before rehearsing any wording, list five to eight real situations you could talk about: projects, problems, busy periods, disagreements, mistakes you fixed and things you improved. They can come from paid work, study, volunteering, caring responsibilities or running a household, as long as you describe them accurately.
Map each example to the requirements you noted. One good example often covers several themes. Reread the resume and any application answers you submitted, because the interviewer will use them as a starting point and may ask you to expand on a specific line.
- A time you solved a problem under pressure
- A time you worked with someone who saw things differently
- A time you took responsibility for something that mattered
- A time you learned something quickly
- A mistake you made and what you did about it
- Something you changed or improved
Research the employer without memorising trivia
Understand what the organisation does, who it serves, how this team fits in and anything significant that has happened recently. The aim is to explain why the role makes sense for you and to ask sensible questions, not to recite facts from the website.
For an internal move or promotion, the research looks different: the team's current priorities, what the new level is expected to deliver and the evidence from your own track record that shows you are already working towards it.
Rehearse aloud, then shorten
Answers that read well on paper often run long when spoken. Practise out loud, ideally with someone who will ask follow-up questions, or record yourself and listen back. Most answers work best at around one to two minutes.
For questions that begin “Tell me about a time when…”, a simple structure such as STAR (situation, task, action, result) keeps the answer focused on what you did. Learn the structure and the key facts of each example rather than a word-for-word script, so you can adapt when a question is phrased differently.
Prepare for the format you have been given
Each format has its own practical risks. A little preparation removes most of them and lets you concentrate on the conversation.
- Phone: choose a quiet place, keep short notes in front of you and have the job description to hand.
- Video: test the software, camera, microphone and connection beforehand, check the light and background, and keep a phone number in case the call drops.
- In person: plan the route and timing, allow for delays and know who to ask for when you arrive.
- Panel: speak to the person who asked the question but include the others as you answer.
- Tests, tasks or presentations: practise to time and follow the instructions exactly.
Ask for adjustments if you need them
If a disability, health condition or other circumstance affects how you interview, you can ask the employer for adjustments — for example extra time, a different format, an accessible room or questions in writing. Ask early and say specifically what would help. Many employers explain how to request adjustments in the invitation or on their careers pages.
The day before and the day after
The day before, confirm the time, location or link, prepare what you will wear and bring, and reread your examples once. Avoid rewriting your preparation late at night; a rested, familiar version is usually stronger than a last-minute new one.
Afterwards, write down the questions you were asked while they are fresh, note what went well and what you would sharpen, and send a short thank-you if it suits the employer. Record the stage and any follow-up date so the application does not drift while you wait for a decision.
Common questions
How long should I spend preparing for an interview?
It depends on the role and format, but a few focused sessions over several days are usually more useful than one long session the night before. Prioritise choosing your examples and rehearsing them aloud.
What should I bring to an interview?
Bring anything the invitation asks for, such as identification or certificates, plus a copy of your resume, brief notes and the questions you want to ask. For a portfolio role, bring examples in the format you would like to show them.
Can I use notes in an interview?
Brief notes are normal in phone and video interviews, and a short list of your own questions is fine in person. Avoid reading prepared answers word for word, because it makes it harder to respond to the actual question.
How do I prepare for an interview with little work experience?
Use evidence from study, projects, volunteering, part-time work, caring or other responsibilities. Interviewers are looking for how you handled real situations, and those settings provide genuine examples.
What if I get very nervous?
Nerves are normal. Preparation helps most, and in the interview it is fine to pause before answering, ask for a question to be repeated or take a sip of water.