Job Interview Preparation — Complete Checklist

Go beyond the 'About Us' page. Read recent news, press releases, earnings reports (if public), and Glassdoor reviews. Understand their products, competitors, and market position. Mention specific things in your interview to show genuine interest.

Print the job description and highlight every requirement and responsibility. For each one, prepare a specific example from your experience that demonstrates that skill. This is the foundation of your interview answers.

If you know who's interviewing you, check their LinkedIn profile. Look for shared connections, backgrounds, or interests. Understanding their role helps you tailor your answers. Don't be creepy about it — just be informed.

Asking good questions shows engagement and helps you evaluate the role. Avoid questions easily answered by Google. Strong questions: What does success look like in the first 90 days? What are the team's biggest challenges right now? How would you describe the team culture?

STAR = Situation, Task, Action, Result. Prepare 6-8 stories that cover: leadership, teamwork, conflict resolution, failure/learning, a time you exceeded expectations, and a challenge you overcame. Each story can be adapted to multiple questions.

Say your answers out loud — it's different from just thinking them. 'Tell me about yourself' should be a 60-90 second career narrative. 'Why this company?' should reference specific things you admire. 'Why are you leaving?' should never bad-mouth your current employer.

Check Glassdoor, Levels.fyi, Payscale, and LinkedIn Salary Insights for the role and location. Know your minimum acceptable number and your target. If asked about salary expectations early, try to deflect: 'I'd like to learn more about the role before discussing compensation.'

Practice with a friend, family member, or career coach. Record yourself on video to spot filler words, fidgeting, and weak answers. Services like Pramp offer free peer mock interviews for tech roles.

Tailor your resume to this specific role — rearrange bullet points to prioritize relevant experience. Print 5 copies on quality paper. Even for virtual interviews, having your resume in front of you helps you reference specifics.

For creative, design, or technical roles, have relevant work samples ready. Prepare a brief explanation of your role and impact for each project. For coding interviews, review your GitHub projects.

When in doubt, dress one level above the company's dress code. For tech companies, smart casual is usually fine. For finance or law, go business professional. Try on your outfit the day before to check fit and stains. Iron or steam wrinkles.

Test your camera, microphone, and internet connection. Choose a clean, well-lit background. Use a hardwired internet connection if possible. Close unnecessary browser tabs and apps. Silence your phone. Have a backup plan (phone hotspot, call-in number).

Do a test commute at the same time of day. Aim to arrive in the area 15-20 minutes early, then walk in 5 minutes before the scheduled time. Know the parking situation. Have the interviewer's phone number in case you're delayed.

Use a professional bag or portfolio. Include: printed resumes, a notepad, a working pen, your ID (some offices require it), a water bottle, breath mints, and any materials you've been asked to prepare.

Review your STAR stories and key talking points one more time. Do a power pose for 2 minutes if you're nervous. Remember: they already liked you enough to invite you — the interview is a conversation, not an interrogation.

Be polite to the receptionist, security, and everyone you encounter — interviewers sometimes ask the front desk for their impression. Smile, make eye contact, and give a firm handshake. Turn your phone completely off (not just silent).

Listen carefully to each question before answering. Use specific examples and numbers when possible ('I increased sales by 30%' beats 'I improved sales'). It's okay to pause and think. If you don't know something, say so honestly. Show enthusiasm without being over the top.

Ask your prepared questions. Ask about next steps and timeline for the decision. Express genuine interest: 'I'm really excited about this role because...' and reference something specific from the conversation. Thank each interviewer by name.

Before you forget, jot down: names of interviewers, key topics discussed, questions you were asked, your answers (especially ones you could improve), and any concerns raised. This helps with thank-you notes and future rounds.

Send a personalized email to each interviewer (ask the recruiter for email addresses if needed). Reference something specific you discussed. Reiterate your interest and address any concerns that came up. Keep it concise — 3-4 sentences is enough.

If the timeline they gave has passed with no response, send a brief follow-up email to the recruiter. One follow-up is fine; more than two starts to feel pushy. Continue applying to other positions — never stop your search while waiting.

If you receive an offer, take 24-48 hours to review it. Consider: salary, benefits, equity/bonus, PTO, remote policy, growth opportunities, commute, and culture fit. Almost every offer is negotiable — start with salary, then other benefits. Get the final offer in writing before accepting.