Interview Preparation 

Before the interview, ask for the names and contact information of the people you’ll meet. If the company doesn’t automatically provide this, it’s completely appropriate to ask, “can you tell me who I’ll be interviewing with?” 

Once you have names: 

• Look up their LinkedIn profile and company bio 

• Google them for recent news or articles they’ve written 

• Note their role, background, and how it relates to the position 

• Prepare two to three specific questions for each person 

The goal isn’t to learn everything you can about each person. Strategically focus on information about how their position relates to the job you are interviewing for.  

Spend time understanding the organization before you interview. 

What to research:  

Effective research doesn’t mean reading everything about the company. It means reading what’s relevant to your position. For example, if you’re applying for a job at Google as an HR Manager, learning everything you can about their Gemini AI product line probably won’t be helpful. Instead, understand what Google is designed for and what the Human Resources department is responsible for.  

Some types of information that could be helpful, depending on where you’re applying: 

• Products and services they offer 

• Business model and revenue streams  

• Competitors and market position  

• Company culture and values 

• Recent news, funding, partnerships, or product launches  

• Financial performance (for public companies) 

Where to research:  

• Company website and careers page 

• LinkedIn company profile (see employees, recent hires, culture insights)  

• Glassdoor for employee reviews and interview reports 

• Google News for recent articles 

• Industry publications and business journals 

• Personal network—if anyone you know works there, ask for an insider perspective 

Aim to understand why you want to work there, not just what they do. What about their mission, products, or culture appeals to you? 

Read the job description multiple times. Break it down: 

• What are they literally asking for experience? Which are required vs. nice-to-have? 

• What does the day-to-day work look like? 

• How does this role contribute to the team or company goals? 

• What growth opportunities does it offer? 

As you research the company, ask yourself: How do my skills and experiences match what they’re looking for? 

Now turn inward. You’ve researched them; they’re researching you. 

Be able to discuss: 

• Why you’re interested in this specific position and company 

• Your strengths and how they align with job requirements 

• A genuine weakness you’re working to improve 

• Your educational background and relevant work experience 

• Your professional goals and values 

• Concrete accomplishments and the role you played 

Prepare 4-7 stories using the S-T-A-R-B method: 

• Situation: Briefly describe a specific situation you faced 

• Task: What were you trying to accomplish? 

• Action: What did you actually do? Focus on your role, not the team’s contributions. Don’t just list facts. Also explain why you took each action 

• Result: What happened? Quantify impact where possible 

• Bridge: Describe how this experience prepared you for this specific role. 

Ask the recruiter: “How long should I plan to be at your office?” and “What’s the format of the interview?” Different formats require different prep: 

• One-on-one interviews focus on behavioral and technical questions 

• Phone screens are often shorter and test your communication conciseness 

• Panel interviews require you to engage with multiple people at once 

• Case interviews (consulting, finance) require structured problem-solving 

• Technical interviews (engineering, software) require you to code or solve problems 

• Virtual interviews demand good eye contact with the camera and a distraction-free environment 

Review our guides on specific interview types to understand what to expect. 

Don’t memorize scripts, but do practice aloud. 

• Read the job description and potential interview questions 

• Speak your answers out loud to a friend, family member, or mentor, or even use the “dictate” tool on Word or your phone—this helps you sound natural, not robotic 

• Record yourself on Big Interview to review your delivery, pacing, and body language 

• Polish your S-T-A-R-B stories until you can tell them in 1-2 minutes 

• Practice with a career counselor 

The goal is confidence, not perfection. 

The questions you ask show your level of interest and preparation. If you ask nothing, most employers assume you’re not interested. 

Avoid questions easily answered by reading their website or by doing a quick google search. Instead, ask questions that show genuine curiosity and critical thinking: 

• What are the qualities that make someone successful in this role? 

• What will the biggest challenges be for this position? 

• Can you describe a typical day or week in this role? 

• What are the current priorities for this team or department? 

• How is performance evaluated and what does growth look like? 

• What attracted you to working here? 

• What opportunities exist for learning and development? 

• How has this team or role evolved over the past few years? 

• What are the next steps in the interview process? 

Prepare at least 10 questions. You won’t ask them all, but having options means you can ask what genuinely interests you and avoid asking something already answered during the conversation.