How to prepare for a job interview, step by step
By CareerFast · Last reviewed 2026-06-16
1. Research the company and role
Understand why the role exists, what success looks like in the first 90 days, recent company news, and the culture. This lets you tailor every answer and ask sharp questions.
2. Predict the questions
Most interviews mix behavioural (“tell me about a time…”), situational, and role-specific technical questions. Build a list for your exact role and company.
3. Prepare STAR stories
For each likely question, prepare a Situation–Task–Action–Result story with a measurable outcome. See the STAR method guide.
4. Rehearse out loud
Reading answers isn't rehearsing. Practise speaking them — scored mock interviews tell you exactly what to sharpen and when you're ready.
5. Prepare questions to ask
Strong closing questions signal genuine interest: “What does success look like in 90 days?” “How does this team work with…?”
Walk into your next interview prepared.
Company intel, a tailored question bank, and scored mock interviews — free for 7 days.
FAQ
- How many hours should I spend preparing for an interview?
- Aim for at least 2–3 focused hours per interview: research, building your question bank, and rehearsing answers out loud. Tools like CareerFast compress this significantly.
- What should I research before an interview?
- The company's mission and recent news, why the role exists, what success looks like, the team, and the interviewer where possible.
- How do I rehearse interview answers?
- Practise out loud, ideally with scored mock interviews that give feedback on structure and content rather than just reading notes.