How to prepare for an interview, in one line: work out what the employer needs to see, prepare evidence for each point, and rehearse saying it out loud. The rest is logistics. This guide gives you a step-by-step plan, a timeline from a week out to the morning of, a list of what to bring and a checklist you can copy.
If you're interviewing after a layoff, the same plan works. There's a section below on how to handle the "why did you leave?" question.
Interview preparation at a glance
| When | What to do |
|---|---|
| As soon as it's booked | Confirm the time, format, who you're meeting and anything to bring or prepare |
| 5 to 7 days before | Break down the job description and research the employer |
| 3 to 5 days before | Write your stories and your answer to "tell me about yourself" |
| 2 to 3 days before | Practise out loud, ideally with a mock interview |
| The day before | Plan the route or test the tech, lay out clothes, print documents |
| The morning of | Reread your notes, eat, arrive or log in early |
The timeline is a guide. If you have one day's notice, do steps 1, 3 and 5 below and skip the rest.
How do you prepare for a job interview step by step?
Step 1: Turn the job description into a test list
Read the advert line by line and highlight every skill, task and quality it mentions. Group them into four or five themes. Those themes are what the interview will test. The UK National Careers Service puts reading the job description closely at the top of its advice.
Example (illustrative): for an operations coordinator advert, the themes might be "scheduling and logistics", "working with suppliers", "spreadsheets and reporting", "handling problems under pressure" and "communication with the team".
Step 2: Research the employer
Spend an hour, not a day. You want enough to answer "why us?" with something specific and to ask a good question.
- Their website: what they sell, who their customers are, any recent news or launches.
- The team: look up your interviewers on LinkedIn so you know their roles.
- Their values: many employers publish them. Note one that matches how you work.
- Recent reviews or press: useful context, but don't raise anything negative in the interview.
Step 3: Prepare six to eight stories
Most interview questions are versions of "show me you can do this". Prepare short stories from work, study or volunteering that prove each theme from step 1. Structure each one with the STAR method: Situation, Task, Action, Result.
| Theme (from the advert) | My story | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Handling problems under pressure | Supplier missed a delivery the day before a big order | Found a backup, order went out on time |
| Spreadsheets and reporting | Rebuilt the weekly stock report | Cut a manual task the team did every week |
| Working with a difficult person | ... | ... |
One good story can answer several questions. "Tell me about a time you solved a problem", "a time you worked under pressure" and "a time something went wrong" can all use the supplier story. Our list of behavioural interview questions shows what each common question is really asking.
Step 4: Prepare the questions you know are coming
Write bullet-point answers (not scripts) for these:
- "Tell me about yourself." A 60 to 90 second answer: present, past, future. See tell me about yourself.
- "Why do you want this job?" Link something specific about them to something specific about you.
- "What are your strengths and weaknesses?" See strengths and weaknesses.
- "Why are you leaving?" or "Why did you leave?" Short, factual, forward-looking.
- "What are your salary expectations?" Research the market rate for the role and location beforehand and give a range.
- "Do you have any questions for us?" Always yes. See step 6.
If the role is technical or practical, expect a task too: a case study, a coding exercise, a writing sample, a role-play or a situational question.
Step 5: Practise out loud
This is the step most people skip, and it makes the biggest difference. Answers you have only rehearsed in your head come out longer and less clear.
- Record yourself answering five questions on your phone and watch it back.
- Do a mock interview with a friend, a mentor or a careers adviser.
- Practise alone with an AI tool if no one is free. Our guide to AI interview practice shows how to make it useful.
- For practical roles, practise the work itself. On Cohesyve you can take a job simulation of the real tasks in your target role and get a scored report showing where you lost marks.
Role-specific prep pages can help too: for example operations manager, business analyst, customer service representative and product manager.
Step 6: Prepare your questions for them
You'll usually get time at the end to ask questions. The National Careers Service suggests writing them down before the interview. Pick three; you may only get to ask two.
- "What would a great first three months look like in this role?"
- "What's the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?"
- "How do you measure success for this role?"
- "What do you enjoy most about working here?"
- "What are the next steps in the process?"
Step 7: Sort the logistics the day before
- In person: plan the route, allow extra time, know which entrance and who to ask for.
- Video: test your camera, microphone and connection on the platform they're using. Have the interviewer's phone number or email in case the call drops. The National Careers Service suggests being ready 5 to 10 minutes early.
- Phone: a quiet room, a charged phone, your notes in front of you.
- Clothes: decide and lay them out. Our guide on what to wear to an interview covers each type of workplace.
Walk into the interview having already done the work
Practise on a simulation of the real tasks in your target role, get a scored report showing your gaps, and fix them before the interview. Free to start, no card.
What should you bring to an interview?
Bring what helps you look prepared and nothing that clutters the table.
| Bring | Why |
|---|---|
| Two or three printed copies of your CV or resume | Interviewers may not have one in front of them |
| A notebook and pen | To jot down names and points to follow up |
| Your list of questions | So you don't go blank at the end |
| A short list of your stories (keywords only) | A quick glance before you go in |
| Any documents they asked for | ID, certificates, right-to-work documents, a portfolio |
| Water, a phone on silent, directions | Practical basics |
For a video interview, keep the same notes beside your screen, out of shot.
What should you do on the day of the interview?
Keep it calm. Reread your theme list and stories, not the whole company website. Eat something. Arrive 10 to 15 minutes early in person, and be in the waiting room or logged in a few minutes early online.
In the room: listen to the whole question, take a second before answering, and keep answers to about two minutes unless they ask for more. If you don't know something, say so and explain how you'd find out.
How do you prepare for an interview after being laid off?
Prepare one honest, two-sentence answer to "why did you leave?" and practise it until it sounds relaxed. For example: "My role was one of [number] cut when the company restructured in [month]. I'm looking for a role where I can keep doing [what you're good at], which is why this one appealed."
Our guide on how to explain being laid off in an interview has more wording, and what to do when you get laid off covers the bigger picture. If you've been out of work for a while, see employment gap.
What should you do after the interview?
Send a short thank-you email the same day or the next, mentioning one thing you discussed. Our thank-you email guide has templates. If you hear nothing by the date they gave, send a polite follow-up email.
Then write down the questions you were asked and how you answered. It's the best prep for the next interview.
Interview preparation checklist
- I can name the four or five themes the interview will test
- I have a story for each theme, in STAR order
- I've practised "tell me about yourself" out loud
- I've practised at least five answers out loud
- I know why I want this job and this employer
- I have three questions ready
- I know the time, format, place or link, and who I'm meeting
- Outfit, documents and copies of my CV are ready
FAQs
How long should I spend preparing for an interview?
Enough to finish the steps above. For most interviews that's a few hours over several days. For a final round or a role with a task, allow more time to practise the task itself.
How do I prepare for an interview with one day's notice?
Break down the job description into themes, prepare one story for each, and practise "tell me about yourself" and your answer to "why this job?" out loud. Then sort the logistics.
How do I calm my nerves before an interview?
Preparation is the main fix. Practising out loud makes the real thing feel familiar. On the day, arrive early, breathe slowly, and remember they invited you because your application interested them.
Should I bring a portfolio to an interview?
Yes, if your work can be shown: design, writing, marketing, engineering or anything with a visible output. Bring a few strong examples, printed or on a tablet, and be ready to talk through one in detail.
How do I prepare for a video interview?
Test the platform, your camera, microphone and connection in advance, set up good light in front of you, and keep notes out of shot. Have a backup contact in case the connection fails.
Sources
Checked 3 November 2026:
- National Careers Service (UK): Interview advice