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Job interview preparation: the complete guide
How to research the company, understand what it sells, answer behavioural questions with the STAR method, prepare for common interview questions and finish strongly with your own questions.
Company research
Find out what the company does, how it is doing and what it values, so your answers fit.
Interviewers can tell within minutes whether you have done your homework. Good research lets you explain why you want this job at this company, and it gives you material to tailor every answer.
Start with the company’s own website: the About page, recent press releases and, for public companies, the annual report or investor presentation. Note what the company sells, who its customers are, how it makes money and what it says its priorities are for the year ahead.
Then look outside. Read recent news coverage, check the company and its leaders on LinkedIn, and look at employee reviews for a feel of the culture. Note any big changes such as new products, acquisitions, restructuring or leadership moves, because interviewers often ask what you think about them.
Finally, find the company’s stated values or mission and think of one example from your own experience that shows each of the two or three most relevant values. Insightly can pull much of this together for you in one place.
Key points
- Know what the company sells, to whom, and how it makes money
- Read the latest news, results and leadership updates
- Learn the company’s values and prepare an example for each key one
- Be ready to answer “Why do you want to work here?” specifically
Understanding product offerings
Learn the products or services well enough to talk about them, and about how your role supports them.
Whatever the role, the company exists to sell something. Showing that you understand its products or services, and how your work would contribute to them, sets you apart from candidates who only talk about themselves.
Try the product yourself if you can: sign up for a free trial, download the app, visit a store or read the product documentation. Note what works well, what could be better and who the product is for.
Look at the main competitors and how the company positions itself against them, for example on price, quality, service or innovation. A short, informed view on where the product fits in its market is impressive in any interview.
Then connect it to the job. A developer might talk about the technology behind a feature; a salesperson about the customers it suits; an analyst about the data it generates. Prepare one or two thoughtful questions about the product roadmap to ask at the end.
Key points
- Use the product or service yourself where possible
- Know the main competitors and how the company differs
- Link the products to what you would do in the role
- Prepare a thoughtful question about the product’s future
The STAR technique
Structure answers to “Tell me about a time…” questions as Situation, Task, Action and Result.
Behavioural questions such as “Tell me about a time you handled a difficult stakeholder” are designed to find out how you actually behave at work. The STAR technique gives your answer a clear, memorable structure.
Situation: set the scene briefly, in one or two sentences. Where were you, and what was going on? Task: explain what you were responsible for or what needed to be achieved.
Action: this is the heart of the answer, so spend most of your time here. Describe the specific steps you took, and say “I” rather than “we” so the interviewer understands your contribution. Result: finish with the outcome, measured where possible (time saved, revenue, customer satisfaction, errors reduced) and what you learned.
Prepare six to eight STAR stories from your recent experience that cover common themes: leadership, teamwork, conflict, failure, problem-solving, influencing and delivering under pressure. Most questions can be answered by adapting one of them. Aim for about two minutes per answer.
Key points
- Situation and Task: short context, one or two sentences each
- Action: most of your answer, focused on what you did
- Result: a measurable outcome and what you learned
- Prepare six to eight flexible stories in advance
Common questions
Prepare strong answers to the questions that come up in almost every interview.
“Tell me about yourself” usually comes first. Give a two-minute summary: who you are professionally, two or three achievements relevant to this role, and why you are interested in this opportunity now. It is a pitch, not your life story.
“Why do you want this job?” and “Why this company?” test your research and motivation. Combine what attracts you to the role with what you know about the company, and show how your skills match what they need.
“What is your greatest weakness?” is best answered with a real but manageable weakness, followed by what you are actively doing to improve it. Avoid clichés such as “I work too hard”. For “Where do you see yourself in five years?”, show ambition that fits realistically with the path this role offers.
Expect competency questions based on the job description, and technical questions for specialist roles. Go through the job advert line by line and prepare evidence for each requirement. Practise your answers out loud, ideally with a friend or by recording yourself.
Key points
- Have a polished two-minute answer to “Tell me about yourself”
- Link “Why this job?” to your research and your skills
- Choose a genuine weakness and show how you are improving
- Prepare evidence for every requirement in the job advert
Questions to ask the interviewer
Ask thoughtful questions that show interest and help you decide whether the job is right for you.
Almost every interview ends with “Do you have any questions for us?”. Saying no can suggest a lack of interest, so prepare four or five questions and ask the two or three that have not already been answered.
Good questions focus on the role and the team: “What would success look like in the first six months?”, “What are the biggest challenges facing the team right now?” or “How do you see this role developing?”.
You can also ask about culture and the interviewer’s own experience: “What do you enjoy most about working here?” or “How does the team share knowledge and give feedback?”. These often lead to the most genuine conversations.
Leave questions about salary, holidays and benefits until you have an offer, unless the interviewer raises them. Finish by asking about the next steps and the timeline, so you know when to expect to hear back.
Key points
- Prepare four or five questions and ask two or three
- Ask what success looks like in the first six months
- Ask about the team, challenges and culture
- End by asking about next steps and timing
Final tips
Practical preparation for the day itself, and what to do afterwards.
The day before, confirm the time, the format and who you will meet. For video interviews, test your camera, microphone and internet connection, choose a quiet spot with a plain background, and close other applications. For in-person interviews, plan your route and aim to arrive ten minutes early.
Have a copy of your resume, the job description and your notes to hand. Dress one step smarter than the company’s everyday dress code. During the interview, listen carefully, take a moment to think before answering, and ask for a question to be repeated if you need to.
Body language matters: sit up, make eye contact (look at the camera on video calls), and smile. Be positive about previous employers, even when explaining why you are leaving.
Afterwards, send a short thank-you email within 24 hours, mentioning something specific you discussed. Note the questions you were asked and how you answered, so that every interview makes you better prepared for the next one. Connections can draft the thank-you message for you.
Key points
- Test your technology or plan your journey the day before
- Bring your resume, the job description and your notes
- Pause before answering, and stay positive
- Send a thank-you email within 24 hours