How should I prepare for a behavioral interview?

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for all behavioral questions. Prepare 5-6 stories covering leadership, conflict, failure, and achievement.

How do I research a company before an interview?

Study their website, recent news, Glassdoor reviews, LinkedIn page, and the job description carefully. Know their mission, products, and competitors.

What questions should I ask in an interview?

Ask about team culture, growth opportunities, success metrics for the role, and next steps. Avoid salary questions in early rounds.

How early should I arrive for an interview?

Arrive 10-15 minutes early for in-person. For video, test your setup 30 minutes before.

What should I bring to a job interview?

Bring copies of your resume, a notepad, a list of references, and any portfolio materials.

Job Interview Planner

Generate a personalized interview preparation guide in seconds. Enter the job title, company, interview type, and date — get a tailored checklist, likely questions, research tasks, and smart questions to ask the interviewer. Free and runs entirely in your browser.

Job Title

Company Name

Interview Type

Your Experience Level

Interview Date (optional)

How to Use the Job Interview Planner

Enter the job title and company name, then select your interview type and experience level. If you have a specific interview date, add it and the planner will generate a time-sensitive checklist showing what to do days before, the night before, and the morning of your interview. The tool dynamically adjusts its recommendations based on your inputs — a technical interview for a senior engineer will produce very different questions and prep tasks than a phone screen for an entry-level marketing role.

Once your plan is generated, use the Copy as Text button to paste the full guide into a notes app or document, or click Print to get a clean printout you can work through as a physical checklist. Every section is tailored to your specific interview scenario, so you are never reading generic advice that does not apply to your situation.

Interview Preparation by Type

Different interview formats require different preparation strategies. A behavioral interview focuses on past experiences and how you handled specific situations, so your preparation should center on developing STAR-format stories (Situation, Task, Action, Result) that demonstrate your competencies. Aim for 6-8 strong stories covering themes like leadership, conflict resolution, failure and recovery, collaboration, and achieving results under pressure.

A technical interview tests your domain knowledge, problem-solving ability, and practical skills. Preparation should include reviewing fundamentals, practicing coding problems or case studies relevant to the role, and being ready to talk through your reasoning out loud. Panel interviews require a slightly different social dynamic — you need to make eye contact with all interviewers, not just the person who asked the question, and address your answers to the group. Phone screens are typically shorter and focus on culture fit and basic qualification — prepare a crisp elevator pitch and three to four key achievements ready to reference.

Company Research That Actually Impresses Interviewers

Researching the company goes far beyond reading the About Us page. Effective research means understanding the company's current strategic priorities, recent news and announcements, competitive landscape, and the specific challenges the team you are joining is trying to solve. Review the company's LinkedIn page for recent posts and employee count trends. Check Glassdoor for culture signals and common interview questions previous candidates reported. Read recent press coverage, earnings calls, or product announcements to understand the business context your role would operate in.

The most impressive candidates connect their skills and experience directly to the company's current needs. If the company just announced a major product expansion, show how your background positions you to contribute to that growth. If they are facing a competitive challenge, demonstrate that you understand the landscape and have relevant ideas. This level of preparation signals genuine interest and business acumen that immediately sets you apart from candidates who only reviewed the job description.

Smart Questions to Ask Your Interviewer

The questions you ask at the end of an interview are as important as the answers you give throughout. Thoughtful questions demonstrate curiosity, strategic thinking, and genuine interest in the role. Ask about the team's biggest challenge in the next six months, how success is measured in the first 90 days, what the best performers in this role have in common, and what the interviewer finds most rewarding about working at the company. Avoid asking about salary, vacation, or benefits in early rounds — save those for after an offer is made. The goal of your questions is to deepen the conversation and leave the interviewer feeling that you are genuinely engaged, not just completing a formality.