The difference between a successful interview and a missed one is rarely decided during the interview itself. It's decided in the days before. Here are five concrete steps to walk in ready.
1. Understand the company and the role in depth
Beyond the website: what's the business model, who are the competitors, what's the recent growth trajectory? For the role itself, pin down exactly what's expected at 90 days and at one year, a candidate who asks this question upfront already shows they think in outcomes, not just status.
2. Prepare your evidence, not your pitch
Prepare 3 to 4 concrete situations from your background, structured using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), with precise numbers whenever possible. "I increased conversion rate by 12%" is more convincing than "I'm results-oriented."
3. Anticipate the tricky questions
Some questions come up almost systematically and deserve dedicated prep: your biggest professional mistake and what you learned from it, your salary expectations, and increasingly, see our dedicated article, your actual use of AI in your work. On that last point, prepare one precise workflow or automation example, not a generic answer about ChatGPT.
4. Prepare your own questions
An interview goes both ways. Prepare 3 to 5 questions that show you've thought about the role long-term: what success will be judged on at 6 months, how the team operates day to day, what the role's biggest current challenges are. Avoid questions whose answer is already on the company's website.
5. The day itself: logistics and mindset
Check the video link or address the day before, allow a 15-minute buffer, and set up a quiet environment if the interview is remote. On substance, remember an interview is also a chance to assess the company: the question isn't just "will they choose me" but "does this role actually suit me."