Interview Preparation

The Preparation Advantage

In the previous lesson, we explored company and role research. Now let’s build on that foundation. Here’s what unprepared candidates do: They hope the right answers come to them in the moment.

Here’s what prepared candidates do: They’ve already thought through likely questions, structured their stories, and practiced delivery.

The difference is obvious. And it’s not about being fake—it’s about being ready to show your best self.

Interview Question Types

Most interviews include these categories:

Behavioral: “Tell me about a time when…” Situational: “What would you do if…” Technical: Role-specific knowledge or skills Motivational: “Why this role/company?” General: “Tell me about yourself,” strengths/weaknesses

Each type needs different preparation.

The STAR Framework

For behavioral questions, STAR keeps you structured:

Situation: Brief context (2-3 sentences) Task: What you needed to accomplish Action: What you specifically did Result: What happened, quantified if possible

Common mistakes:

Too much situation, not enough action
“We” when they asked about “you”
No clear result or impact
Going on for 5+ minutes

Aim for: 90 seconds to 2 minutes per story.

Building Your Story Bank

Don’t prepare for specific questions. Prepare stories that cover common themes.

Themes you need stories for:

Leadership/influence
Conflict resolution
Problem-solving under pressure
Failure and learning
Working with difficult people
Taking initiative
Making difficult decisions
Achieving results against odds

AI: "Help me build a story bank for interviews.

For each of these themes, I need a story from my experience.
Ask me questions to draw out stories I might not have thought of.

Themes:
1. Leadership
2. Conflict resolution
3. Problem-solving under pressure
4. Failure and learning
5. Working with difficult people

My background: [Brief overview of your experience]"

Refining Stories with AI

Once you have a story, shape it:

AI: "Help me improve this interview story using STAR format.

My rough story:
[Tell the story casually, all the details]

The question this would answer:
'Tell me about a time you had to deal with conflict.'

Please:
1. Tighten the situation to 2-3 sentences
2. Make my actions clear and specific
3. Quantify the result if possible
4. Keep it under 2 minutes when spoken
5. Point out anything that might raise follow-up questions"

Common Questions to Prepare

Don’t memorize scripts. But know your approach to these:

“Tell me about yourself” (2 minutes max)

Present: What you do now, briefly
Past: How you got here (relevant highlights)
Future: Why this role makes sense

“Why this company?”

Something specific from your research
How it connects to what you want

“Why this role?”

What excites you about the work
How it fits your trajectory

“What’s your greatest weakness?”

Real weakness that’s not critical to the role
What you’re doing about it
Never: “I work too hard” (eye roll)

Quick check: Before moving on, can you recall the key concept we just covered? Try to explain it in your own words before continuing.

“Where do you see yourself in 5 years?”

Growth direction, not specific title
Shows ambition + realism

AI Interview Practice

Simulate interviews with AI:

AI: "Let's do a mock interview.

Role I'm applying for: [Title]
Company: [Name]
Job description highlights: [Key requirements]

Ask me 5 interview questions—a mix of behavioral,
motivational, and role-specific. After each answer,
give me brief feedback on:
- What worked well
- What could be stronger
- Follow-up questions I might face"

Practice out loud. Type your answers if you must, but ideally speak them. What sounds good in your head often stumbles when spoken.

Preparing for Technical Questions

Technical interviews vary by field. But the approach is consistent:

Know the fundamentals:

AI: "What technical topics should I review
for a [Role Title] interview?

The job description mentions: [Technical requirements]

What concepts are they likely to test?
What should I be able to explain clearly?"

Practice explaining:

Can you explain complex concepts simply?
Can you walk through your problem-solving process?
Can you discuss trade-offs in your decisions?

For case interviews or problem-solving:

AI: "Give me a practice case question for
a [Role Type] interview. After I answer,
tell me what was strong and where I could
structure my thinking better."

Preparing for Curveballs

Weird questions happen. “If you were a kitchen appliance, what would you be?”

The point isn’t the answer. They want to see how you think on your feet.

Framework:

Pause (it’s okay)
State your interpretation
Give an answer with reasoning
Be memorable, not ridiculous

AI: "Give me 3 unusual interview questions
and help me practice thinking through them.
These are the weird ones designed to see how I think."

Day-Before Preparation

Logistics:

Confirm time, format, and attendees
Test technology if virtual
Plan outfit and route if in-person
Have copies of resume ready

Mental preparation:

Review your research one-pager
Read through your story bank
Practice your “tell me about yourself” once
Get good sleep

What to bring:

Resume copies (in-person)
Notepad and pen
Questions to ask (written down)
Water bottle

Exercise: Build Two Stories

Pick two themes from the list:

Leadership
Conflict resolution
Problem-solving under pressure
Failure and learning
Working with difficult people

For each theme:

Write out the story casually
Use AI to structure it in STAR format
Practice saying it out loud
Time yourself (aim for 90-120 seconds)

Key Takeaways

Preparation beats hope; know your stories before you’re asked
STAR framework: Situation, Task, Action, Result (90-120 seconds)
Build a story bank covering common themes, not specific questions
Practice out loud—thinking and speaking are different
Use AI for mock interviews and feedback
Prepare for technical, behavioral, motivational, and curveball questions

Next: Being authentic and effective during the interview itself.

Up next: In the next lesson, we’ll dive into During the Interview.