The complete checklist — phase by phase
Read the full job description 3 times. Highlight keywords and required competencies.
Research the company: mission, product, recent news, business model, competitors.
Find recent interviews or talks by the CEO/founder — what's the strategic focus?
Research your interviewers on LinkedIn if you know their names.
Join relevant communities (LinkedIn, Reddit, Glassdoor) to find recent interview reports.
Map the company's interview process — number of rounds, format, known frameworks.
Write out 8–10 behavioral stories using the STAR framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
For each story, tag which competencies it covers (leadership, conflict, failure, innovation, etc.).
Prepare your 'Tell me about yourself' answer — 90-second career arc with forward hook.
Prepare 3 'Why this company?' points that are specific and research-backed.
Prepare 3 'Why this role?' points connected to your career trajectory.
Prepare your salary expectation range using real market data.
Run at least 2 mock behavioral interview sessions out loud — not just in your head.
For technical roles: complete 10–15 relevant practice problems or case studies.
Record yourself answering the top 5 questions for your role. Watch it back.
Time your STAR answers — they should be 90–120 seconds each, no longer.
Prepare 5 intelligent questions to ask interviewers (not HR questions — strategic ones).
Get feedback on a practice session from Zari's mock interview coach.
Confirm the interview time and time zone with the recruiter.
Test your video/audio setup if it's a remote interview.
Print or have your resume open on a separate screen.
Prepare a notepad for taking notes during the interview.
Skim your top 5 behavioral stories one last time.
Read recent company news or product updates — something to reference.
Log in or arrive 5 minutes early, not 30.
Have your resume and key notes visible (for virtual: on a second screen, not printout).
Drink water before — you'll need it during long loops.
Listen fully before answering. A 2-second pause is fine. Rushing looks nervous.
Ask your prepared questions. Interviewers remember candidates who ask smart questions.
Note any names and details mentioned — useful for follow-up.
Send a personalised thank-you email to each interviewer within 24 hours.
Reference a specific conversation topic from the interview — not a generic template.
If you felt a question went poorly, a brief follow-up via email can address it.
Reflect on what went well and what you'd improve. Document it.
Follow up with the recruiter if you haven't heard within the stated timeline.
The 5 most underrated interview prep tasks
Nobody knows how they sound until they hear themselves. Filler words, rushed delivery, and vague answers are invisible until recorded. Watch 2 recordings and your self-awareness jumps immediately.
Check each interviewer's LinkedIn. What did they work on before? What articles have they written? A question like 'I noticed you worked on the payments rewrite in 2022 — what was the most surprising challenge?' signals preparation that generic candidates don't do.
Not 'what does success look like in this role?' That's an HR question. Instead: 'What's the biggest open problem the team is trying to solve right now that I'd be working on?' Specific, substantive, shows genuine interest.
Salary questions come early, sometimes in the first screening call. Know your number, range, and the market data backing it before you pick up the phone. Being unprepared here costs you thousands.
Writing your stories is step 1. Speaking them fluently is step 2. The gap is larger than you expect. Run at least 3 spoken practice sessions — with a partner, Zari, or into a recording.