How to succeed in a job interview: preparation, questions and method

Prepare for your job interview with a simple method: research the company, the questions that always come up, the STAR method and what to ask the recruiter.

Most interviews turn on the same handful of moments: the two minutes where you introduce yourself, the request for a concrete example, and the point where the recruiter asks if you have questions. Each of those can be prepared — not memorised word for word, but structured in advance so you are choosing what to say rather than searching for it.

This article walks through that preparation: what to research, the six questions that come up in almost every interview, the STAR method for your examples, and what to do in the 24 hours after you leave the room.

Research the company and the role

Before the interview, take thirty minutes to understand the context. A recruiter spots a candidate who has not read the posting immediately.

Focus on a few concrete things:

1. What the company does and who it serves.
2. The main responsibilities of the role and the skills expected.
3. Recent news: funding round, new product, expansion.
4. The company's tone on its site and on LinkedIn.

That background lets you tie your answers to what the company actually needs, instead of staying general.

The questions that always come up

Most interviews revolve around a core set of classic questions. Preparing them saves you from improvising under pressure.

For each one, prepare a short answer and a concrete example. An example always beats a general claim.

Structuring answers with the STAR method

When you are asked for a concrete example, the STAR method keeps you clear without getting lost in detail.

• Situation: the context, in one sentence.
• Task: what you had to achieve.
• Action: what you actually did.
• Result: the impact, with a number where you have one.

This structure works for almost every behavioural question: handling conflict, taking initiative, working in a team or making a hard call.

Talking about your background without reciting your resume

The recruiter already has your resume in front of them. What they want in the interview is the thread: why these choices, what you took from them, and where you want to go.

Prepare a two-minute introduction that connects your experiences rather than listing them. Highlight two or three achievements that match the role, and leave the secondary details out. It is worth checking that your resume tells the same story — the interview should confirm the document, not contradict it.

For "Tell me about yourself", a three-part skeleton is enough. Fill it in once, out loud, and you will never open an interview improvising:

The questions to ask the recruiter

An interview is a conversation, not an interrogation. Asking good questions shows your interest and helps you judge whether the role really suits you.

You might ask:

1. What does a typical week look like in this role?
2. What are the team's main challenges right now?
3. How do you measure success in this position?
4. What are the next steps in the process?

Avoid opening with holidays or remote working. Those are legitimate subjects, but keep them for the end, once mutual interest is confirmed.

Money follows the same logic. Salary often comes up before you expect it — sometimes in the first call — so decide your range before the interview rather than in it. How to answer the question without closing the door too early is covered in our guide to negotiating salary in an interview.

Handling nerves on the day

A little stress is normal, and even useful. What helps is removing the unknowns around the interview.

The day before, check the address or the video link, test your equipment and get something ready to take notes with. Arrive a few minutes early and breathe calmly before you start.

If a question catches you off guard, take a moment to think before answering. A short silence beats a muddled answer.

Video and second-round interviews

For a video interview, the setup is part of the answer. Put the camera at eye level, test your sound, and look at the lens — not the screen — when you speak. Test the meeting link the day before, so a login problem never eats your first five minutes.

A second round changes the questions, not the method. Expect deeper technical detail, and often a conversation with future teammates rather than the recruiter alone.

Above all, stay consistent between rounds: interviewers compare notes, and a story that shifts from one conversation to the next costs more than a weak answer.

After the interview: following up

The interview does not end when you leave the room. A short thank-you message, sent within 24 hours, leaves a good impression and restates your interest.

Write down the questions you were asked, how it felt and the next steps you were told about, while it is all fresh. Those notes are invaluable for preparing a second interview or comparing several opportunities.

Using HiredFolio to prepare your interviews

HiredFolio helps you keep every application organised: the role, the version of the resume you sent, the interview dates and your next actions. With everything in one application tracker you arrive prepared for every conversation, without digging through your inbox.

You can follow the progress of each process and know exactly when to follow up or send your thank-you message.

Try HiredFolio for free