How to prepare for an interview, step by step
Read the job description line by line
Highlight every skill, tool and duty the job description mentions. Group them into must-haves and nice-to-haves. For each must-have, write one line on where you have done it. Gaps you cannot cover become things to address honestly, such as a course you are taking or a similar task you handled.
Research the company and the team
Read the company website, its products or services, recent news and the careers page. Find out who the customers are and how the company makes money. If you know the interviewer’s name, look at their professional profile. Note one or two specific things you can mention when asked why you want to join.
Prepare your introduction
Write a 60–90 second answer to “Tell me about yourself”: who you are now, the one or two results that matter most for this job, and why you are applying. Practise it until it sounds natural, not memorised. The same material feeds “Why should we hire you?” and your closing summary.
Build five to seven STAR stories
Pick real situations: a problem you solved, a deadline you met, a conflict you handled, a mistake you fixed, a time you led or learnt something fast. Write each as Situation, Task, Action, Result, with a number where possible. One good story can answer several behavioural questions.
Practise the questions for your job
Go through the common questions for your profession and round: technical or domain questions, behavioural questions and HR questions. Answer each out loud, then time yourself. Record one or two answers on your phone and listen back for filler words, rambling and a weak ending.
Revise the skills they will test
If the process includes an aptitude test, coding round, case study or practical, practise that format under a timer. Revise the basics of your subject, not just advanced topics, because interviewers often start with fundamentals and go deeper based on your answers.
Prepare the HR answers
Know your current CTC, in-hand pay, expected CTC with a reason, notice period and earliest joining date. Decide your walk-away number before the interview. Be ready to explain gaps, job changes or a relocation question in two or three calm sentences.
Write your own questions
Prepare three questions about the work itself: what success looks like in the first 90 days, how the team is structured, what the biggest challenge in the role is right now. Asking good questions shows real interest and helps you decide if the job suits you.
Sort out logistics and follow up
Confirm the time, format, address or video link and the name of the person you will meet. Keep printed copies of your resume and documents ready. After the interview, send a short thank-you email the same day or the next morning, and note what went well and what to improve.
Your interview timeline
One week before
- Study the job description and list the must-have skills
- Research the company, its products, customers and recent news
- Write your introduction and five to seven STAR stories
- Practise role-specific questions and take a timed practice test if there is one
- Update your resume so it matches what you will say
The day before
- Confirm the time, venue or video link and the interviewer’s name
- Plan your route and leave time for traffic, or test your camera, microphone and internet
- Keep copies of your resume, ID proof, certificates and photographs in a folder
- Iron your clothes and charge your phone and laptop
- Do one final run-through of your introduction, then stop and rest
On the day
- Arrive 15 minutes early, or log in 5–10 minutes early for a video call
- Greet everyone politely, including the receptionist or coordinator
- Listen to the full question, pause, then answer in a clear structure
- Take brief notes of names and key points
- Ask your prepared questions and confirm the next steps before you leave
After
- Send a short thank-you email within 24 hours
- Write down the questions you were asked and how you answered
- Follow up politely if you have not heard back by the date they gave
- Compare offers carefully on in-hand pay, growth and notice terms before you accept
Types of interviews you may face
Most hiring processes use two to four rounds. Knowing the format helps you prepare the right way.
- Phone screening – a short call from a recruiter to check your background, salary expectation and notice period. See the phone interview guide.
- Technical or functional round – questions, problems or a practical task on the skills of the job. See the technical interview guide.
- HR round – fit, motivation, salary, joining date and policies. See the HR round guide.
- Group discussion – common in campus hiring and for management trainee roles. See the group discussion guide.
- Video interview – live on a video call, or recorded answers to on-screen questions. See the video interview guide.
- Panel interview – three or more interviewers at once, common in government, banking, healthcare and senior roles. See the panel interview guide.
- Walk-in and campus drives – many candidates, several rounds in one day. See the walk-in guide and the campus placement guide.
For questions asked in your field, open the interview questions by profession. For timed practice, try the free interview tests.
What interviewers actually assess
Every question, however it is worded, checks one of four things.
- Can you do the job? Skills, knowledge and proof from past work. Specific examples with numbers beat general claims.
- Will you do the job well here? Motivation, interest in this company and this role, and whether the job fits your plans.
- Will you work well with the team? Communication, how you handle disagreement, pressure and feedback.
- Is the practical side workable? Salary, notice period, location, shifts and joining date.
When you prepare, sort your stories under these four heads. If you have one strong example for each, you can handle most questions. The most common openers have their own guides: Tell me about yourself, Why should we hire you? and strengths and weaknesses.
Body language and online etiquette
Small things shape the impression you leave, especially in the first few minutes.
- In person: a firm handshake or a polite namaste, sit upright, keep your hands relaxed on the table, and make eye contact with whoever is speaking. Keep your phone on silent and out of sight.
- On video: keep the camera at eye level, sit facing a window or a lamp, use earphones with a microphone, and look at the camera when you speak. Close other apps and turn off notifications.
- Dress: formal or smart business wear unless told otherwise. Clean, ironed and comfortable matters more than expensive.
- Speaking: slow down a little, pause before answering, and finish each answer with a clear last line instead of trailing off.
Documents to carry
For an in-person interview in India, keep these in a folder: three or four printed copies of your resume, a government photo ID (such as Aadhaar, PAN or passport), passport-size photographs, mark sheets and degree certificates, experience and relieving letters, your last three salary slips and an offer letter if you have one. Carry originals and a set of photocopies. For a quick refresh of your resume before the interview, use the resume checker or tailor your resume to the job.