How early should I start preparing for an interview?

Start as soon as the interview is confirmed. Two or three short sessions spread over a few days work better than one long session the night before: research the company first, then match your experience to the job description, then rehearse your stories and questions. Keep the evening before for light revision and packing.

How many copies of my resume should I carry?

For an in-person interview, carry three or four clean printed copies in a folder. You may meet more than one person, and a panel member may not have your resume in front of them. For video interviews, keep one printed copy or an open file beside you so you can check dates and numbers quickly.

How many questions should I ask the interviewer?

Prepare six to eight, then ask two or three at the end. Some will be answered during the conversation, so a longer list means you still have good ones left. Choose questions that fit the round: day-to-day work for HR, tools and challenges for technical rounds, and goals and expectations for managers.

Are my ticks saved if I close the page?

Yes, on this device and browser. Ticks are stored in your browser’s local storage, separately for each company and role, so you can prepare for several interviews at once. Nothing is sent to a server. In a private window, or if storage is blocked, ticks last only until you close the tab.

Interview Preparation Checklist – Free Printable PDF

Free Interview Prep Checklist

Enter the company, role, date and interview format to get a personal checklist: research, stories, questions to ask, what to carry and what to do after. The checklist changes with the interview format: in-person interviews get printed resumes, ID and certificates, while video calls get camera, microphone and backup-connection checks.

A simple plan for the days before an interview

Good preparation is mostly about removing surprises. Split it into three short sessions rather than one late night:

Research: what the company sells, who its customers are, and one recent development you can mention naturally.
Match: take the top requirements from the job description and write one line of proof for each from your own work, studies or projects.
Rehearse: say your introduction and four or five stories out loud, then pick the questions you will ask at the end.

Practise answering real questions with the interview practice tool, turn your examples into structured answers with the STAR answer builder, and borrow ideas for your opening from our “tell me about yourself” examples.

What changes with each round

HR or screening: expect questions on your background, notice period, salary expectations and why you are looking. Keep answers short and consistent with your resume.
Technical: expect problems, case questions or a walk-through of past work. Think aloud, state your assumptions and say when you would check something rather than guess.
Managerial: expect questions on how you plan, prioritise, handle conflict and take feedback. Stories with a clear result matter most here.
Final or leadership: expect questions about motivation, long-term fit and how you would approach your first few months.

Bring a resume that matches what you say

Interviewers often read your resume line by line while you talk, so every date, number and skill on it should be something you can explain. If yours needs a refresh before the interview, update it in the free resume builder and print fresh copies. After the interview, send a short note with the follow-up email generator.

Worked example

A video-call managerial round for an operations role

What goes in

Company: a logistics firm, role: Operations Manager Format: video call, round: managerial Date: in three days

What you get

Because the round is on video, the checklist swaps printed copies and ID for camera, microphone and backup-connection checks, plus a quiet room for the slot. The questions to ask are pitched at a manager, such as how performance is measured in the first six months and what the first 90 days should deliver. Research items cover the firm’s routes and customers. Ticks are saved for this company and role only, so a second application elsewhere starts clean, and the PDF printout shows empty boxes for anything still unfinished.

Common mistakes

Using the same list for an in-person and a video interview, then discovering on the day that the camera, audio or connection was never tested.

Asking the interviewer about salary and leave in a technical or managerial round, when those questions usually belong in the HR or final round.

Leaving document checks for the last evening, when a missing certificate or relieving letter can no longer be found or reissued in time.

When to use it: Use the prep checklist once an interview date is fixed and you want a dated plan; the readiness check is better for finding which skills need work.