Interview Prep Guide
A step-by-step approach to walking into any interview fully prepared, from research to follow-up.
Research before anything else
- Read the company's website, recent news, and LinkedIn page
- Understand their product, business model, and main competitors
- Research your interviewers on LinkedIn. Look for shared context.
- Re-read the job description and map your experience to each requirement
Know the round structure
Most companies follow a predictable pattern: screening call, technical or skills round, behavioural round, and a final panel. Know what each round tests before you walk in. For companies like Google, Amazon, or Stripe, the round structure and topic weighting are well-documented. Use that information to focus your prep.
The STAR method for behavioural questions
Behavioural questions ("Tell me about a time you...") are best answered using the STAR structure:
- Situation: Set the context briefly
- Task: What was your responsibility
- Action: What you specifically did. Focus here.
- Result: What happened, ideally with a metric
Prepare 5 to 7 strong STAR stories from your experience that can flex across different question types.
Questions to ask the interviewer
- "What does success look like in this role in the first 90 days?"
- "What are the biggest challenges the team is facing right now?"
- "How does the team typically make decisions on [relevant area]?"
- "What do you enjoy most about working here?"
Practice out loud
Reading answers in your head is not the same as saying them out loud. The words that sound clear in your mind often come out jumbled when you speak. Practice with a friend, record yourself, or use ApplyDeskAI's mock interview simulator to get scored feedback on your actual answers.
Follow up after
Send a thank-you within 24 hours. If you have not heard back in 5 to 7 days, send a polite check-in. See our full guide on how to follow up after an interview with templates.