How to Prep for Interview Questions

This preparation helps you give relevant, confident answers without memorising a script. Before you begin, have the job description, your résumé or application, and a place to take notes. Allow about 90 minutes for a first preparation session; you can revisit your notes for a shorter practice later.

What You’ll Need

The job description and any information you have about the employer or team.
Your résumé, application, or a clear record of your relevant experience.
A notebook or document for examples, likely questions, and questions to ask.
A timer and, if useful, a phone or computer to practise speaking aloud.
Details of the interview format, time, location, or video-call link, if provided.

Step-by-Step

Read the job description closely. Mark the main responsibilities, required skills, and repeated themes. Separate essential requirements from tasks that appear less central. Note anything the interviewer is likely to explore, such as teamwork, customer service, analysis, communication, or working to deadlines. If the description is brief, use the employer’s official website or the information in the invitation to understand the role; do not assume details that are not stated.
Choose evidence from your experience. For each important requirement, write down one or two examples from work, study, volunteering, or another relevant setting. Use examples that you can explain truthfully and clearly. Include what the situation was, what you were responsible for, what actions you took, and what happened. If you have limited work experience, examples from a class project or team activity can still show useful skills.
Build answers with a simple structure. For questions about a past situation, try Situation, Task, Action, Result: briefly set the scene, explain your responsibility, describe what you did, and finish with the outcome or lesson. Spend most of the answer on your own actions. Keep the context short, and do not claim results or responsibilities that belonged to someone else.
Prepare for common question types. Draft talking points—not full scripts—for “Tell me about yourself,” “Why are you interested in this role?”, strengths, a challenge you handled, and a time you worked with others. For a weakness question, choose a real, work-relevant area you are actively improving and explain the steps you take. For a gap or change in your experience, prepare a brief, factual explanation that brings the focus back to your qualifications and interest in the role.
Practise aloud and refine. Say your answers out loud, using a timer if helpful. Aim for a clear answer that gives enough context and evidence without wandering. A practice partner can ask follow-up questions, or you can record yourself and check whether your main point is easy to understand. Replace jargon with plain language, and adjust answers that sound memorised. Practise different wording so you can respond naturally rather than recite.
Prepare questions for the interviewer. Write three or four genuine questions about the role’s priorities, how the team works, or what a typical early task involves. Choose the ones that have not already been answered during the interview. Avoid questions whose answers are plainly stated in the job description or information you were given. It is fine to ask for clarification if a question or part of the role is unclear.
Check the practical details. Confirm the time, location or meeting link, contact instructions, and any requested materials. For an in-person meeting, plan your route and allow a reasonable buffer. For a video interview, test your camera, microphone, connection, and meeting link beforehand; choose a quiet place and keep your notes nearby. On the day, review your brief notes, arrive or join on time, and take a breath before answering.

Common Mistakes

Memorising complete answers: A rehearsed script can sound stiff and may not fit the question asked. Memorise the main points and examples instead.
Giving vague claims: Saying “I’m a good problem-solver” is less persuasive than describing a relevant problem, your actions, and what followed.
Talking too long: Too much background can hide the answer. Lead with the point, then add only the details needed to explain it.
Taking all the credit—or none: Be precise about your own contribution while recognising other people’s work where relevant.
Criticising a former employer or colleague: Keep explanations professional and focused on what you learned or what you are seeking next.
Preparing only for predictable questions: Interviewers may ask follow-ups or phrase questions differently. Understand your examples well enough to adapt them.

Tips

Match each example to the skill it demonstrates, and keep a few flexible examples that can answer more than one type of question.
Use “I” to explain your actions, while making clear when an outcome was shared by a team.
If a question is unclear, ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify it rather than guessing.
Pause briefly to organise your thoughts. A short pause is better than rushing into an unrelated answer.
Be honest if you do not know something. Explain how you would approach finding the answer or learning the skill, where appropriate.
Keep a one-page note sheet with the role’s key requirements, your examples, and your questions. Use it as a prompt, not a script.

Troubleshooting

If you cannot think of an example

Look beyond job titles. A relevant example may come from coursework, a group task, volunteering, or a responsibility outside work. Focus on the skill the question is testing, and be clear about the setting. If you truly have not faced that situation, say so briefly, then explain how you would handle it without pretending to have experience.

If you lose your train of thought

Pause, take a breath, and return to the question. You can say, “The main point is…” and give your conclusion first. If you realise you have gone off track, acknowledge it briefly and answer the question directly. There is no need to restart the entire interview answer.

If a question catches you off guard

Ask for a moment to think, or request clarification. Identify what the question is asking—an example, your approach, or your motivation—then answer that part first. A thoughtful, relevant response is more useful than trying to guess a perfect answer.

If a video or travel problem occurs

For a technical issue, use the contact method in the invitation to let the interviewer know, then try the supplied link again or follow their instructions. For a delay in travel, contact them as soon as you reasonably can and give a concise, factual update. Avoid sending repeated messages if you have already received instructions.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should interview answers be?

Give enough detail to answer the question and support your point with evidence, but avoid lengthy background. For an example-based question, cover the situation, your action, and the outcome; let the interviewer ask for more detail.

Should I memorise my interview answers?

No. Prepare key points and examples rather than word-for-word scripts. This makes it easier to respond naturally when a question is phrased differently.

What if I have no experience for the role?

Use relevant examples from study, volunteering, personal projects, or other responsibilities. Explain the skills you used and be honest about what you have not done yet.

What should I ask at the end of an interview?

Ask about the role’s priorities, team collaboration, or what success in the position would involve. Choose questions that are useful to you and have not already been answered.

What should I do the night before?

Review your notes and logistics, prepare any requested materials, and confirm your route or call details. Avoid trying to memorise a large set of new answers at the last minute.

Sources: National Careers Service. Menus and buttons can differ slightly by version. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.