Sign inAbout the interview prep checklist
Interview prep usually goes wrong in small ways: a time zone mix-up, a job post that vanished before you saved it, a story you meant to practice and never did. This free interview checklist breaks the process into stages, from the day the interview is booked to the follow-up afterward, so nothing depends on memory the night before.
Tick items off as you finish them. Your progress is saved in your browser, so you can close the page and come back, and nothing is uploaded. The guide below explains which steps matter most, how to adjust the list for phone, video, and in-person rounds, and how much prep each interview stage really needs.
How to use it
- 1
Start the list as soon as the interview is booked
Open the checklist the day you get the invite. The first group covers logistics you should confirm right away, while the details are fresh and easy to ask about.
- 2
Work through one group at a time
Each group matches a stage: booked, the week before, the day before, the day of, and after. Finish the current group before moving on, and skip items that do not apply to your format.
- 3
Tick items off as you finish them
Checked items are saved in this browser, so you can return between sessions. Use the same device and browser to keep your progress, and reset the list before your next interview.
- 4
Finish the after-interview steps the same day
Write your notes and send thank-you emails while the conversation is fresh. Those steps take minutes and are much harder to do well two days later.
What matters most in the week before
If you only have time for a few steps, put it into stories, not company trivia. Interviewers forget whether you knew the founding year. They remember whether you gave a clear, specific answer about a problem like theirs.
Start with the job post. Pick the four or five requirements it repeats or lists first, and match each one to a real example from your work. Write each example in three or four lines using the STAR structure: the situation, your task, the action you took, and the result. Six to eight stories usually cover most behavioral questions, because one good story can answer several prompts.
Then practice out loud. Answers that sound fine in your head often run long or lose the point when spoken. Say your "tell me about yourself" answer and your two strongest stories to a friend, a recording, or a practice tool until each one lands in about two minutes.
How to adjust for phone, video, and in-person interviews
The core prep is the same for every format. What changes is the setup, and each format has its own way of going wrong.
- Phone: the interviewer cannot see you, so your voice carries everything. Stand or sit upright, keep notes in front of you, and use a quiet room with good signal. Have the interviewer's number ready in case the call drops.
- Video: test the exact platform, camera, and microphone the day before, not five minutes before. Put the camera at eye level, light your face from the front, close other apps, and log in five minutes early.
- One-way video: you record answers with no one on the other end. Check how many retakes are allowed and how long you get per answer, then practice with a timer.
- In person: plan the route, parking, and building entry the day before. Aim to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early, and bring printed copies of your resume plus a short list of your questions.
- Panel: learn each person's role ahead of time and expect each one to care about something different. Make eye contact with the whole panel, not just the person who asked.
How much prep each interview stage needs
Not every round deserves the same effort. Use the stage to decide where to spend your time, and scale up as you move through the process.
- Recruiter screen (15 to 30 minutes): confirm the role basics, have a two-minute background answer ready, and decide your salary range before the call. About an hour of prep is usually enough.
- Hiring manager interview: this is where stories matter most. Prepare examples for the top requirements and two or three questions about the team's priorities and how success is measured.
- Technical, case, or skills round: ask the recruiter what format to expect, then practice that exact format. Reading about it is not enough.
- Panel or final round: review your notes from every earlier round so you do not repeat the same story to the same people, and prepare one question for each interviewer.
- Every stage: close by asking what the next step is and when you should expect to hear back. Write the answer down.
What to do in the first hour after the interview
The hour after an interview is the most useful part of your prep for the next round, and most people skip it. Before you check your phone, write down each question you were asked, how you answered, and anything you wish you had said differently. Note each interviewer's name and one detail from your conversation with them.
Use that detail in a short thank-you email to each person, sent the same day or within 24 hours. Then log the interview, the names, and the expected reply date in your tracker. If that date passes with no word, send one polite follow-up asking about the timeline. Your notes also become the starting point if you are invited back.
Examples
Today: confirm the call time and time zone, save a copy of the job post, and note the recruiter's name. Tomorrow: write a two-minute background answer, pick a salary range based on research, and list three questions about the team, the hiring timeline, and next steps. Call day: quiet room, phone charged, resume and job post open, water nearby. After: send a short thank-you email and log the next-step date in your tracker.
Week before: research each of the four panelists on LinkedIn, review notes from both earlier rounds, and build six STAR stories mapped to the top requirements in the job post. Practice them aloud twice. Day before: test the video platform, camera height, lighting, and microphone, and prepare one question per panelist. Day of: log in five minutes early with notes off camera. After: send four separate thank-you emails, each with one detail from that conversation.
Tips for better results
- Save a copy of the job post as soon as you apply, because postings are often taken down before the interview.
- Prepare stories around the job's top requirements before you research company history.
- Practice every key answer out loud at least twice, since spoken answers run longer than written ones.
- Ask at the end of every round what the next step is and when you should expect to hear back.
- Write your post-interview notes before you check messages or talk to anyone about how it went.