Interview Guide: Prepare for Every Interview Stage
How to prepare for every interview stage: screening calls, behavioral and virtual interviews, interview day and salary negotiation, with links to each guide.
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Quick answer
Interview preparation works best in stages: research the company and role, prepare structured STAR stories for behavioral questions, set up properly for virtual interviews, handle the logistics of interview day, follow up afterwards, and negotiate the offer. This overview links to a Woberry guide for each stage.
Key takeaways
- Match your preparation to the stage: screening call, main interviews, then the offer.
- Behavioral questions are answered best with the STAR method and a set of prepared stories.
- For remote interviews, test your technology and lighting well before the call.
- Research the company and role so your answers and your own questions are specific.
- Wait for a written offer before negotiating salary.
Every interview process has the same broad shape: a screen, one or more deeper interviews, and an offer. This guide shows what to focus on at each stage and where to find the detail.
How Do You Prepare for a Job Interview?
Start with the full process: research the company and role, practise common questions, prepare stories, plan the logistics and decide what you want to ask. Our job interview preparation guide lays this out as a timeline, from two weeks before to the day before.
What Are the Main Interview Preparation Topics?
| Topic | What it covers | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Screening interviews | Phone screens, online assessments, short recruiter calls | Job screening interview guide |
| Behavioral interviews | The STAR method, common "Tell me about a time" questions, competencies to cover | Behavioral interview guide |
| Virtual interviews | Camera, audio, lighting, platform tips and backup plans | Virtual interview guide |
| Interview day | What to bring, what to wear, timeline, follow-up | Interview day checklist |
| Salary negotiation | Timing, counter-offers, scripts and the full package | Salary negotiation guide |
How Should You Answer Common Interview Questions?
Most interviews include a handful of familiar questions, and a short, structured answer beats an improvised one.
Tell me about yourself
This is your elevator pitch. Cover your present role, the relevant experience that got you here, and why you want this role.
Why do you want to work here?
Research the company properly, then mention specific projects, values or initiatives that line up with your own goals.
Describe a time you faced a challenge
Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) and be specific about what you did and what happened. The behavioral interview guide has a complete worked example.
How Do You Research a Company Before an Interview?
Read the company's website, product pages, recent news and press releases, and the job description. Look for the mission and values, how the company describes its culture, who its competitors are, and who will interview you. Then turn what you learn into specific answers to "Why do you want to work here?" and into questions of your own.
Interview formats differ between employers and industries. Some companies run several rounds, others only one or two, so ask the recruiter what to expect and prepare for that format.
What Happens After the Interview?
Send a personalised thank-you email within 24 hours, note what was asked, and follow up politely if you do not hear back within the timeframe you were given. If an offer comes, wait for it in writing before you negotiate salary, so you are discussing confirmed terms. Our interview day checklist includes a template, and the application follow-up guide covers timing. When an offer arrives, see the salary negotiation guide.
Written by the Woberry Editorial Team
We research each guide from primary sources where we can, name the source for every statistic we quote, and review, fact-check and edit every draft before it is published. We update a guide when the advice or the underlying data changes.
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