1. Do your homework first
Read the company website, the job posting again, and any recent news about them. You're looking for two or three honest reasons you want this specific job, beyond needing a job.
Know the basics of what they do and who their customers are. You don't need to be an expert, you need to not sound like you found them this morning.
2. Have a few stories ready
Most interview questions are versions of 'tell me about a time when.' Prepare three or four real stories, a project you led, a problem you fixed, a conflict you handled, and you can adapt them to almost anything they ask.
Tip
Use a simple shape for each one: the situation, what you did, and what happened. End on a result, with a number if you have one.
3. Handle the predictable questions
'Tell me about yourself' isn't your biography. It's a 60-second pitch: what you do, a highlight or two, and why you're sitting there. The weakness question wants honesty plus what you're doing about it, not a humble-brag.
Weak
My biggest weakness is that I'm a perfectionist.
Better
I used to take on too much myself instead of delegating. I've been handing work off earlier and writing clearer briefs, and things move faster now.
4. Ask questions, then follow up
Have two or three real questions ready for the end. 'No questions' reads as no interest. Ask about the team, what success looks like in the role, or what they're working on next.
Watch out
Skipping the thank-you won't lose you a job you'd already won, but a short, specific note within a day can tip a close decision your way.
Frequently asked questions
What should I ask at the end of an interview?
Ask about the team, what doing well in the role looks like in the first few months, or what they're focused on next. Avoid questions you could have answered from their website.
How soon should I follow up after an interview?
Within a day. A short note that mentions something specific from the conversation is enough.