You can do meaningful interview prep in 30 minutes. The rest is diminishing returns. Below is the exact routine — works for any industry, any level, any format (in-person, phone, video).
The 30-minute routine
- 0–5 min: Re-read the job description. Highlight the 5 most-repeated nouns. These are what they will probe.
- 5–15 min: Write one STAR story for each of those 5 nouns.
- 15–22 min: Read the company's last two LinkedIn posts, their About page, and (if listed) their last annual report's opening letter. Note one fact you can mention.
- 22–27 min: Write 3 questions you will ask at the end — at least one about the team, one about the role's success measures, one about the company.
- 27–30 min: Re-read your own CV. Have one numeric proof ready for each role on it.
The STAR structure (one minute per story)
- Situation: 1 sentence of context.
- Task: 1 sentence on what was your job in it.
- Action: 2 sentences on what you specifically did.
- Result: 1 sentence on the outcome — ideally with a number.
Total: under 90 seconds spoken. Anything longer and they switch off.
Stories that work across every industry
- A time you handled a difficult colleague, customer, or patient.
- A time you spotted a problem nobody else had noticed.
- A time you missed something — and what you did about it.
- A time you led when you weren't the most senior person in the room.
- A time you delivered under a tight deadline or short staffing.
Have one for each. Practice out loud — silent rehearsal does not catch the bits where you ramble.
The three questions to ask at the end
- "What does success look like for someone in this role in the first six months?" — surfaces whether the manager has a clear plan, and signals you think about outcomes.
- "Who would I work most closely with day to day, and what is the dynamic of the team?" — gets you real team info instead of generic culture talk.
- "What is the biggest change the team is dealing with right now?" — turns up risks, restructures, or growth plans they would not otherwise volunteer.
The salary-question landmine
If they ask "what are your expectations?" in the interview itself, give a band — and pin the top of the band to your researched market rate plus 5–10%. Do not give a single number; do not volunteer your current salary. If they push, redirect: "I'm happy to discuss specifics once we know it's a fit on both sides."
Format-specific tips
- Phone: stand up. You sound more confident standing. Keep notes in front of you — they cannot see them.
- Video: camera at eye level. Look at the camera, not at the face on screen. Test audio in the room you will use, not a different one.
- In-person: arrive 10 minutes early, not 30. 30 makes you tense. Bring 2 printed CV copies and a notepad.
- Panel: answer the question to the person who asked it, then make brief eye contact with the others.
The one thing not to do
Do not memorise scripted answers word for word. You will sound rehearsed and you will get derailed by the slightest variation in question wording. Memorise structure, not phrasing. Practice the shape, improvise the words.