How to Prepare for an Interview Step by Step (15 Proven Tips by Gogotechy)

How to Prepare for an Interview: 15 Proven Steps

Step 1: Read the job description like a brief, not a formality

Most candidates glance at the job description once. That’s a mistake. Read it three times.

First read: understand the role. Second read: identify the skills and behaviours they’re actually asking for. Third read: map every bullet point to a specific story or example from your own experience.

The job description is a preview of every question you’re going to be asked. Treat it that way.

Step 2: Research the company beyond the “About Us” page

Surface-level research is easy to spot. Interviewers at top tech companies can tell within two minutes whether you’ve done your homework.

Go deeper:

• Read their latest earnings call or investor updates (for public companies)
• Follow their blog, recent product launches and press coverage
• Check their LinkedIn for recent hires, team structure and leadership moves
• Look for interviews or podcasts with the founders or hiring manager

The goal is to walk in with opinions, not just facts.

Step 3: Understand what the company actually cares about right now

Every company has a public mission — and then there’s what they’re actually focused on this quarter. These are not always the same thing.

Ask yourself: what problem is this team trying to solve right now? What would make this hire a success six months in? Understanding the company’s current priorities lets you position your experience in a way that feels immediately relevant.

Step 4: Know your own story inside out

This sounds obvious. It isn’t.

A lot of candidates can describe what they did. Very few can articulate why it mattered, what they learned and how it connects to the next role. Before any interview, write down your three or four most relevant career moments. For each one, be ready to explain the context, your specific contribution and the outcome — with numbers where possible.

At Gogotechy, we call this your “story bank.” Build it before you need it.

Step 5: Prepare for the most common interview questions

You can’t predict every question, but you can prepare for the most likely ones. These come up in almost every interview at top tech companies:

• Tell me about yourself — This is your 90-second pitch. Practice it until it flows naturally.
• Why this company? — Be specific. Generic answers kill interest fast.
• Why this role? — Connect your background to the exact responsibilities.
• What’s your greatest strength / weakness? — Have a real answer, not a rehearsed non-answer.
• Tell me about a time you failed — They want self-awareness, not perfection.
• Where do you see yourself in 5 years? — Show ambition and direction, not a rigid plan.

Write your answers out. Then say them out loud. The difference is significant. Don´t forget to prepare General Cognitive Ability questions (logical) and be ready for tough cultural fit questions too. If in need of preparation, contact us. 

Step 6: Learn the STAR method — and use it properly

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. It is the standard framework for answering behavioural interview questions and it works.

Most people know what STAR is. Most people don’t use it well. The most common mistake is spending too long on the Situation and not enough on the Action. Interviewers want to hear what you specifically did — not what the team did, not what happened around you.

A good STAR answer takes about 90 seconds. Any shorter and it lacks depth. Any longer and you’ve lost them.

Step 7: Research your interviewers on LinkedIn

Before the interview, look up everyone you’re meeting. Understand their background, their tenure at the company, and — if they post publicly — what topics they care about.

This isn’t about flattery. It’s about context. Knowing that your interviewer came from a startup background, or spent five years in a specific function, helps you calibrate how you speak and what you emphasize.

Step 8: Prepare questions that signal strategic thinking

The question “Do you have any questions for us?” is not a formality. It is part of the evaluation.

Weak questions: “What does a typical day look like?” Strong questions show you’ve thought about the role, the team and the challenges.

Try questions like:

• “What’s the biggest challenge this team is facing right now, and how would you expect this hire to help address it?”
• “What does success look like in this role after 90 days?”
• “What do the best performers in this team have in common?”

Prepare five questions. You’ll likely only use two or three, but you want options.

Step 9: Practice out loud — not in your head

Thinking through an answer and saying it out loud are completely different experiences. Most people only do the first one.

Practice with a friend, a coach, or even just record yourself on your phone. You will notice things — filler words, answers that go too long, moments where you lose confidence — that you’d never catch by just thinking.

At Gogotechy, mock interviews are a core part of our coaching. The candidates who do them consistently perform significantly better in real interviews.

Step 10: Prepare your CV talking points

You will be asked about your CV. Be ready to speak to every line on it — not just the impressive parts.

Pay particular attention to:

• Any gaps in employment
• Roles you left quickly
• Transitions that look unusual on paper

Have honest, confident explanations ready. Trying to avoid these topics in an interview is worse than addressing them directly.

Step 11: Sort the logistics the day before

This is not the glamorous part of interview prep. Do it anyway.

• Confirm the time, format (in-person or video) and exact location or link
• Test your tech if it’s a video call — camera, microphone, internet connection
• Plan your outfit the night before
• If it’s in person, know your route, travel time and where to park
• Save your interviewer’s contact number in case something goes wrong

Arriving calm is part of the performance.

Step 12: Prepare your salary expectations

Top tech companies will ask about compensation expectations at some point in the process — sometimes earlier than you’d expect.

Do your research beforehand. Use Glassdoor, Levels.fyi (for tech roles) and LinkedIn Salary to understand the market range. Know your number and be ready to say it confidently.

Saying “I’m open” when you clearly have a number in mind doesn’t come across as flexible — it comes across as underprepared.

Step 13: Manage your energy, not just your preparation

How you show up physically matters. Interviews are high-stakes conversations and your energy is part of the impression you make.

The night before: sleep matters more than a last-minute cram session. The morning of: eat something, move your body, give yourself time.

Preparation builds confidence. Confidence comes across in the room. These things are connected.

Step 14: Know how to close the interview well

Most candidates let the interview end passively. The best candidates close it actively.

Before you leave (or end the call), restate your interest in the role clearly: “I’ve really enjoyed this conversation. The more I hear about [specific aspect], the more excited I am about this opportunity.”

Then ask directly: “Is there anything about my background that gives you pause, or anything you’d want me to clarify?”

This gives you a chance to address any lingering doubts on the spot — and it signals genuine confidence.

Step 15: Send a follow-up within 24 hours

A brief, specific follow-up message after an interview is something most candidates skip. That’s exactly why you should do it.

Keep it short. Reference something specific from the conversation — not just “thank you for your time.” Connect it to your interest in the role.

It takes five minutes. It keeps you top of mind. And in a competitive process where multiple strong candidates are being evaluated, it can make a real difference.