Interview Preparation Time

JJforever

I was wondering how much time people spend preparing for an interview? It is now all about competency interviews and using the star / car method.

So I have prepared 14 odd questions and come up with 3 answers/stories to each and obviously ended up with quite a lot to remember! I am now worried that it is too much and maybe I am over preparing?

I recently turned down an interview because they wanted me to come the next day and I felt I didn't have enough time to prepare so it would have been a waste of time. But now in hindsight I'm wondering whether I should have gone anyway.

Would appreciate any advice.

Thank you in advance.

Comms69

Depends if I know enough about the employer or not. I usually spend a few hours looking at values, corporate strategies and their social media (though I typically go for comms roles)


Rehearsed answers are so dull and boring. So I spend almost no time on that.


It's obvious when it happens and there's no chance to build rapport with the panel. I prefer to take 30 seconds and provide an interesting answer, even if it's not perfect. Admittedly I didn't get my last role regrettably, feedback was very positive and the successful candidate simply had more experience in a specific comms field.

Lioness_Twinkletoes

I often prefer short notice for an interview - gives me less time to fret. I rarely prepare set answers but will look over the JD so I fully understand the role and refer back to my application as I find that the interview questions are often very similar.

System

I tend to think of scenarios, rather than actual answers. For example, they usually ask something about working on your own, something about working in a team, last time to hit or struggled to hit a deadline etc.

pmduk

I'd be OK with overnight preparation for an interview. Either I have the skill for the job or not. A single evening ought to be enough to revise the company and prepare myself.