Landing an interview can feel like the hard part—until you’re staring at the calendar thinking, “How do I prepare efficiently?” Here’s a repeatable 60-minute routine that sharpens your answers, boosts confidence, and helps you show up with clarity (even if you’re short on time).

1) Minutes 0–10: Lock in the role’s “success criteria”

Open the job description and highlight:

• Top 3 responsibilities (what you’ll do)
• Top 3 required skills (how you’ll do it)
• Any “bonus” requirements (how you’ll stand out)

Then translate those into a simple statement: “They need someone who can ____, ____, and ____.” This becomes your north star for every answer.

2) Minutes 10–25: Build 3 proof stories (STAR, but tighter)

Pick three accomplishments that map to the role’s needs. Use a quick STAR structure:

• S/T: What was happening + your goal (1–2 sentences)
• A: What you did (focus on decisions, not tasks)
• R: The measurable outcome (numbers if possible)

Pro tip: Add a one-line “so what” that matches the job: “This matters here because…”

3) Minutes 25–35: Prepare for the predictable questions

Most interviews include variations of:

• “Tell me about yourself” → Present-Past-Future (where you are, what built you, why this role)
• “Why this company?” → Mission + role impact + one specific proof you did research
• “What’s a weakness?” → Something real, low-risk, with a clear improvement plan

Write bullet-point answers, not scripts. You want structure without sounding rehearsed.

4) Minutes 35–45: Craft your closing + 3 smart questions

Your close should be confident and specific:

• “Based on what we discussed, I’m excited about X. I’ve done Y and Z, and I’d love to bring that to this team.”

Then prepare questions that reveal priorities:

• Success: “What would great performance look like in the first 90 days?”
• Team: “How does the team collaborate day-to-day?”
• Role clarity: “What are the biggest challenges this role will tackle immediately?”

5) Minutes 45–60: Run a mini mock interview (record yourself)

Do a 5–7 minute recording answering:

1. Tell me about yourself
2. One STAR story
3. Why this role/company

Listen once for:

• Clarity (are you rambling?)
• Energy (do you sound engaged?)
• Specifics (did you include outcomes?)

Even one recording can dramatically improve your delivery.

Quick check: If you only do ONE thing…

Make sure you can clearly explain how you’ll create value in this exact role—with proof.

What part of interview prep do you find hardest: coming up with stories, staying concise, or handling tricky questions?