Most interview advice is solid—but too big to act on when you’re busy. Here’s a simple 10-minute routine you can run before any interview (virtual or phone) to sharpen your answers, calm nerves, and show up with a clear game plan.

1) Re-anchor on the role (2 minutes)

Open the job description and highlight:

• Top 3 responsibilities (what you’ll be doing)
• Top 3 skills (how they’ll judge you)

Then translate each into one proof point you can talk about: a project, achievement, or story.

Tip: If a requirement feels weak for you, prepare a “bridge” statement: “I haven’t done X directly, but I’ve done Y and Z, which use the same skills—here’s how I’d ramp up.”

2) Build your “3 stories” menu (4 minutes)

Pick three versatile stories you can reuse across many questions:

• A win: a measurable result you drove
• A challenge: a problem you solved under constraints
• A growth moment: feedback you received and what you changed

Use a quick STAR structure:

• S/T: What was the situation + goal?
• A: What you did (tools, decisions, tradeoffs)
• R: What changed (numbers, speed, quality, customer impact)

Keep each story to 60–90 seconds. If it runs long, trim details and keep decisions + outcomes.

3) Nail your first 30 seconds (2 minutes)

Your opening sets the tone. Practice a short intro that answers:

• Who you are professionally
• What you’re best at
• Why you’re interested in this role

Example framework:

• “I’m a ___ with ___ years in ___. I specialize in ___. Recently I ___. I’m excited about this role because ___.”

4) Prep two smart questions (2 minutes)

Strong questions make you memorable and signal maturity. Try:

• Success definition: “What would make someone wildly successful in the first 90 days?”
• Team/workflow: “How does the team make decisions and handle tradeoffs?”
• Role clarity: “What’s the biggest problem you’re hoping this hire solves?”

Bonus: Virtual delivery checklist (30 seconds)

• Camera at eye level, light in front of you
• Notes at the side of the screen (not below)
• A sticky note reminder: “Pause. Breathe. Answer.”

If you tried this routine before your next interview, which step would help you the most—and what do you currently do instead?