Interviews: before, during, after.
An interview is not an exam where you must know everything. It's a conversation where they check two things: can you do the work, and will you be good to work with? Today you'll prepare for both.
Before: prepare properly
- Research the company: what they do, their products, recent news (5 minutes on their website and LinkedIn).
- Re-read the job description and match each requirement with an example from your life.
- Prepare your stories (STAR method below) for your projects, teamwork, a problem you solved.
- Practise out loud, ideally recorded on your phone. You'll hear your "umm"s and fix them.
- For online interviews: test your internet, camera and mic; quiet room; plain background; charged phone as backup.
The most common questions
| Question | What they want | Tip |
|---|---|---|
| Tell me about yourself | A 60-second professional summary | Present → past → future: current study/role, key skills and a project, why this job |
| Why do you want this job? | Motivation and research | Link the company's work to your skills and goals |
| What are your strengths? | Self-awareness | One strength + a real example |
| What is your weakness? | Honesty and growth | A real, non-critical weakness + what you're doing to improve it |
| Tell me about a challenge | Problem-solving | Use STAR |
| Where do you see yourself in 5 years? | Ambition and stability | Growth in this field, more responsibility |
| Do you have questions for us? | Interest | Always ask one or two |
The STAR method
- Situation: the context.
- Task: what you had to do.
- Action: what you did (say "I", not "we").
- Result: what happened, ideally with numbers.
"In our final-year project (S), we had to finish a billing app in 3 weeks (T).
I organised daily 15-minute check-ins and took over the database part myself (A).
We finished 2 days early and our guide gave us the top grade in the batch (R).""What is your weakness?" Which answer is best?
Honest, real, and shows improvement. The first two sound rehearsed and empty.
During: small things that matter
- Arrive 10–15 minutes early (or join online 5 minutes early).
- Greet politely, smile, sit straight, make eye contact.
- If you don't understand a question, ask: "Could you please repeat that?"
- Don't know something? Say so honestly and explain how you'd find out.
- Don't speak badly about a college, teacher or past employer.
Questions to ask them
- "What would a typical day look like in this role?"
- "What skills would help me succeed in the first 3 months?"
- "How does the team measure success?"
After: follow up
Send a short thank-you email the same day:
Subject: Thank you – Junior Analyst interview
Dear Ms. Fatima,
Thank you for your time today. I enjoyed learning about the team's reporting work,
and I'm even more excited about the role. Please let me know if you need anything else from me.
Regards,
Mohammed Ali Raza | +91 90000 00000If you're rejected, politely ask for feedback. Every interview makes you better at the next.
Module 3 test
Which is a red flag for a fake job?
Genuine employers don't charge you.
In STAR, what does the "A" mean?
Focus on your own actions, and say "I".
Where is the most reliable place to apply to a large company?
Official channels are safest.
Before quoting a price to a new freelance client, you should agree on…
Clear scope protects both sides.
Your task (45 min)
Write your 60-second "Tell me about yourself" using present → past → future. Record it on your phone 3 times, improving each time. Then prepare two STAR stories from your studies or projects.
Lesson 10 complete!
You know how to prepare, answer the most common questions, handle HR and technical rounds, and follow up. You finished Module 3! Next: how a corporate office works.
Next: How a corporate office works →