How to Prepare for a Job Interview: The STAR Method, Common Questions, Video Interviews, and What to Do Before and After

2026-09-26 · Career guides

Combining the UK National Careers Service interview guide and NACE data, this article explains how to prepare for a job interview: understand the job description, research the company, and prepare five to eight experiences that demonstrate your skills; use the STAR method to clearly explain what "you" did; how to answer common questions; key preparation tips for live and recorded video interviews; what to do on the interview day, after receiving an offer, and after a rejection; and the most effective yet least utilized tool: mock interviews.

Your resume gets you the interview, but the interview gets you the offer. For many students, the issue isn't a lack of ability, but the wrong preparation approach: thinking of examples on the spot, reciting memorized answers too rigidly, or panicking when asked about weaknesses. This article combines the UK government's National Careers Service interview guide and survey data from the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE) in the US to walk you through every step of a job interview, from preparation to post-interview follow-up.

First, Let's Look at Two Sets of Data

Interviews are the primary way employers assess skills. A January 2026 NACE survey shows that among employers using "skills-based hiring," interviews are the most frequently used method (87%). In other words, interviewers will judge whether you have the skills required for the role based on the experiences you share.
Mock interviews are highly effective, yet underutilized. The 2022 NACE student survey indicates that mock interviews are one of the most effective services offered by school career centers, yet only about 20.8% of students have used them.

2. Before the Interview: What to Prepare

According to the National Careers Service:

Read the job description carefully to understand the skills and experience the employer is looking for;
Research the company by checking their website, especially the "About Us" page, to learn about their products, services, and values;
Review your resume or application and think about what the interviewer might ask;
Prepare examples from your past experiences to use during the interview;
Prepare questions to ask the interviewer and write them down in advance;
Confirm the interview format: in-person, phone, or video.

Build Your "Story Bank"

The most effective preparation is to organize five to eight experiences in advance, each demonstrating one or two skills. The NACE employer survey shows that employers value teamwork, problem-solving, and communication the most, so make sure you have at least these three types of examples ready. You can use the table below to organize them (the following are example ideas):

Experience	Skills Demonstrated	Questions It Can Answer
Course group project	Teamwork, communication	Tell me about a time you worked in a team; Tell me about a time you handled a disagreement
Data analysis task during an internship	Problem-solving, technical skills	Tell me about a time you solved a difficult problem; What is your proudest achievement
Organizing a club event	Leadership, initiative	Tell me about a time you took initiative
A competition or project that didn't go well	Learning from failure	Tell me about a time you failed

3. Answer Using the STAR Method

The National Careers Service recommends using the STAR method to structure your answers:

S (Situation): What situation were you facing;
T (Task): What task needed to be accomplished;
A (Action): What actions did you take;
R (Result): What was the outcome, and what did you learn.

A few key points:

Examples can come from work, life, or volunteer activities—choose the ones that highlight your strengths best;
Keep it concise and relevant;
Speak in a conversational tone so you don't sound overly rehearsed;
Be prepared to answer follow-up questions.

A common issue we see in coaching is students only talking about what "we" did. Interviewers want to know what "you" did, so be clear about your personal contributions in the Action section.

4. How to Answer Common Questions

About the Company

Questions like "What do you know about our company?" or "Why do you want to work here?" The National Careers Service advises: research the company website thoroughly to understand their products, services, and values, and connect your interests to them.

About Yourself

Questions like "What do you do in your spare time?" Use this to showcase your personal qualities and skills; for example, team sports can demonstrate teamwork.

About Your Experiences

Questions like "Tell me about a time you faced a challenge," "Tell me about a time you took initiative," or "Have you ever failed?" Stay positive, ensure your examples align with the job description, and structure them using the STAR method.

About Your Strengths

Questions like "What are your main strengths?" or "Why should we hire you?" Base your answer on two or three examples relevant to the role.

About Your Weaknesses

Be honest about your weaknesses, and explain how you are working to improve them.

5. Video Interviews

Video interviews are common when applying for jobs across borders. The National Careers Service distinguishes between two types:

Live video interviews: Just like an in-person interview, the interviewer asks questions in real time;
Recorded interviews: Usually open for a specified period of a few days. You record your answers during this time and submit them for the interviewer to watch later.

Key preparation tips:

Test your equipment and software in advance: microphone, camera, how to start and end, how to mute, and how to share your screen;
Power and internet: Make sure your device is fully charged or plugged in, and your internet connection is stable. Log in at least 30 minutes early;
Environment: Quiet and free from interruptions, with a clean background and good lighting;
Practice: Record your answers and review them. Speak clearly, not too fast, and pause briefly after the question ends before answering;
For recorded interviews: Read the question carefully before answering; use practice questions to check if you can pause or re-record;
If technical issues arise: Inform the interviewer and pause to restart if necessary.

6. On the Day of and During the Interview

Allow plenty of time and turn off your phone; for online interviews, be ready to start 5 to 10 minutes early;
Know how to contact the interviewer if something goes wrong;
If you don't understand a question, ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify it rather than guessing;
Ask the questions you prepared before the interview ends;
Finally, ask when you can expect to hear back.

For students interviewing in English, it is completely normal to ask the interviewer to repeat a question if you didn't catch it—it's much better than answering off-topic.

7. After the Interview

If they didn't specify when you'll hear back, follow up with an email or phone call at an appropriate time;
If you get an offer: Request written confirmation detailing your start date, work arrangements, and salary; international students should also confirm that the timeline for their work authorization aligns (e.g., the OPT start date);
If you don't pass: Reflect on which questions you didn't answer well. You can ask the interviewer for feedback to improve next time.

8. The Best Preparation: Mock Interviews

Arrange one or two mock interviews with your school's career center, a teacher, a classmate, or a career counselor. Ideally, do it in English, follow the real interview process, and record it to review later. NACE data shows this is one of the most effective, yet least utilized, preparation methods.

Conclusion

An interview is not an exam with a single correct answer, but there is a right way to prepare: understand the role, prepare a few experiences that demonstrate your skills, use the STAR method to clearly explain what "you" did, and practice through mock interviews until it feels natural. With thorough preparation, your nervousness will significantly decrease.

For how to write a resume, see our article on How to Write an English Resume; for career planning, see How Career Counseling Works. If you need one-on-one mock interviews, feel free to chat with our career counseling advisors.

Verification note: This article was verified in September 2026. Advice on interview preparation, the STAR method, common questions, video interviews, and pre- and post-interview tips comes from the UK government's National Careers Service interview guide; the usage rate of skills-based hiring in interviews comes from the January 2026 survey by the National Association of Colleges and Employers (NACE); the effectiveness and usage rate of mock interviews come from the 2022 NACE student survey, all verified in articles 50 and 78 on this site. The "Story Bank" table provides example ideas, not fixed questions; the reminders for Chinese students are based on our empirical advice.

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