How to prepare for a job interview
Prepare evidence, practise common questions and plan the practical details of an in-person or remote interview.
Prepare around the role's actual work
Read the advert again and identify the main responsibilities. For each one, find an example of something you have done that shows a relevant skill. Research the employer's own website and the products or services involved. Write down questions where the advert is unclear rather than pretending to know the answer.
Keep a copy of your submitted CV nearby. Be ready to explain dates, responsibilities and any tools you list. If a recruiter changes the role, location or pay significantly, ask for clarification before spending money on travel.
Build three short examples
Prepare one example of solving a problem, one of working with others and one of learning from a mistake. The STAR structure can help: explain the situation, your task, the action you took and the result. Spend most of your answer on your own actions rather than background.
Illustrative example: a delivery was delayed while a customer needed an order urgently. You checked available stock, confirmed a realistic delivery time and offered an alternative the customer accepted. Explain what you learned about confirming availability before making promises. Use a real event from your life, not this invented example.
Practise these questions without memorising a script
"Tell me about yourself": give a short account of your relevant background, strongest evidence and interest in this role. "Why do you want this job?": connect something specific about the work with your experience or direction. "Tell me about a challenge": explain a concrete event and your response.
For "What do you need to improve?", choose a genuine development area and explain what you are doing about it. If you do not know a technical answer, say what you know, identify the missing part and describe how you would check it. Guessing confidently can be less useful than showing a careful approach.
Plan the practical details
For an in-person interview, confirm the address, time, contact person and documents requested. Plan a realistic journey and a way to notify the recruiter if delayed. Keep copies of documents secure and avoid handing over original certificates without understanding why they are needed and how they will be returned.
For a remote interview, test the link, microphone and camera beforehand. Check the time zone rather than assuming the time is Nigerian local time. Charge your device, arrange the best connection available and agree a fallback contact method. Choose a quiet setting and close unrelated tabs.
Ask questions and make notes afterwards
Useful questions include: What would success look like in the first three months? Who would I work with? What are the working hours and next steps? Clarify pay and employment terms at an appropriate stage rather than accepting assumptions.
Afterwards, note the questions asked, what you learned and any follow-up promised. Send a short thank-you if you have an appropriate contact channel. If you receive an offer, read the written terms carefully. An interview is also your opportunity to assess whether the role fits your needs.