Interview Prep
The interview starts before you join the call. Thorough preparation separates good candidates from great ones.
Why Preparation Matters
American interviewers expect you to know about their company. Walking in without research signals that you're not serious about the role — or worse, that you're applying everywhere without discrimination.
Great preparation does three things: it helps you give better answers, it shows genuine interest, and it helps you decide if this company is right for you.
Interviewer's Perspective
When a candidate references something specific about our company — a recent product launch, a blog post, our engineering culture — I immediately take them more seriously. It shows they actually wantthis job, not just a job.
Researching the Company
Before any interview, you should be able to answer: "What does this company do, and why do you want to work there?" — with specifics, not generic answers.
Understand Their Business
Start with the fundamentals. You need to understand what the company actually does to have intelligent conversations.
- What's their product or service? Be able to explain it simply
- Who are their customers? B2B, B2C, enterprise, startups, consumers?
- How do they make money? Subscription, ads, transactions, enterprise contracts?
- Who are their competitors? What makes them different?
- What stage are they at? Early startup, growth stage, established enterprise?
Understand Their Goals
Try to understand where the company is headed. This helps you position yourself as someone who can help them get there.
- Recent funding or milestones: What are they investing in?
- Job postings: What roles are they hiring for? This tells you their priorities
- Product roadmap hints: Blog posts, interviews with founders, conference talks
- Market trends: What challenges is their industry facing?
Pro Tip
Look for the "About" or "Our Story" page on their website. Understanding the founder's mission and why they started the company gives you powerful material to reference.
Referencing company goals
“I noticed you recently raised your Series B and are expanding into enterprise. That's exciting to me because I have experience scaling systems for enterprise clients, and I'd love to be part of that growth.”
Reading the Company Vibe
Every company has a culture — some are formal and buttoned-up, others are casual and relaxed. Understanding this helps you calibrate your communication style and decide if you'd be happy there.
Culture Signals to Look For
🏢 More Formal / Corporate
- • Professional headshots on LinkedIn
- • Formal language in job postings
- • Traditional job titles (Senior Software Engineer II)
- • Enterprise customers, regulated industries
- • Structured interview process with many rounds
- • Company photos show business casual or formal attire
😎 More Casual / Startup
- • Casual photos, maybe some humor
- • Relaxed language, emoji in job posts
- • Creative job titles or flat hierarchy
- • Consumer products, tech-forward industries
- • Faster, less formal interview process
- • Company photos show hoodies, casual settings
Warning
Don't assume casual means unprofessional. Even "chill" startups take their work seriously. Match their energy but always maintain respect and competence.
Adjusting Your Style
Once you understand the vibe, adjust accordingly:
- Formal company: More structured answers, professional language, traditional dress code
- Casual company: More conversational, show personality, business casual or smart casual
- When in doubt: Lean slightly more formal — you can always relax if they do
LinkedIn Research
LinkedIn is your best friend for interview prep. Use it to understand both the company and the specific people you'll be talking to.
Company Page Insights
- Employee count and growth: Is the company growing? Stable? Shrinking?
- Recent posts: What are they celebrating or announcing?
- Employee backgrounds: Where do people come from? What's the typical profile?
- Common connections: Do you know anyone who works there or used to?
Researching Your Interviewers
If you know who you'll be interviewing with, research them. This is not stalking — it's professional preparation.
- Their role and tenure: How long have they been there? What do they do?
- Career path: Where did they work before? What's their background?
- Shared connections or experiences: Same school? Previous company? Shared interests?
- Content they've posted: Articles, comments, or things they've shared
- Technical interests: What technologies or topics do they care about?
Good use of research
"I saw on LinkedIn that you joined from [Previous Company] — I'd love to hear what drew you to [Current Company] and how the engineering culture compares."
Creepy use of research
"I saw you went to Hawaii last month and your daughter just started kindergarten..." — Never reference personal information from social media.
Technical Preparation
Beyond company research, prepare for the technical aspects of the interview based on what you've learned.
Understand Their Tech Stack
- Job posting: What technologies do they list?
- Engineering blog: What do they write about?
- GitHub: Do they have open source projects?
- StackShare/BuiltWith: What technologies does their product use?
- Employee profiles: What skills do their engineers list?
Pro Tip
You don't need to be an expert in their entire stack. But you should understand what it is and be ready to discuss how your skills transfer or how you'd approach learning their technologies.
Prepare Your Questions
Based on your research, prepare thoughtful questions that show you've done your homework:
Question based on research
“I read your engineering blog post about migrating to Kubernetes. What were the biggest challenges, and how has it affected developer productivity?”
Question about company direction
“I noticed you're expanding into the European market. How is that affecting the engineering team's priorities and the technical challenges you're facing?”
Question about culture
“I saw the company values mention "radical transparency." What does that look like day-to-day on the engineering team?”
Setting Up Your Environment
For video interviews (which most will be), your environment matters. Technical issues or a distracting background can hurt your chances.
Technical Checklist
- Test your video and audio: Do this the day before, not 5 minutes before
- Check your internet: Use a wired connection if possible, or sit close to your router
- Update your software: Zoom, Meet, Teams — whatever they use
- Have a backup plan: Phone hotspot, backup device, dial-in number
- Close unnecessary applications: Reduce notifications and distractions
Physical Setup
- Lighting: Face a window or light source — avoid being backlit
- Camera angle: Eye level or slightly above — not looking up your nose
- Background: Clean, neutral, professional — or use a subtle blur
- Quiet space: Minimize background noise, let others know not to interrupt
- Dress code: Professional from the waist up at minimum, matching the company vibe
Warning
Test your setup by recording yourself or doing a video call with a friend. You might not realize your lighting is bad or your audio is echoing until you see/hear it yourself.
Day-Of Preparation
The morning of your interview, do a final review:
Final Review (30 minutes before)
- Re-read the job description: Refresh what they're looking for
- Review your research notes: Company facts, interviewer backgrounds
- Review your STAR stories: Have 3-5 ready to adapt
- Review your questions: Have at least 3 prepared
- Check the tech: One final test of video/audio
Get in the Right Mindset
- Take a few deep breaths: Calm your nerves
- Remind yourself of your value: You're here because you're qualified
- Think conversation, not interrogation: You're evaluating them too
- Smile before you join: It changes your voice and energy
Pre-interview affirmation
“I've prepared well. I know my stuff. I'm here to have a good conversation and see if we're a mutual fit.”
Research Template
Use this template to organize your research for each interview:
Knowledge Check
Test your understanding of interview preparation before moving on.