The Ultimate Interview Prep Cheat-Sheets: Your Shortcut to Job-Winning Confidence

Preparing for an interview can feel overwhelming, company research, technical concepts, behavioural stories, questions to ask, and the dreaded “Tell me about yourself.” But what if you had everything important distilled into simple, actionable cheat-sheets?

Welcome to your Interview Prep Cheat-Sheet Guide, designed for students, job-seekers, and career switchers who want a fast, smart, and structured way to get interview-ready.

1. The Pre-Interview Research

Before you walk (or log) into any interview, you need to know three things: the role, the company, and the interviewer (if possible).

Your research must include:

Company Basics

• What they do (1–2 lines)

• Their mission & values

• Recent news or product launches

• Competitors in their industry

Role Breakdown

• Key responsibilities (top 5)

• Required skills (soft + technical)

• How the role contributes to the company’s goals

Interviewer Insight (Optional but powerful)

• Their job title

• Shared connections or interests

• Their background (LinkedIn)

  
  

Why this matters: It shapes your answers and shows you’re genuinely interested, not just applying to everything on the internet.

2. The Behavioural Answers (STAR Method)

Most hiring teams rely heavily on behavioural questions because they reveal how you think, act, and solve problems.

Use the STAR method:

• Situation – Set the scene

• Task – What was the challenge?

• Action – What did you do?

• Result – What changed?

  
  

Prepare 5–7 STAR stories for:

• Leadership

• Conflict resolution

• Problem-solving

• A failure and what you learned

• A big win or success

• Working under pressure

• Learning something quickly

These stories can be reused for dozens of questions.

3. The Technical/Role-Specific

Whether you're in engineering, marketing, sales, design, or operations, you should prepare a condensed one-pager that includes:

For Technical Roles

• Key algorithms/data structures

• System design principles

• Most common coding patterns

• Your important projects and their architectures

• Debugging strategies

  
  

For Creative Roles

• Portfolio highlights

• Design frameworks (e.g., Double Diamond)

• Tools and software you’re fluent in

• Your creative process

  
  

For Business or Strategy Roles

• SWOT, PESTLE, OKRs

• Market research frameworks

• KPIs relevant to the role

• Examples of impact from previous jobs

This cheat-sheet helps you revise quickly and talk with clarity.

4. The “Tell Me About Yourself”

This question sets the tone, so don’t wing it.

Use the 3-Part Story line:

1. Past: A concise background

2. Present: What you’re doing now

3. Future: Why you’re excited about this role

Example structure:“I’m a software engineer with 3 years of experience building scalable applications. Currently, I’m focusing on backend optimisation at XYZ. I’m excited about this role because it aligns with my interest in distributed systems and building impact-driven products.”

Short. Sharp. Memorable.

5. The Questions to Ask Them 

Never say “I don’t have any questions.”

Ask 3–5 thoughtful ones like:

• “What does success look like in this role after 6 months?”

• “What’s the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?”

• “How is feedback typically shared?”

• “What opportunities for growth or learning does the company offer?”

• “How do teams collaborate across departments?”

Insightful questions make you stand out.

6. The Last-Minute Prep

When you’re 15 minutes away from your interview:

• Review your STAR stories

• Skim your technical or role-specific notes

• Check your resume and talking points

• Prepare a 10-second introduction

• Confirm your setup (camera, audio, internet)

• Take three slow breaths

This reduces anxiety and boosts confidence.

7. The Post-Interview Follow Up

Send a simple thank-you email within 24 hours, including:

• Appreciation for their time

• One topic you enjoyed discussing

• Reaffirmed interest in the role

• An offer to provide additional info

It’s small but makes a big difference.

Final Thoughts

Cheat-sheets don’t replace deep preparation, but they make your prep smarter and more efficient. With company research, STAR stories, technical refreshers, and a solid structure for your answers, you’ll step into every interview with clarity and confidence.