Interview countdown planner

With a week to go, the planner gives you one or two steps a day. With less time, it puts more into each day; with more, it gives the big steps extra days.

1. Day 1: Read the ad again. Mark the 4 or 5 things they want most. Note how the interview will run: a panel, a video call or a phone call. Research the employer. Find out what it does, its plans and recent news, and what problem this job is there to fix.
2. Day 2: Write your stories. Write 6 to 8 true stories with the STAR method. Have one for each main thing they want. Add a mistake, a disagreement and a time under pressure.
3. Day 3: Match stories to questions. List the questions they're likely to ask, such as "Tell me about yourself" and "Why this job?". Pick a story for each. Try some scenario questions too.
4. Day 4: Practise out loud. Say each answer out loud with a timer, about 90 seconds each. Use your own words; don't learn a script.
5. Day 5: Practise with someone. Ask a friend to play the panel and ask your questions. Then ask what was clear and what wasn't.
6. Day 6: Prepare your questions. Write 3 questions to ask them, plus 2 spares. Be ready for a salary question.
7. Day 7: Plan the day. Check the time, the place or link, and who you'll meet. Plan your travel with time to spare, or test your camera and microphone. Lay out your clothes and documents. The night before. Read your notes once, not all night. Charge your phone and laptop, and get some sleep.
8. Interview day: On the day. Eat something and drink water. Arrive 10 minutes early, or join a video call 5 minutes early. Take a breath before each answer.

You can still prepare well in one evening. Keep to what matters most:

1. Read the ad and mark the 4 or 5 things they want most.
2. Pick a true story for each, and say each one out loud once, in STAR order.
3. Spend 20 minutes on the employer's website: what it does, and what's new.
4. Write 3 questions to ask them.
5. Plan your travel or test your link, then go to bed.