# How did you prepare for this interview? How to answer it

Describe two or three specific things you did: what you researched (their product, a recent announcement, the team or the job post), who you spoke to if anyone, and how you practised your answers out loud. Then share one thing you learned that made you more interested in the role. Specific details prove real interest; 'I looked at your website' doesn't.

By the Speaking Coach team at Sodhera Intelligence. Updated 2026-10-22. Source: https://www.orecci.com/speaking-coach/interview-questions/how-did-you-prepare-for-this-interview/

## What the interviewer is checking

This question is a quick test of interest. Candidates who really want the job prepare differently from people applying everywhere. The interviewer listens for:

- **Specifics.** Did you go beyond the homepage?
- **Effort that matches the role.** A sales candidate who tried the product, a teacher who read the school's last inspection report, a developer who looked at the public code.
- **Honesty.** Don't claim preparation you didn't do. A follow-up will find out.
- **Enthusiasm** for something you discovered.

It's also a chance to bring up research you were hoping to use anyway.

## What good preparation looks like

If you haven't done much yet, here's a list you can actually do in two to three hours, and then talk about:

| What you did | Example of how to say it |
| --- | --- |
| Read the job post closely | "I mapped each requirement in the job post to an example from my work." |
| Used the product or service | "I signed up for the free plan and set up a project, so I could see what customers see first." |
| Read recent news or announcements | "I read about your new office in Leeds and the plan to grow the support team." |
| Looked up the interviewers | "I read your profile and saw you'd moved from the agency side, which I'd love to ask about." |
| Spoke to someone who works there | "I spoke to a former colleague who works in your finance team about what a typical week looks like." |
| Read reviews from customers | "I read your recent app reviews to see what customers praise and what they ask for." |
| Practised answers out loud | "I practised my answers out loud, including timing my introduction to about a minute." |
| Prepared questions for them | "I've prepared a few questions about how the team measures success." |

Pick two or three. Covering all eight sounds like a checklist.

## A structure for your answer

1. **Research.** One or two specific things you looked at.
2. **Practice.** How you prepared to talk about yourself.
3. **What you found.** One thing that made you more interested, and why.

Aim for 30 to 60 seconds. End on step 3, because it turns a dry list into a reason you want the job.

## Example answers

These are examples with made-up company details. Describe the preparation you actually did.

### Example answer for an office or business role

> "I started with the job post and matched each requirement to an example from my current role. Then I read your last two quarterly updates and tried your mobile app for a week. I also practised my answers out loud, especially on the project management side, since that's the biggest part of the role. The thing that stood out was your plan to expand into Spain. I worked with Spanish clients for two years, so I'd love to hear more about that."

### Example answer for a graduate

> "I read through your graduate programme page and the blog posts from last year's graduates about their rotations. I also spoke to a friend from my course who joined your analytics team last year. She told me how much real work graduates get in the first month, which is exactly what I'm looking for. And I did a few practice interviews to get used to talking about my final-year project concisely."

### Example answer for a teaching role

> "I read your school's website and its latest inspection report, and I looked at how your maths department structures Year 9. I noticed you've started small-group catch-up sessions, which I ran at my placement school, so I prepared an example about that. I also practised my answers out loud so my teaching examples would be clear and short."

### Example answer for a retail or hospitality role

> "I visited the store on Saturday to see how busy it gets and how the team works together. I also looked at your website and the new loyalty app. I noticed how quickly staff greeted people at the door, which is how I like to work too."

## Mistakes to avoid

| Mistake | Why it hurts | Try instead |
| --- | --- | --- |
| "I looked at your website" | Everyone says it | Name the page or detail you read |
| Claiming research you didn't do | Follow-ups expose it | Only describe what you actually did |
| Listing ten activities | Sounds like a checklist | Two or three, then what you learned |
| Saying you memorised answers | Suggests a script | Say you practised out loud |
| "I didn't really prepare" | Signals low interest | If time was short, say what you did in it |

## Practice it out loud

Saying "I practised my answers out loud" is only convincing if you did. Run through your main answers once or twice before the interview, ideally with someone who asks follow-ups. Speaking Coach's mock interviews can read your CV or the job post and ask about your real experience, and the [interview answer review](/speaking-coach/tools/interview-answer-review/) checks your pace and filler words for free. Then you can describe your practice honestly.

## Questions people ask

### Is it okay to say I practised with an AI or a friend?

Yes. Saying you practised out loud shows you take the interview seriously. Just keep it to one line and focus on what you learned about the company.

### What if I didn't have much time to prepare?

Be honest and specific about what you did manage: "I had a day's notice, so I focused on the job post and your latest product announcement."

### Should I mention looking up the interviewer?

Yes, if you keep it professional, like their role or a talk they gave. Don't mention anything personal you found.

### How long should my answer be?

About 30 to 60 seconds. End with one thing that made you more interested in the job.

### How is this different from "What do you know about our company?"

That question asks what you found. This one asks what you did. They overlap, so use different details for each. See [what do you know about our company](/speaking-coach/interview-questions/what-do-you-know-about-our-company/).

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