Interview preparation: a practical checklist
Research that actually helps
Go beyond the company website. Read their recent news, check what current employees say about the culture, and understand what the organisation sells and to whom. For Irish companies, the CRO filing or a quick news search often reveals growth plans worth mentioning. Aim to be able to answer "why this company?" with something specific that isn't on the careers page.
Prepare six stories, not sixty answers
Most competency questions — teamwork, conflict, pressure, failure, leadership, initiative — can be covered by five or six well-chosen real examples from your career. Structure each with the STAR method: the Situation, your Task, the Action you took, and the measurable Result. Practise saying them aloud; written notes don't surface under pressure the way rehearsed stories do.
Handling the salary question
Know your number before you walk in. Check what similar roles advertise — our salary guides are a starting point — and give a researched range rather than a single figure, anchored slightly above your target. If asked your current salary, you can politely redirect to the range you're seeking for this role.
Your questions matter too
Prepare three questions that show you're already thinking about doing the job: what success looks like in the first six months, how the team is structured, what the biggest current challenge is. Avoid opening with questions about leave and benefits — save those for the offer stage, when you hold more leverage.