How to Effectively Prepare for Interviews in Under 1 Hour (Step-By-Step Guide)

Job interviews are one of the most stressful stages of the job search - but also the highest leverage. Hiring managers often decide in the first few minutes whether a candidate feels prepared, confident, and aligned with the role. The good news? You don’t need hours of interview preparation to make a strong impression. With the right focus, even 10 minutes of prep can help you walk into your upcoming interview ready to stand out.

Think about it: recruiters spend as little as 6-8 seconds scanning a CV before deciding if it’s worth reading further (The Ladders study). The same principle applies in interviews. Employers don’t just want long, rehearsed answers - they want clarity, confidence, and examples that connect your skills directly to their job description.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to use five fast prep pillars that work whether you’re facing a phone interview, a video interview, or an in-person panel:

• Gap analysis on the job description

• Researching the company (even in 3 minutes)

• Preparing answers for the most common interview questions

• Writing down a few thoughtful questions for the interviewer

• Following up after the interview to secure your edge

We’ll also link to practical resources - from our Interview Prep Library to behavioral interview questions examples - so you can quickly put these into action.

📌 If you’re in the middle of applications, don’t miss our guide to the most asked startup interview questions in 2025 (and how to answer them).

Because preparing fast doesn’t mean preparing poorly - it just means focusing on what actually matters for a successful interview.

1. Gap Analysis on the Job Description (10 min)

The fastest way to prepare for an interview is to start with the job description. Every question you’ll be asked ties back to the skills, experience, and behaviours listed there. Instead of skimming, break it down into three categories using a simple traffic-light method:

• 🟢 Green (Strengths): Skills you already have and can back up with specific examples.

• 🟡 Yellow (Partial Fit): Skills you’ve had some exposure to but not at full depth.

• 🔴 Red (Gaps): Skills you don’t have yet, where you’ll need to show adaptability and a plan to learn.
  

Example 1: Green – Digital Marketing Skill

Job requirement: “Experience running paid social campaigns on LinkedIn and Meta Ads.”
Your answer prep: “In my last role, I managed LinkedIn campaigns with a £50K quarterly budget, increasing CTR by 35% and generating 200+ SQLs in 3 months.”

Example 2: Yellow – Partial Fit

Job requirement: “Proficiency in Python for data analysis.”
Your answer prep: “I’ve used Python for smaller automation scripts and am expanding into data analysis by completing a LinkedIn Learning course. I can talk through how I’ve applied it in projects and how I’m building deeper expertise.”

Example 3: Red – Gap

Job requirement: “Knowledge of Salesforce CRM.”
Your answer prep: “I haven’t worked directly with Salesforce yet, but I’ve used HubSpot for CRM and reporting. Since the principles are similar, I’ve been completing Trailhead modules to quickly get up to speed with Salesforce.”

This kind of gap analysis doesn’t just help you prepare answers - it also helps you anticipate questions the interviewer might ask, so you’re never caught off guard.

📌 Pro tip: We built a free CV & LinkedIn Review tool inside TechTalk that uses the same principle - analysing gaps in your CV against job descriptions.

2. Research the Company (10 min)

One of the most common interview questions you’ll face is: “Why do you want to join us?”

Most candidates stumble here because they give vague answers like “I like your company culture”. To stand out, your response should cover two areas:

Why the Company – What excites you about this organisation? (mission, product, growth stage, reputation, culture).

Why this Role – How does it connect with your skills, experience, and long-term career goals?

How to Find the Right Insights Fast

You don’t need hours of research. Use the 3-minute rule and focus on:

• Company Mission & Values → Check their About Us or Careers page.
  

• Recent News → Look at Google News or tools like Perplexity to find recent press coverage, funding rounds, or product launches.

• Role-Specific Relevance → Re-read the job description and highlight 1–2 skills that directly connect with what they’re asking for.

Example Answer Framework

Why the company: “I want to join [Company X] because you’re solving one of the biggest pain points in fintech - making cross-border payments faster and more transparent. I read on Perplexity that you recently partnered with Visa to expand into Asia, which shows you’re not only innovating but scaling globally. That’s the kind of impact I want to be part of.”

Why this role: “The product manager role is exciting because it combines customer research with technical execution. In my current job at a SaaS startup, I led the redesign of our payments dashboard, which increased user adoption by 22%. I see clear overlap with your focus on simplifying payment workflows, and I’d love to bring that experience to your team.”

📌 Pro tip: Run a quick search on Perplexity with the company name + “recent news” to instantly surface the latest developments you can weave into your answer.

3. Figure Out the Questions That Are Likely to Be Asked and Prepare (30 min)

One of the fastest ways to prepare for an upcoming interview is to uncover the actual interview questions other candidates have faced. Instead of guessing, use a mix of research and AI tools to predict what might come up.

Where to Find Likely Interview Questions

• Glassdoor & LinkedIn → Search the company name + “interview questions” on Glassdoor. Many candidates share the exact questions they were asked for specific roles.

• Company forums & communities → Reddit and niche Slack groups often discuss past interview prep experiences.

• AI tools like ChatGPT → Paste your CV and the job description into ChatGPT with a prompt like this:

Prompt you can use:

“Here is my CV: [paste CV]. Here is the job description: [paste JD]. Based on these, generate a list of 15 likely interview questions, categorised into: common interview questions, behavioural interview questions (generic), behavioural interview questions (role-specific), and value-driven questions. Include examples of how I should prepare to answer them.”

This saves you time and makes sure you’re preparing for the questions that actually matter.

4 Buckets of Questions You Should Expect

Common Interview Questions

• Tell me about yourself?
• Why do you want this role?
• What are your greatest strengths and weaknesses?
  

Behavioural Interview Questions (Generic)

• Tell me about a time you handled a stressful situation.
• Describe how you manage multiple tasks with competing deadlines.

Behavioural Interview Questions (Role-Specific)

• For software engineers: “Walk me through a coding challenge you solved under time pressure.”
• For marketers: “Tell me about a campaign you ran and how you measured success.”
• For sales reps: “How did you handle losing a big potential client?”

Value-Driven Questions

• Why do you want to work at our company specifically?
• Which of our values resonates with you most, and why?
• What type of work environment brings out your best performance

👉 Even if you only have 10 minutes, preparing short bullet-point answers in each category will put you ahead of most candidates. Here is a full breakdown on how to answer some of them: most asked startup interview questions in 2025 (and how to answer them).

Quick Prep Example (10-Minute Practice)

Take this question: “Tell me about a time you handled a stressful situation.”

Using the STARL framework (Situation, Task, Action, Result, Learning):

• Situation: “In my last role as a software engineer at a mid-sized fintech startup, we were preparing for a major product demo with a potential investor. Two weeks before the demo, our lead engineer resigned, leaving me as the most senior developer on the team.”
  

• Task: “I had to take ownership of the project, manage the remaining engineers, and ensure the demo was ready on time - all while keeping morale high and avoiding burnout.”
  

• Action: “I broke down the project into smaller deliverables, colour-coded priorities (red = critical, yellow = nice-to-have, green = polish), and reassigned ownership across the team. To prevent overwhelm, I set up short daily stand-ups to track blockers and introduced a buddy system so no one was working alone on high-pressure tasks. I also communicated openly with stakeholders, resetting expectations on what could realistically be delivered.”
  

• Result: “We completed all of the red-priority features, ensuring the demo ran smoothly. The investors were impressed, and the company secured additional funding. Internally, the team reported higher confidence in handling pressure and felt supported throughout the sprint.”
  

• Learning: “I learned the importance of breaking down complex challenges into manageable steps, over-communicating with stakeholders, and balancing urgency with empathy when leading under pressure. Since then, I’ve carried this approach into every high-stakes project.”

👉 This is the level of detail that stands out to a hiring manager - it shows clear structure, demonstrates leadership and problem-solving, and ends with a takeaway that highlights growth.

How to Prepare for Interview Questions

Once you’ve gathered the most likely interview questions, don’t just read them — practice answering out loud. Even 5–10 minutes of speaking through answers can dramatically boost confidence.

Here are two simple tools to make your prep sharper:

• Google Interview Warmup → This free tool lets you practice answering common and role-specific interview questions. It even uses AI to give you feedback on keywords and patterns in your responses.
  

• ChatGPT Interview Simulator → Use AI to generate realistic questions based on your CV and job description, and then practice answering them as if ChatGPT were your interviewer.

Prompt you can use:

Act as an interviewer for a [job title] role. Here is my CV: [paste CV].  Here is the job description: [paste JD]. Ask me 10 interview questions 0 a mix of common, behavioural, role-specific, and value-driven. After each of my answers, give me constructive feedback on how I can improve.

👉 The goal isn’t to memorise perfect answers. It’s to get comfortable with structure, flow, and storytelling so you walk into the actual interview with confidence.

 4. Questions to Ask in the Interview (10 min)

A successful interview isn’t just about answering questions - it’s also about asking the right ones. Smart questions show the interviewer that you’ve done your research, understand the role, and are genuinely interested in how you can add value.

Why Asking Questions Matters

• It signals you’re thinking about the bigger picture, not just landing a job offer.

• It helps you assess whether this company is the right fit for your career goals.

• It makes the interview a two-way conversation rather than an interrogation.

Questions You Can Ask

Here are some examples you can prepare (pick 4–5 to use depending on the flow of the interview):

About the Role

• What does success look like in this role in the first 90 days?

• Can you share an example of a recent project a team member in this role worked on?

About the Team & Culture

• How does this team collaborate with other departments (e.g., product, sales, marketing)?

• What type of work environment do you try to foster here?

About Growth & Development

• What career development opportunities are available for someone in this position?

• How do you support ongoing learning and skill-building for your employees?

About the Company

• How would you describe the company culture in one sentence?

• What’s the biggest challenge the company is focusing on in the next 12 months?

Quick Tip: Always avoid questions that can be easily answered by the job description (like salary bands if they’re already published). Instead, focus on questions that show genuine curiosity and a long-term mindset.

5. Follow Up After the Interview (5 min)

Many candidates think the interview ends when you walk out of the room (or click “Leave Meeting” on Zoom). In reality, your follow-up is part of the interview preparation process - and it can be the difference between fading into the background or staying top of mind for the hiring manager.

Why follow-up matters

• Shows professionalism and genuine interest in the role.
  Reinforces your key skills and how they fit the job description.

• Gives you a chance to clarify or expand on something you wish you had said in the interview.

How to follow up effectively

1. Send a thank-you email or LinkedIn message within 10 minutes.
   Keep it short, polite, and personal. Reference a specific part of the conversation to show you were engaged. Example: “Thank you for sharing more about the team’s upcoming product launch. It aligns perfectly with my experience in building scalable web applications, and I’m excited about the chance to contribute.”
   

2. Reinforce your value.
   Briefly remind the interviewer of one skill or accomplishment that connects to their challenges.
   

3. Add anything you missed.
   If there was a question where you struggled, you can clarify here. For example:
   “I realised I didn’t fully expand on my experience with AWS during our call. I wanted to share that I recently earned my AWS Certified Developer credential, which I believe would add value to this role.”
   

4. Stay in touch.
   Even if you don’t get the job offer, following up builds a relationship with the potential employer and keeps the door open for future opportunities.

👉 Following up doesn’t take more than 5 minutes, but it’s one of the most overlooked steps in interview prep.

Example email:

Hi [Hiring Manager's or Recruiter's Name],

I hope this email finds you well. I wanted to express my sincere gratitude for the opportunity to interview for the [Job Title] position at [Company Name]. It was a pleasure meeting with you and learning more about the exciting work being done at your organization.

After our discussion, I am even more enthusiastic about the possibility of contributing to your team. I am particularly excited about the prospect of [mention a specific project, initiative, or aspect of the role] and believe my skills and experiences align well with the requirements of the position.

I appreciate the time and consideration you have given to my application. I look forward to the potential of working with the talented team at [Company Name]. If there are any additional materials or information needed from my end, please feel free to let me know.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity, and I look forward to the possibility of further discussing how my skills and background can contribute to the success of [Company Name].

Best regards,

[Your Full Name] [Your Contact Information]

Example LinkedIn message:

Hi [Name], thanks for taking the time to speak with me today. I really enjoyed learning more about the role, the team, and how the [Job Title] function supports [Company Name]. I’m even more excited about the opportunity to contribute to the work you’re doing.

6. Wrapping Up: How to Turn 1 Hour Into Interview Confidence

The truth is, interview preparation doesn’t have to take hours. With a clear structure - gap analysis, company research, predicting likely interview questions, preparing your own questions, and following up - you can walk into an upcoming interview feeling calm, confident, and ready.

Think of it as a repeatable framework you can run before every job interview. Even 10 minutes of focused preparation can put you ahead of most candidates who “wing it.”

Next steps:

• Use Google Interview Warmup to practice real-time responses.

• Try the ChatGPT prompt from this guide to predict interview questions tailored to your CV and job description.

• Join the TechTalk Community to access templates, mock interviews, and expert coaching that will help you turn interviews into offers.

👉 Remember: interviews aren’t just about answering questions. They’re about showing you’ve done the work, understand the role, and can bring real value to a potential employer.

FAQs: Quick Answers to Common Interview Preparation Questions

1. What is the fastest way to do interview preparation?

Focus on a gap analysis of the job description, company research, and preparing answers for common interview questions. Even 10 minutes of structured prep makes a big difference.

2. What are the most common interview questions?

Typical job interview questions include: “Tell me about yourself,” “Why do you want this role?” and “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”. Practise short bullet-point interview answers to stay confident and concise.

3. How do I prepare for a behavioural interview?

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers. For example, if asked about handling a stressful situation, highlight the skills you used and the accomplishment that followed.

4. How should I prepare for a technical interview?

Review coding interview practice problems (LeetCode, HackerRank), focus on technical skills from the job description, and run mock interviews with a peer or AI tool like ChatGPT.

5. What are common mistakes to avoid in interviews?

Lack of research, failing to practise, ignoring the job description, or not asking questions at the end of the interview process. These signal low preparation to the hiring manager.

6. How can international students prepare for interviews in the UK or US?

Focus on cultural expectations (e.g., eye contact, interview attire, follow-up emails) and practise video interview formats. Many universities also provide career services with mock interview support.

7. Do I really need to do a mock interview?

Yes - even one mock interview builds confidence and highlights gaps in your interview skills. Practising with a friend, mentor, or online tool will make the actual interview feel easier.

8. What’s a good tip for salary negotiation after an interview?

Research salary expectations beforehand, know your market value, and frame your ask around both your skills and the value you bring to a potential employer.

9. How do I prepare if I only have an upcoming interview in 24 hours?

Do a quick gap analysis, practise common and behavioural interview questions, write 2–3 strong questions to ask the interviewer, and prepare your interview attire. That’s enough to perform well in a big interview.

10. Can AI tools really help with interview prep?

Yes. AI tools like ChatGPT can generate tailored interview question lists from your CV and job description, and Google Interview Warmup can simulate real-time practice. They’re a fast way for job seekers to feel prepared.