The week-before interview checklist
What to do in the final seven days so the interview itself feels like a rerun.
5 min read · Updated November 11, 2026
Days 7 to 4: research and stories
Read the job description line by line and map each requirement to a story or a project you can talk about. Look up the company's product, recent news and the team you would join. Practice the two or three questions you dread most, out loud.
Days 3 to 2: full rehearsal
Do a complete practice interview at the real length, at the same time of day as the real one. Review the feedback, fix one thing, and run it again. Two honest rehearsals teach you more than five relaxed ones.
Prepare your questions
Write down three or four questions for your interviewer. Good ones are about how the team works and what success looks like, not things you could find on the website.
The day before: rest
Check your setup, plan your route or test your video call, and stop practicing by early evening. Sleep is worth more than one more rep. Lay out what you need, so the morning is boring.
On the day
Arrive or log in a few minutes early, have water and a notepad, and keep your first answer short. The opening minutes set your pace for the rest of the interview.