Hey, you got an interview!

Congratulations on landing your interview! And if you’re here for general practice, well done on investing in yourself. Whether this is your first interview or your tenth, Zen Interview Prep will guide you through what to expect and how to present your best self.

General Interview Tips

  • Imagine you already have the role and you are introducing yourself to a new co-worker.
  • Stay warm, friendly, and positive.
  • Maintain natural eye contact and smile when it feels appropriate.
  • Practice active listening: nod, make eye contact, and give thoughtful responses that build on what’s being said.
  • Research the company’s mission, values, and recent work.
  • Dress in a way that fits the company culture. For virtual interviews, test your setup ahead of time and keep your space clean and distraction-free.
  • Pause before answering a question—it’s okay to take a breath and gather your thoughts.
  • If you don’t know something, be honest. Share how you’d go about finding the answer or learning the skill.
  • End on a strong note—thank the interviewer, express your interest, and follow up with a brief thank-you email.

Behavioral Interview Tips

Behavioral interviews focus on how you've handled situations in the past. A great way to structure your responses is using the STAR Method:

  • Situation: Set the scene and give context.
  • Task: Explain what your responsibility was.
  • Action: Describe what steps you took.
  • Result: Share the outcome or results of your actions.

It’s not efficient or realistic to prepare for every behavioral question out there. Instead, craft 5–7 strong core stories that you can adapt to different scenarios. These stories should come from real experiences and touch on a variety of themes that commonly show up in interviews.

Below are key behavioral categories you should cover in your core stories:

  • Learning & Adaptability:
    Times when you had to learn quickly or pivot your approach due to changing circumstances.
  • Mistake Ownership:
    Examples of accountability, receiving feedback, or growing from failure.
  • Disagreement & Conflict:
    Stories where you resolved conflict or managed tough conversations constructively.
  • Collaboration:
    Working with others, especially those with different styles or personalities, to reach a shared goal.
  • Communication:
    Adapting your message for different audiences or fixing a misunderstanding effectively.
  • Problem Solving & Decision Making:
    Challenges where you analyzed the situation, made a decision, and solved the problem.
  • Achievements & Goals:
    Moments you’re proud of, especially when you set and exceeded a goal through determination.

As you practice, try framing each story with STAR and keep them under 2 minutes each. With this small collection of adaptable stories, you’ll be ready for just about any behavioral question that comes your way.

5 Steps to Prepare for Technical Interviews

  1. Master the Fundamentals:Refresh your understanding of key data structures (arrays, trees, graphs, hash maps) and algorithms (sorting, searching, recursion, dynamic programming). These are the building blocks of most coding challenges.
  2. Practice with Purpose:Use platforms like LeetCode, HackerRank, or CodeSignal to solve problems by difficulty and topic. Focus on quality over quantity—review your solutions and revisit problems you struggled with.
  3. Think Out Loud:During mock interviews or practice sessions, explain your thought process clearly. Interviewers value how you approach problems just as much as whether you solve them.
  4. Prepare for System Design (if applicable):If you're applying for mid-level or senior roles, spend time reviewing scalable architecture concepts, trade-offs, and common system design patterns. Use resources like Grokking the System Design Interview.
  5. Simulate the Real Thing:Time yourself, use a whiteboard or code editor without autocomplete, and practice in realistic interview conditions. If you get stuck, focus on how you break down the problem—that's what interviewers want to see.

Embrace the Journey

No one really enjoys the job hunt or interviewing. It can be stressful, intimidating, and sometimes frustrating. But remember, you’re not alone. Millions of people are in the same boat, learning and growing through each experience.

Even if you don’t get this particular job, it’s not the end of the world. Every interview is a step forward: a chance to practice, refine your skills, and understand what employers are looking for. Keep a growth mindset, and remember that the right opportunity will come.

Best of luck on your interview! You’ve got this :)