Why Most People Aren’t Properly Preparing for Interviews

When it comes to interview preparation, people often get defensive. “Hang on a minute,” they might say, “I spend ages preparing for interviews – don’t tell me I’m not prepared!” And while it’s true that most people do some preparation, the truth is, it’s rarely enough to give them a real advantage.

Typically, preparation includes scanning the company’s website, reviewing the job description, perhaps looking up the leadership team or checking out competitors. That’s helpful – but it’s also the bare minimum. If your approach is simply to turn up and answer questions as they come, then you’re not truly preparing; you’re just showing up.

Think of the Interview as a Sales Pitch

Whether you like the idea or not, an interview is essentially a sales meeting – and you are the product. You’re in direct competition with other candidates, and if you don’t differentiate yourself effectively, it becomes easy for hiring managers to overlook you in favour of those who have.

That’s why it’s vital to consider what you will cost an organisation – and more importantly, what return on investment you offer in exchange.

Here’s a simple formula to help put that into perspective. If you’re applying for a permanent role with a salary of £50,000, multiply that by three (the average time you might stay in the role), and then multiply that figure by 1.7 to account for pension, bonuses, training, benefits, and other associated costs.

£50,000 × 3 × 1.7 = £255,000

That’s over a quarter of a million pounds. It’s a significant investment. Your CV, LinkedIn profile, and interview performance must all work together to convince the employer that you’re worth every penny.

The Challenge of Competency-Based Interviews

Most interviews today follow a competency-based structure – questions such as “Tell me about a time when…”. Unless you’re exceptionally quick on your feet, these can be difficult to answer well under pressure.

You’ve probably experienced that moment when a question catches you off guard, your mind goes blank, and you struggle to think of a relevant example. You might start rambling, or worse, admit that you can’t think of anything and ask to return to the question later. It happens – and it can cost you the role.

The Solution: Create a Career Autobiography

One of the most effective tools for preparing for interviews is something called a career autobiography.

This is essentially a professional record of your career to date – your achievements, your setbacks, and, crucially, examples of where you’ve demonstrated key competencies. It could be a spreadsheet, a Word document, or even handwritten notes – whatever works for you.

Each section or tab should cover a core skill or competency (e.g. project management, leadership, stakeholder engagement). Under each one, you record real examples from your career that clearly evidence your capability in that area.

These examples are invaluable for:

• Answering competency-based interview questions

• Creating STAR-based case studies for your CV or LinkedIn profile

• Planning your long-term career development

Planning Ahead: Filling in the Gaps

The career autobiography isn’t just a tool for interviews – it’s also a powerful way to plan your career. If, for example, you know that in five years you want to step into a Head of Department role, and you identify that team management is a required skill you haven’t yet developed, you can create a placeholder for it.

That blank space acts as a helpful reminder: You need to gain this experience before applying for the role. Otherwise, you risk being outpaced by competitors who already have it.

You Can Practise Interviews

A common myth is that interviews can’t be practised – that you have to go through real ones to get better. That’s not only incorrect, but it’s also a costly way to improve.

These days, there are tools and services available (we offer some ourselves) that allow you to take part in realistic mock interviews and receive structured feedback. It’s one of the most effective ways to improve and build confidence before the real thing.

Final Thoughts

The career autobiography is a game-changer. It helps you remember important examples from your career, strengthens your CV and LinkedIn presence, prepares you for interviews, and supports long-term career planning.

Best of all, it gives you a competitive edge – and in today’s crowded job market, that might make all the difference.