Interview Preparation

Note: CareerTrackr doesn’t include dedicated interview prep tools, but you can effectively use existing features to organize your preparation.

Using CareerTrackr for Interview Prep

Pre-Interview Research Organization

Company Research

In the Company record:

• Add company mission, values, culture notes
• Recent news and announcements
• Products and services
• Competitors and market position
• Financial performance (if public)

Opportunity Details

In the Opportunity record:

• Full job description
• Key requirements and nice-to-haves
• Team structure and reporting
• Growth opportunities mentioned
• Red flags or concerns

Interviewer Research

In Contact records:

• LinkedIn profile summary
• Background and experience
• Shared connections or interests
• Published articles or talks
• Role in hiring process

Interview Activity Setup

When scheduling the interview activity:

Activity Notes Section:

Interview Type: [Technical/Behavioral/Culture/Panel]
Duration: [X minutes]
Format: [Video/Phone/In-person]

Interviewers:
- [Name 1] - [Title] - [LinkedIn URL]
- [Name 2] - [Title] - [LinkedIn URL]

Prep Checklist:
□ Research company recent news
□ Review job description
□ Prepare STAR stories
□ Practice technical concepts
□ Prepare questions to ask
□ Test video/audio setup
□ Plan route/test meeting link

Key Topics to Cover:
- [Your relevant experience with X]
- [Your interest in Y]
- [Questions about Z]

Questions to Ask:
1. [About team/role]
2. [About challenges]
3. [About growth]

Using Communications for Prep

Log pre-interview communications with key details:

• Recruiter prep calls
• Insider tips received
• Interview format details
• What they’re looking for
• Who makes decisions

Document Preparation

Resume/Cover Letter Review

1. Open the version you submitted
2. Review what they’ve seen
3. Prepare to expand on any point
4. Note any updates since submission

Create Interview Notes Doc

1. Create new document type “Other”
2. Title: “[Company] Interview Prep”
3. Include:
   • Company research
   • Role requirements mapping
   • STAR stories
   • Questions to ask
   • Post-interview notes

Interview Preparation Workflows

One Week Before

1. Research Phase

   • Update company record with latest info
   • Add all interviewers as contacts
   • Review LinkedIn profiles
   • Google recent news

2. Content Preparation

   • Create interview prep document
   • Map experience to requirements
   • Prepare 5-7 STAR stories
   • List 10+ questions to ask

3. Logistics Check

   • Confirm time and timezone
   • Test video platform
   • Plan outfit
   • Prepare backup plans

Day Before

1. Final Review

   • Re-read job description
   • Review your submitted application
   • Check interviewer updates
   • Practice answers out loud

2. Activity Update

   • Add final prep notes
   • Set calendar reminder
   • Prepare physical materials
   • Get good rest

Day Of

1. Pre-Interview

   • Review prep notes
   • Check technical setup
   • Have water ready
   • Deep breathing

2. During Interview

   • Take brief notes if possible
   • Track actual questions asked
   • Note follow-up items
   • Remember specific details

3. Post-Interview

   • Immediately update activity notes
   • Log key discussion points
   • Schedule thank you activity
   • Update opportunity status

Tracking Interview Intelligence

Questions Database

In your prep documents, track:

• Questions by company
• Questions by role type
• Your best answers
• Areas needing work

Interview Patterns

Notice and document:

• Common question themes
• Company-specific focuses
• Industry trends
• Your performance patterns

Feedback Integration

When you receive feedback:

• Add to opportunity notes
• Update contact records
• Identify improvement areas
• Apply to future prep

STAR Story Framework

Keep stories in a document:

Situation: [Context and challenge]
Task: [Your responsibility]
Action: [Specific steps taken]
Result: [Quantified outcome]

Keywords: [Relevant skills demonstrated]
Variations: [Different angles to highlight]

Common Interview Types

Technical Interviews

Track in notes:

• Coding problems asked
• System design questions
• Technical deep dives
• Tools/languages discussed

Behavioral Interviews

Document:

• Company values alignment
• Leadership principles
• Team collaboration examples
• Problem-solving approaches

Case Interviews

Prepare:

• Industry frameworks
• Common case types
• Your approach method
• Practice results

Post-Interview Actions

1. Update Activity

   • Mark as completed
   • Add detailed notes
   • List follow-up items

2. Send Thank You

   • Create follow-up activity
   • Send within 24 hours
   • Reference specific topics
   • Log as communication

3. Update Records

   • Opportunity status if needed
   • Contact impressions
   • Company insights gained

4. Prep Improvements

   • What went well
   • What to improve
   • New questions to prepare
   • Skills to develop

Limitations and Workarounds

Not Available:

• ❌ Interview question bank
• ❌ Mock interview scheduling
• ❌ Video practice tools
• ❌ Automated prep reminders
• ❌ Interview scoring

Workarounds:

• Use documents for question lists
• External tools for practice
• Manual reminder activities
• Notes for self-assessment

Best Practices

1. Over-Prepare: Better to have extra material than scramble

2. Document Everything: Future you will thank present you

3. Pattern Recognition: Track what works across interviews

4. Iterate and Improve: Each interview makes you better

5. Stay Organized: Consistent note structure helps

Related Guides

• Scheduling Activities
• Interview Notes
• Managing Opportunities