How to Prepare for a Job Interview in 24 Hours (A Calm, High-Return Plan)

That calendar alert lands like a dropped plate. Tomorrow, 10:00. Interview. Your day suddenly has a before and after.

In the next 24 hours, you won’t become a new person or learn a whole new skill. But you can walk in with clear proof you fit the role, a handful of strong stories, and the calm energy that makes interviewers relax around you. This plan works for in-person and video interviews, and it’s built to cut noise, not add it.

Your 24-hour interview prep plan (what to do, hour by hour)

Treat this like packing for an overnight trip. You’re not moving house, you’re taking the essentials.

Use the timeline below from “now” until interview time. If your interview is early morning, shift the blocks earlier and put the “logistics” section the night before.

If you only have 3 to 4 hours total, do the first three blocks and a short mock. Everything else is extra.

First 60 minutes: lock in the basics from the job description

Read the job ad two or three times, slowly. The first read is for the big picture, the second is for patterns, the third is for proof.

As you scan, highlight:

• Top tasks (what you’ll do most weeks)
• Tools (software, systems, methods)
• Soft skills (how they want you to work)

Now do the part most people skip. Turn it into a tiny checklist of what you must prove, and keep it to three key requirements, not twelve. Three is memorable, and it keeps your answers sharp.

Mini template (copy into notes and fill it in fast):

They need X, I’ve done X at Y, result was Z.

Example:
They need stakeholder management, I ran weekly updates across sales and ops at a retail firm, result was fewer late handovers and faster sign-off.

This gives you an “answer spine”. When you’re nervous, you can still stand upright.

For more last-minute prep ideas, the checklist on https://career-advice.jobs.ac.uk/academic-interviews/interview-in-less-than-24-hours/ is a useful sanity check, even if you’re not applying in academia.

Next 2 to 3 hours: fast company research that actually helps your answers

Your goal isn’t to memorise the whole company. It’s to collect two proof points you can mention naturally.

Scan, in this order:

1. Company website: what they sell, who they serve, how they talk about values.
2. Recent news: launches, funding, partnerships, expansion, controversies (know the basics, don’t gossip).
3. Leadership posts: LinkedIn snippets, podcasts, short interviews. Look for repeated themes.
4. Role context: where the role sits (team, reporting line, what “success” likely means in 90 days).

Pick two proof points you can name in the interview, such as:

• a recent product launch or service change
• a new market, client group, or stated mission

Then write a five-minute “why this company” script outline:

• What you like: one specific thing (product, mission, customer focus)
• Why it fits you: one link to your past work
• What you’d bring: one outcome you’re aiming for

Keep it simple. You’re not pitching poetry. You’re showing you paid attention.

Build 6 strong stories with STAR so you never freeze

When time is tight, perfect wording is a trap. Stories are safer. They give you something to hold when your mind goes blank, like a handrail on steep steps.

Think of it as a small toolkit. Six tools. Most jobs can be built with that.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep answers tight

STAR helps you stop rambling without sounding rehearsed:

• Situation: where you were, what was happening (1 sentence)
• Task: what you needed to achieve (1 sentence)
• Action: what you did (most of your answer)
• Result: what changed (finish strong)

Make the “Action” part mainly “I did…” statements. If you say “we” a lot, add one line that clarifies your part.

Add numbers where you can, even small ones: time saved, errors reduced, customer response, money handled, volume processed. If you don’t have numbers, use before-and-after language (slower to faster, messy to organised, unclear to agreed).

Aim for 60 to 120 seconds, then stop. Ending cleanly is a skill.

Pick the 6 stories that cover most interview questions

Choose story themes that map to common questions:

• A tough problem you solved under pressure
• A conflict (with a colleague or stakeholder) you handled well
• A clear win you’re proud of
• A mistake you made and fixed (show learning, not shame)
• Initiative (you improved something without being asked)
• Learning fast (new tool, new process, new domain)

Quick prompts to pull details fast:

• What was the mess at the start?
• What did you decide first?
• What did you say or do that changed the direction?
• What’s the proof it worked?

After each story, tag it to your role checklist from the first hour. If a story doesn’t prove one of your top three requirements, park it.

Practise like it’s match day: answers out loud, not in your head

In your head, you sound brilliant. Out loud, you discover where you waffle, where you rush, and where you forget the point.

Out-loud practice turns nerves into something useful, like steam powering a kettle.

Run a quick mock interview and record one take

Do one simple session:

• Set a timer for 20 minutes.
• Answer 8 common questions out loud (no scripts in your hand).
• Record it on your phone.
• Watch it once and check only three things: speed, clarity, filler words.

Then do a short loop: re-record your worst answer twice, fix one thing each time, and move on. Don’t chase “perfect”. Chase “clear”.

If you want structured practice prompts, the UK Government guidance on https://jobhelp.campaign.gov.uk/improve-your-chances-of-getting-a-job/cv-job-applications-interviews/making-your-mark-in-job-interviews/before-the-interview/practice-your-interview-answers/ is a solid reference.

Prepare for 2026-style questions, including how you use AI at work

In January 2026, many interviews include video stages, skills checks, and direct questions about hybrid working. AI also shows up, both in how companies screen and how candidates prepare.

Be ready for:

• Tell me about yourself (keep it to 90 seconds, present to past to future)
• Why this role, why now
• Strengths and weakness (one real weakness, one real fix)
• Salary expectations (give a range, tie it to market and scope)
• Employment gaps (brief, honest, then back to what you learned)
• Remote vs office preferences (match what they can offer, be clear)

And the AI question: “Do you use AI at work?”

A safe, honest angle:

• AI helps with drafts, summaries, and research
• You keep human judgement for decisions and tone
• You respect data privacy (no sensitive info in public tools)

Bring one example: “I use AI to generate first-pass meeting notes, then I edit for accuracy and action points.”

If you’d like more interview practice content, this Career Decoded YouTube channel is worth browsing: https://www.youtube.com/@CareerDecoded-k5g

Make the day smooth: outfit, tech, travel, and nerves

Preparation isn’t only words. It’s everything that stops you arriving frazzled.

Get your look and logistics ready tonight

Set things up like you’re reducing friction on a door. Tomorrow should open easily.

For in-person:

• Outfit that matches the company’s level, plus clean shoes
• Spare shirt or top (even if you don’t need it)
• Printed CV copies, a pen, notes, ID, water
• Route checked, time padded, transport backup

For video:

• Camera at eye level, simple background, light facing you
• Mic test, charger plugged in, notifications off
• Wi‑Fi backup plan (hotspot or a second location)
• Notes placed beside the screen, not in your lap

Put everything by the door or on your desk before bed. It’s a small act that buys calm.

For a practical “what to do the day before” list, https://www.interview-skills.co.uk/blog/what-to-do-24-hours-before-your-interview is a useful cross-check.

Calm your nerves with a simple plan for blank moments

Blank moments happen. Plan for them, and they lose their bite.

Try this:

• 60 seconds of slow breathing (in for 4, hold for 4, out for 4, hold for 4)
• Feet flat on the floor, shoulders down, jaw unclenched
• A pause line you can use without shame: “That’s a good question, let me think for a moment.”

A calm pause often reads as confidence, not weakness.

Conclusion

In 24 hours, your best results come from four pillars: role basics, company insight, STAR stories, and out-loud practice plus logistics. Do those well, and you’ll sound prepared because you are prepared.

Tonight, set your outfit and set your space. In the morning, review your notes for 15 minutes, drink water, and arrive or log in early. After the interview, send a short thank-you message that links one story to what they said they need. That final touch can be the difference between “nice chat” and “clear hire.”