You got the interview. The immediate feeling is excitement, quickly followed by: what do I actually do with seven days?
Most people prepare inconsistently — spending too long on some things (reading the company website five times) and not enough on others (saying answers out loud). This plan distributes your preparation so that by day seven, you're not last-minute cramming — you're reviewing and resting.
Day 1: Research and Role Analysis (60 minutes)
- Read the job description line by line. Highlight every skill and competency mentioned.
- Research the company: business model, recent news, competitors, size, culture signals.
- Look up your interviewers on LinkedIn.
- Write a one-page brief: company summary, key role requirements, interviewer backgrounds, 5 questions you want to ask.
Day 2: Story Bank (90 minutes)
Map your 8–10 strongest career stories to the competencies from the job description. For each story, note: situation, your specific actions, the outcome (with numbers), what it demonstrates.
You're not writing full scripts — you're creating anchors that you can expand in any direction depending on the question.
Day 3: Core Questions — First Pass (60 minutes)
- Prepare your "tell me about yourself" answer out loud — timed at 90 seconds.
- Prepare your "why this company?" answer — specific, not generic.
- Prepare your greatest strength and greatest weakness answers.
- Draft answers to the top 5 questions likely for this specific role.
Day 3 is about first pass, not perfect. Get something structured into your head, then sleep on it. Answers improve overnight as your brain processes and organises.
Day 4: Speak It Out Loud (60 minutes)
Everything from days 1–3 — spoken aloud, out loud, not in your head. Record yourself on your phone. Listen back. This is uncomfortable. Do it anyway.
Pay attention to: filler words (um, er, like, basically), answer length (anything over 2 minutes needs cutting), pace (most people speak too fast when nervous).
Day 5: Practise Hard Questions (60 minutes)
- "Tell me about a time you failed."
- "Describe a conflict with a colleague."
- "What is your greatest weakness?"
- "Why are you leaving your current role?"
- "Where do you see yourself in 5 years?"
Practice these until they feel natural, not rehearsed. The test: can you answer them while looking at yourself in the mirror without flinching?
Day 6: Mock Interview (60 minutes)
Ask a trusted person to interview you — or use an AI interview tool. Go through 8–10 questions as if it were real: proper environment, dressed properly, no notes in front of you. Debrief: what felt solid? What needs work?
Day 7: Logistics and Rest
- Confirm the location, time, and format (video or in-person).
- Prepare your outfit, portfolio, copies of your CV.
- Prepare the route or test the video platform.
- Review your company one-pager and your five questions.
- Do not prepare new things. Close the notebook. Rest.
The night before, avoid alcohol, get enough sleep, and do not look at your notes for more than 20 minutes. Overloading the night before creates anxiety, not readiness. You have done the work. Trust it.
Use CentricQ throughout your 7-day plan — with 1,000+ questions, role-specific practice, and AI feedback on every answer you give.
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