Welcome to Interview Lab
Your group coaching cohort — from job description deep-dives to signed offers. Track your progress, prep for every interview type, and master the storytelling frameworks that set candidates apart.
Your Progress
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Quick Start
Jump straight into interview prep
Cohort Roadmap
6 sessions · 2–3 hours each
1
Foundations
2
JD Deep Dive
3
Before
4
During
5
After
6
Mock + Offer
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."— Seneca
Cohort Sessions
Click a session card to mark it complete
Before the Interview
Everything to research, prepare, and bring — before you ever walk in the door or join the call.
Company Research
Know them before they know you
Job Description Prep
Decode every line of the JD
Personal Preparation
Your story, your examples, your questions
Logistics Checklist
Day-of essentials
During the Interview
Select the interview type you're preparing for and get a tailored prep guide — including what's being assessed and how to answer each question.
Which interview are you preparing for?
After the Interview
The interview isn't over when you leave. What you do in the next 24–72 hours can be decisive.
Thank You Notes
Send within 24 hours — one per interviewer
Self-Debrief
Reflect before you forget
Offer & Negotiation
When the offer comes in
Lab Tip: Never accept on the spot. Ask for 24–48 hours. Every offer is negotiable.
Storytelling Frameworks
Choose the right framework for each question. All four structures help you give focused, evidence-based answers — pick the one that best fits the story you're telling.
Which Framework Should I Use?
A quick guide to picking the right one
STARL — Your go-to for most behavioral questions. The Learning step shows self-awareness most candidates miss.
SOAR — Use for adversity, tough challenges, or failure questions. The Obstacle element adds authenticity.
PIIAO — Use for complex problems, systemic issues, or strategic decisions. Shows analytical depth.
IMPACT — Use for leadership, change management, or senior roles needing the full arc from insight to measurable difference.
Universal rule: Always end with a number. "We improved satisfaction" is weak. "We improved satisfaction by 34% in 90 days" is memorable.
Presence & Delivery
How you show up is as important as what you say. Master your voice, body, framing, and environment — and you'll be remembered long after the interview ends.
Virtual Interview Setup
Your environment is part of your personal brand
Camera & Eye Contact
Virtual eye contact is a skill — most candidates get it wrong
Look at the camera, not the screen. When you look at their face on screen you appear to be looking down. Tape a small arrow just above your camera as a reminder.
Position your camera at eye level. Looking down into a laptop camera creates a power-down effect. Raise your screen on books or a stand.
Frame yourself from mid-chest up. Too close feels intense. Too far feels disengaged. Test your framing before every call.
Don't stare unblinkingly. Natural eye contact includes occasional glances away — just as in person. Occasional nods show you're listening.
Virtual Pitfalls to Avoid
Small things that silently undermine your presence
Looking at yourself in the corner of the screen — it reads as distraction or vanity.
Bad lighting — dark or backlit faces feel distant. Always have light in front of you, not behind.
Cluttered or distracting backgrounds — keep it clean and neutral.
Fidgeting, swivelling in your chair, or moving the camera — stillness signals confidence.
Joining late with "sorry, just sorting my tech" — test everything 15 minutes beforehand.
In-Person Readiness
The interview starts the moment you enter the building
Entering the Room
First impressions are made in seconds — before you say a word
Walk in with purpose. Slow, deliberate movement signals calm confidence. Rushing signals anxiety.
Greet everyone in the room. Make eye contact, smile, and use their name. Don't just greet the most senior person.
Wait to sit until invited. A small gesture that shows social awareness and respect.
Settle before you speak. Place your folder, take a breath, make brief eye contact — then begin. Rushing into talking signals nerves.
Posture & Space
How you occupy the room communicates before you open your mouth
Sit tall, not rigid. Lean slightly forward — it signals engagement. Leaning back too far reads as arrogance or disengagement.
Own your space. Keep your belongings organised, not crammed to one side. Confident use of physical space builds credibility.
Feet flat on the floor. Crossed legs or jiggling feet signal anxiety. Grounded posture creates grounded delivery.
Voice, Tone & Pace
Your voice is a tool. Used well, it creates authority, warmth, and trust.
Slow down. Nerves make us speak fast. Fast speech signals anxiety. Practise speaking at 70% of your natural speed.
Use strategic pauses. A 2–3 second pause before a key answer signals confidence and thoughtfulness — not hesitation.
Drop your pitch at the end of statements. Uptalk — raising your voice at sentence ends — makes statements sound like questions and undermines authority.
Vary your pace for emphasis. Speed up for background context, slow down for your key message. The thing said slowest is the thing remembered.
Project warmth, not just authority. Smile when appropriate — it literally changes the sound of your voice and builds rapport.
Words That Undermine Your Presence
Eliminate these from your interview vocabulary
"Um", "uh", "like", "you know" — replace with silence. A pause is always better than a filler word.
"I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but…" — start with your answer, not an apology for it.
"Basically" and "literally" — overused, they dilute your point and sound casual.
"We did this as a team…" without clarifying your role — always lead with what YOU specifically did.
"To be honest…" or "Honestly…" — implies the rest of your answers weren't honest.
Using Your Hands
Controlled hand gestures increase perceived competence and warmth
Keep hands visible. Hands hidden under the table read as closed or untrustworthy. Rest them lightly on the table or in your lap.
Use deliberate open gestures. Open palms signal honesty. Precision gestures (fingertips together) signal analytical thinking. Both are powerful.
Match gesture size to your point. Small gestures for detail, wider gestures for big-picture ideas.
Avoid nervous hands. Fidgeting with a pen, touching your face, or clasping and unclasping hands signals anxiety. Before a tough question, rest hands flat on the table to ground yourself.
On video: Keep gestures within the camera frame. Large gestures that exit the frame are distracting.
Eye Contact & Being Present
Presence is making people feel they are the only person in the room
Hold eye contact for 3–5 seconds per person. Less feels evasive. More feels intense.
Distribute your gaze in panel interviews. Start with the questioner, include others as you answer, return to the questioner at the end.
Listen with your whole face. Nod, raise eyebrows, let your expression respond to what you're hearing. Active listening is visible.
Don't look up when thinking. Looking to the side reads as thoughtful. Looking up can read as fabricating.
Framing & Gravitas
Gravitas is not about being serious — it's about being believed
Lead with your conclusion. Don't build to your answer — open with it. "The most important thing I did was X — here's why." Executives think this way.
Frame the question before you answer it. "What I think you're really asking is whether I can manage ambiguity at scale — let me give you an example." This shows strategic listening.
Use the language of impact, not activity. Don't say "I managed a project." Say "I led a team that delivered £2M in cost savings in 6 months."
Pause before important answers. "Let me think about that for a moment" is a power move, not a weakness. It signals your answer will be considered.
Be comfortable with silence after you finish. Say what needs to be said — then stop. Let it land. Over-explaining erodes impact.
Executive Presence Principles
The qualities that make interviewers think: "This person could lead."
Groundedness
You are not rattled by tough questions. You respond, not react. Take a breath, not a panic.
Vision
You speak about your work in terms of direction, not just tasks. You know where things are going — and why.
Warmth
Authority without warmth is intimidation. Compelling leaders make others feel seen, heard, and valued.
Conviction
You have a point of view and you hold it — even when gently pushed back. Certainty is magnetic.
Adaptability
You can read the room and shift register — more formal with a CEO, more collaborative with a peer.
Ownership
You speak in first person. You own your decisions, results, and mistakes — without apology or deflection.
Managing Nerves
Nerves are normal. The goal is not to eliminate them — it's to channel them.
Before you walk in: Take 3 slow, deep breaths — in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6. This activates the parasympathetic nervous system and physically reduces anxiety.
Power posture: Stand tall, shoulders back for 2 minutes before entering. This adjusts your hormonal state and increases feelings of confidence.
Name it to tame it: Briefly acknowledge internally — "I'm nervous, and that's okay." Accepting it frees you to focus.
Anchor to your preparation. You have done the work. Your nerves are a sign you care. Trust your stories, your research, and your frameworks.
Remember: The interviewer wants you to succeed. They have a problem to solve and they're hoping you're the answer.
JD Analyzer
Paste any job description below and we'll break it down — extracting keywords, flagging skills to prep, and generating questions to ask.
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