Interview Lab

Enter your cohort password to continue

0% complete

Welcome to Interview Lab

Your complete interview readiness system — from decoding the job description to signing the offer. Use the tabs above to navigate every stage of your preparation.

Your Progress
Tasks completed across all sections
0 / 0
tasks checked off
Where to Start
Not sure where to begin?
Cohort Roadmap
6 sessions · 2–3 hours each
1
Decode
2
Position
3
Prepare
4
Practise
5
Improve
6
Follow Up
"Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity."— Seneca
Cohort Sessions
Click a session card to mark it complete

Readiness Check

Tell us where you are right now and we'll point you to exactly what you need. Select your role type and how you're feeling about the interview.

How are you feeling right now?
Be honest — this helps us route you to what matters most
I am panickingI don't know where to start
I need structureI have ideas but no framework
I need practiceI know what to say but need to drill it
I need polishI'm ready but want to sharpen edges
Take a breath. Here is your immediate action plan:

1. Go to JD Analyzer — paste the job description and extract the keywords
2. Go to Before — work through the company research checklist
3. Go to Pitch — build your "Tell me about yourself" answer
4. Go to During — pick your interview type and read the prep guide

Do those four things and you will be significantly more prepared than most candidates walking in.
Good — structure is everything. Here is your path:

1. Go to Frameworks — choose STARL, SOAR, PIIAO, or IMPACT
2. Go to Answer Bank — write out 5 strong stories using your chosen framework
3. Go to During — review what's being assessed at each interview stage
4. Go to Pitch — build your positioning around the role
Practice mode. Here is where to focus:

1. Go to Mock Drill — work through questions one at a time under pressure
2. Go to Presence — check your voice, body language, and gravitas
3. Go to Answer Bank — review and refine your saved stories
4. Go to After — prepare your follow-up email template in advance
Final polish. Here is your checklist:

1. Go to Presence → Gravitas tab — review framing, silence, and impact language
2. Go to During → your interview type — check the "Mistakes to Avoid" section
3. Go to Pitch — read your pitch aloud. Does it still feel right?
4. Go to After — prepare your thank-you note and silence strategy in advance

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 your interview type for 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 next can be the difference.

          Thank You Notes
          Send within 24 hours — one per interviewer
            When There Is Silence
            What to do when you hear nothing back
            Day 1–3: Do nothing. Hiring takes longer than candidates expect. Give them space.
            Day 4–7: Send one polite follow-up email if you haven't heard. Use the template in the After section below. One email only.
            Day 8–14: If still nothing, send one final brief email expressing continued interest and asking if there's an update on timeline.
            After 2 weeks: Move on mentally. Keep applying. If they come back, great. Do not put your job search on hold for one company.
            Never: Call the office repeatedly, send more than two follow-up emails, or express frustration in writing. Silence is not always rejection — but desperation is always noticed.
            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. Evidence-based answers always beat generic ones.

                Which Framework Should I Use?
                A quick guide
                STARL — Go-to for most behavioural questions. The Learning step sets you apart.
                SOAR — Adversity, conflict, or failure questions. The Obstacle adds authenticity.
                PIIAO — Complex or strategic situations. Shows analytical depth.
                IMPACT — Leadership, change management, senior roles. Full arc from insight to difference.
                Universal rule: Always end with a number. "Improved satisfaction by 34% in 90 days" beats "improved satisfaction" every time.

                Presence & Delivery

                How you show up is as important as what you say. Master your voice, body, framing, and environment.

                Virtual Interview Setup
                Your environment is part of your personal brand
                  Camera & Eye Contact
                  Virtual eye contact is a skill most candidates get wrong
                  Look at the camera, not the screen. Tape a small arrow above your camera as a reminder.
                  Camera at eye level. Looking down into a laptop creates a power-down effect. Raise your screen.
                  Frame yourself mid-chest up. Test your framing before every call.
                  Natural eye contact includes glances away. Occasional nods show you're listening.
                  Virtual Pitfalls
                  Looking at yourself in the corner — it reads as distraction.
                  Bad lighting — dark or backlit faces feel distant. Light must be in front of you.
                  Cluttered backgrounds — clean and neutral always.
                  Fidgeting or swivelling — stillness signals confidence.
                  Joining late with tech excuses — test everything 15 minutes beforehand.
                  In-Person Readiness
                  The interview starts the moment you enter the building
                    Entering the Room
                    Walk in with purpose. Slow, deliberate movement signals calm confidence.
                    Greet everyone. Eye contact, smile, use their name. Not just the senior person.
                    Wait to sit until invited. Small gesture, big signal.
                    Settle before you speak. Place your folder, breathe, make eye contact — then begin.
                    Posture & Space
                    Sit tall, not rigid. Lean slightly forward — signals engagement.
                    Own your space. Don't cram belongings to one side.
                    Feet flat on the floor. Grounded posture creates grounded delivery.
                    Voice, Tone & Pace
                    Slow down. Nerves speed us up. Practise at 70% of your natural speed.
                    Use strategic pauses. 2–3 seconds before a key answer signals confidence.
                    Drop your pitch at sentence ends. Uptalk makes statements sound like questions.
                    Vary pace for emphasis. The thing said slowest is the thing remembered.
                    Project warmth. Smiling changes the sound of your voice. Use it.
                    Words That Undermine Presence
                    "Um", "uh", "like", "you know" — replace with silence.
                    "I'm not sure if this is what you're looking for, but…" — start with your answer.
                    "Basically" and "literally" — dilute your point.
                    "We did this as a team…" — always clarify YOUR specific contribution.
                    "To be honest…" — implies the rest wasn't.
                    Using Your Hands
                    Keep hands visible. Hidden hands read as closed or untrustworthy.
                    Open palms signal honesty. Precision gestures (fingertips together) signal analytical thinking.
                    Match gesture size to your point. Small for detail, wider for big picture.
                    Avoid nervous hands. Before a tough question, rest hands flat on the table to ground yourself.
                    On video: Keep gestures within the camera frame. Movements outside the frame distract.
                    Eye Contact & Being Present
                    3–5 seconds per person. Less feels evasive. More feels intense.
                    In panels: Start with the questioner, include others, return to the questioner.
                    Listen with your whole face. Nod, respond with expression. Active listening is visible.
                    Don't look up when thinking. Looking to the side reads as thoughtful. Up reads as fabricating.
                    Framing & Gravitas
                    Lead with your conclusion. Open with the answer, not the build-up to it.
                    Frame the question before you answer it. "What I think you're asking is…" shows strategic listening.
                    Impact language, not activity language. "Led a team delivering £2M savings in 6 months" not "managed a project."
                    Pause before important answers. "Let me think about that" is a power move.
                    Be comfortable with silence after you finish. Say it — then stop. Let it land.
                    Executive Presence Principles
                    Groundedness

                    Not rattled by tough questions. You respond, not react.

                    Vision

                    You speak in direction, not just tasks. You know where things are going.

                    Warmth

                    Authority without warmth is intimidation. Make people feel seen.

                    Conviction

                    You hold your point of view even when gently pushed back.

                    Adaptability

                    You read the room — formal with a CEO, collaborative with a peer.

                    Ownership

                    First person. You own your decisions, results, and mistakes.

                    Managing Nerves
                    Before you walk in: Breathe in for 4, hold for 4, out for 6. Three times.
                    Power posture: Shoulders back, stand tall for 2 minutes before entering.
                    Name it to tame it: "I'm nervous and that's okay." Accepting it frees your focus.
                    Anchor to your preparation. You have done the work. Trust your stories and frameworks.
                    Remember: They want you to succeed. They have a problem to solve and hope you're the answer.

                    Interview Pitch Builder

                    Build your core interview answers — "Tell me about yourself," "Why this role," and "Why this company." Fill in each section and your pitch will be assembled below.

                    Build Your Pitch
                    Complete each box — keep answers concise and specific
                    Step 1
                    Where you've been
                    Your professional background in 1–2 sentences. Focus on your most relevant experience for this type of role.
                    Step 2
                    What you've built or achieved
                    One or two specific achievements with a number or outcome. This is your credibility moment.
                    Step 3
                    Why this role, now
                    What draws you to this specific opportunity. Reference something real about the role or company.
                    Step 4
                    What you bring
                    Your top 2–3 value-adds for this specific role. Think in their language.

                    Answer Bank

                    Write and save your own interview stories here. Aim for 6–10 strong examples covering different competencies. Use a storytelling framework for each.

                    Mock Interview Drill

                    Questions come up one at a time. Think, structure your answer using a framework, then reveal the coaching tip. Build confidence through repetition.

                    Filter by type
                    Behavioural
                    Loading question...
                    How to use this drill
                    Read the question. Pause. Decide which framework fits best — STARL, SOAR, PIIAO, or IMPACT. Structure your answer mentally or out loud. Then reveal the tip to check your approach.
                    Aim for 10 questions per session. Repeat questions you found difficult. The goal is automatic, confident structure — not memorised answers.

                    JD Analyzer

                    Paste any job description and we'll extract keywords, flag skills to prepare, and generate questions to ask.

                    Paste Job Description
                    Follow-Up Email Templates
                    Copy, personalise, and send — always within 24 hours