An interview is not a test of memory. It is a conversation where the employer is trying to answer one question: can this person do the job and will they be easy to work with. Prepare around that.
Research the company for real
Spend twenty minutes on their website, their LinkedIn and recent news. Know what they sell, who their customers are, and one recent thing they did. When you mention it naturally in the room, you stand out immediately.
Use the STAR method
For "tell me about a time" questions, answer in four beats: Situation, Task, Action, Result. Keep the Situation short and spend most of your words on the Action you personally took and the Result you got. Rambling with no result is the most common mistake.
Prepare for the usual questions
- Tell me about yourself. Give a ninety-second story, not your life history.
- Why do you want this role? Connect their need to your strength, not to your salary.
- What is your biggest weakness? Name a real one and what you are doing about it.
- Why did you leave your last job? Stay honest and neutral, never badmouth an old employer.
- Where do you see yourself in five years? Show ambition that fits the role.
Have your own questions ready
When they ask "do you have any questions," always say yes. Ask about what success looks like in the first six months, how the team is structured, or what they enjoy about working there. It shows you are serious.
Sort out the logistics
For an in-person interview, know the route and leave early. Lagos traffic has ended more interviews than any hard question. For a virtual interview, test your camera, mic and data the day before, find a quiet spot with light in front of you, and have your CV open.
Follow up
A short thank-you message the same day, through the platform or email, keeps you fresh in their mind. Two lines is enough. It is rare in Nigeria and it works.