Preparation is often misunderstood as rehearsal. Candidates spend hours memorising STAR stories or predicting questions, while interviewers often scan the CV five minutes before the call. Both approaches fail to create a meaningful conversation.
The Problem with Scripting
When you script your answers, you stop listening. You start waiting for your turn to speak. This disconnects you from the interviewer and makes the conversation feel transactional rather than relational.
Know Your Evidence, Not Your Lines
Instead of memorising scripts, focus on your evidence bank. What are the 5-7 key projects or experiences that define your career? Know the data, the stakeholders, the challenges, and the outcomes for each.
- Identify your core competencies
- Map 2-3 examples to each competency
- Focus on your specific contribution, not just "we"
- Be ready to discuss failure and learning
Conclusion
Preparation is about confidence, not performance. When you know your evidence, you can handle any question without a script.
