How much time preparing for an interview?

[Sunandseaforme]

I have an interview in a couple of days for a job I really want. I’m starting to panic a bit and wondering if I’ve done enough prep. Time wise, how much does everyone do for a middle management role (£40k)? It’s internal so I’ve got a lot of knowledge already and know the interviewers.
So far I’ve probably spent about 20 hours revising examples of work, preparing question answers, reviewing internal policies, preparing a 10 minute presentation and a bit of coaching with colleagues in similar roles.
I’ve only had a week to prepare and was at work at the weekend so have had to fit it in.
I have terrible anxiety at the moment and I also just buried my Dad two weeks ago so am feeling extra anxious and am now panicking I haven’t done enough.
Have I missed anything?

I have a job interview at the end of this week. I am starting my prep from today - not as big a job role as yours mindyou. If you have a good knowledge of the role I'm sure you've done enough. Sometimes if you over do it - when it comes to the interview you could go blank. Im just doing an hour or 2 each night this week. All the very best & good luck. I'm sure you will do great :) x

Thank you. It feels like a decent amount but it’s been years since I’ve been for an interview so just wanted a sense check. Good luck with your interview too!

I think you've done a really good amount - when I first read it I thought it was heaps, but actually I probably did a similar amount for a recent (successful!) job interview.

Good luck 🙂.

I don't think it is the hours of prep you do, but whether you feel ready to answer the questions. Do you have examples, have you Googled the likely interview questions and have an answer for each one.

Is the interview in person?

I don't do anything like that, I probably do 5-6 hours. I do more for the application I guess and then refresh if I get called for interview.

I read the JD and write a list of possible questions. Think of a handful of relevant examples that I can use for various questions. Read the relevant webpages etc.

I do put quite a bit of effort into what I will ask them and make sure to tell them anything I especially wanted to mention that doesn't come up naturally.

Good luck!

Never too long. I don’t want to sound like a robot or too scripted. But that’s just me. I have a second interview in the morning for a job I really want.

Its a bit like essay writing. You can prepare well in advance and write your word count bit by bit but sometimes brilliant ideas come right before the deadline.

I tend to do 'general prep' that I can use in most of the interviews I'll have on a run of jobseeking and then specific prep for that particular company.

My profession is quite competitive, but lots of jobs around ( usually) which translates to lots of jobs but lots of competition so I can expect to go for around one interview a week but do maybe 10 interviews before I get a yes. So the generic/ specific approach works

To answer your question, about 6-8 hours generic prep and then maybe 2-3 hours per interview specific prep plus a refresher on the generic stuff

Thanks all, that’s really reassuring! I’ll stop adding new information and just do a quick refresher the day before.

You've certainly done enough, imo!

I'm sorry about your dad, this must be a very stressful time for you. Try to be gentle with yourself, regardless.

Well it’s done now. The presentation went well I think. I didn’t do badly on the competency questions but I do think I was a bit determined to use my good examples rather than focusing on if they really answered the question…oh well, not much I can do now.

🤞🤞🤞🤞

Good luck OP!

Just a quick update - I have a second interview!

Well done! Your prep obviously paid off. Have they told you what to expect for this one?

Well done! Good luck

Well done OP!!

No idea yet what the second interview is but apparently they’re sending more details on Monday.

Well done on the second interview! I don't think I have ever prepped for more than an hour or so, I'm management level in HR. I think I mainly get jobs based on clicking with the interviewer but I know my stuff so I don't tend to focus too long on prep. I'd say 20 hours is excessive but it did you well, try to relax for your second interview.

I think it depends how "ready" for the job you are. For my current job, I prepared like you with lots of examples of where I'd met the criteria, but the job was a big step up for me and I'd had to dig deep/think laterally to come up with the examples.

I start a new job next week which is basically the same as the one I've been doing for the last few years, but better location and hours. I could easily answer their questions with genuine examples from my every day life, so whilst I'd thought about it in advance, I didn't prepare actual answers iyswim
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🙌🙌🙌

Yeah I don’t think I’ll do very much for the second interview. I think it was just the anxiety at work. I do have the knowledge so I’m going to try and relax a bit more.

That's great, all the best for the second. It sounds like you've done plenty.

Well done and good luck for the second interview.

I had my interview. It went bloody awful. Questions were fine but could I get half the words out. No! I came out crying. This is why I don't do them. I know about the job but just being in that 'formal' setting makes me clam right up. Anyone else like this?

Well done @Sunandseaforme on your 2nd interview. Your hours of Prep is paying off. Good luck for the 2nd one

Oh no, that sounds horrible. My employer has been known to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for candidates with anxiety like this - including sharing the questions or theme of questions in advance - it may be worth asking?