You've Got the Interview. Now Don't Blow It.
Brutus's no-BS interview prep checklist — five minutes, not a course.
Know the Room
- The actual product or service — could you explain it to a stranger in one sentence?
- Their most recent news (funding round, layoffs, a big launch) — silence on this is the #1 tell that you didn't bother.
- Who's interviewing you — a manager cares about different things than a peer will.
- Why this role exists right now — growth, replacement, new function. Ask if it's unclear.
The Questions You Will Get
- "Tell me about yourself" — 60 seconds, role-relevant only, not your life story.
- "Why this company / this role" — needs something specific to them, not generic flattery.
- A real failure, with what changed after — not a humble-brag disguised as a weakness.
- A project you're proud of, told as: situation → what you did → measurable result.
Questions Worth Asking Them
- "What does success look like in this role at 90 days?"
- "What's the biggest challenge facing the team right now?"
- Skip "what's the culture like" — it signals you didn't think of anything sharper.
Day-Of Checklist
- Resume copies if in-person, tested camera and mic if virtual.
- Arrive or log on 5–10 minutes early — not 30.
- One specific thing about the company ready to drop naturally into conversation.
- Know exactly how to get there, or the call link, the night before — not the morning of.
Before any of this matters
Interviews come from applications worth reading
Pick one target role and the Agent pulls live openings off real company boards, rewrites your resume against each job description, and shows you every change before you apply. The first 5 jobs are free.
"Preparation doesn't guarantee the offer. Walking in unprepared guarantees you won't get it. — Brutus"