"What's the best way to prepare for a job interview?"

Research the company like you're going to write an article about them. Not just the 'About Us' page—their recent news, their competitors, their challenges. Know why you want THIS job at THIS company, not just any job. Prepare 3-5 stories from your experience that show different skills (leadership, problem-solving, collaboration, handling failure). Use the STAR format but make them feel natural, not rehearsed. Prepare questions that show you've thought about the role, not just 'what's the culture like?' Try: 'What does success look like in this role in the first 90 days?' or 'What's the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?' Practice out loud. Not in your head—out loud. Your mouth needs to have said these words before the interview. And get there early, breathe, remember: they want you to be good. They're not hoping you fail.

Three things: 1) Know your stories cold. Every interview is 'tell me about a time when...' Have 5 go-to examples you can adapt. 2) Research beyond the first Google page. Find their challenges, their competitors, what's happening in their industry. Ask smart questions that show you've done homework. 3) Practice out loud, ideally with another human. The answer in your head and the answer that comes out of your mouth are different things. Bonus: Send a thank-you email within 24 hours. Most people don't. Be most people's exception.

Research the company and role. Prepare answers to common questions using the STAR method. Practice answering out loud. Prepare questions to ask them. Plan your outfit and route. Get good sleep the night before. Arrive early and stay calm.