To prepare for an interview, work through five blocks: company research (what they do, their culture, recent news), your answers to the classic questions structured with the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), the questions you will ask the recruiter, the logistics (documents in PDF, the journey, your outfit) and your opening pitch. That last point is decisive: nearly a third of recruiters form a first opinion in the first 90 seconds. Methodical preparation turns stress into confidence.
"I landed the interview, so now what do I prepare, and in what order?" That is the question that comes up the moment the invitation lands. We know we need to "research the company" and "prepare our answers," but without a method, we go in circles the night before, reread our CV without knowing what to do with it, and show up tense.
The good news: preparing for an interview is not mysterious. It is a checklist. In this article, we run through it block by block, with the codes of the Swiss market, so you arrive on the day confident and without forgetting anything.
What should you research about the company?
This is the foundation. A candidate who knows the company signals seriousness and motivation, two qualities that are highly valued in French-speaking Switzerland. Conversely, knowing nothing is noticed immediately.
Focus on what will actually help you in the interview, not on a pointless encyclopedia:
- What they do and the products or services. What the company sells, to whom, and its position in the market.
- The culture and values. Check the website, social media and the "about" page. Notice the tone, what they highlight.
- Recent news. A funding round, a new office, a product launch. Referring to it shows you genuinely did your homework.
- The approximate size. A family-run Swiss SME and a large group do not have the same expectations or the same interview rhythm.
- The person meeting you. If their name is in the invitation, a quick look at their professional profile tells you who you will be speaking with.
The goal is not to recite, but to be able to answer "why us?" naturally with concrete elements, and to anchor your examples in their reality.
How do you structure your answers with the STAR method?
Most tough questions are about your past behaviour: "Tell me about a time when…". The recruiter is trying to predict how you will act with them based on what you have already done. The STAR method is the go-to tool for answering clearly.
| Step | What you tell | Example thread |
|---|---|---|
| S · Situation | The context, briefly | "Our team had lost two colleagues right in the middle of peak season." |
| T · Task | Your specific role | "I had to make sure client deliveries went out on time." |
| A · Action | What YOU actually did | "I reorganised the schedule and trained two temporary staff." |
| R · Result | The outcome, ideally with numbers | "Zero late deliveries over the quarter, client satisfaction maintained." |
Prepare four to six STAR stories from your career. Choose them to cover what recruiters test most often: teamwork, autonomy, handling a conflict, an achievement you are proud of, a failure and what you learned from it. Well built, these stories can be reused: the same situation can answer several questions.
Alongside these accounts, anticipate the ritual questions: "Tell me about yourself," "What are your strengths and weaknesses?", "Where do you see yourself in five years?", "Why this role?". Do not write out a text to recite, prepare key points you will phrase out loud, in your own words. To go further, our guide to job interview questions in Switzerland breaks down the most frequent phrasings and how to answer them.
What questions should you ask the recruiter?
An interview is not a one-way interrogation: it is also the moment when you assess whether the role suits you. Having no question, or saying "no, everything is clear," leaves an impression of disinterest. Prepare three or four in advance.
A few leads that show real thought:
- "What sets apart someone who does particularly well in this role?"
- "What would my first challenges be in the first three to six months?"
- "How is the team organised day to day?"
- "What are the next steps in the process?"
Avoid opening on salary or holidays in a first interview in Switzerland: these topics get discussed, but rather once mutual interest is confirmed.
Logistics: what should you prepare the day before?
This is the block people neglect, and one that, handled badly, sabotages solid preparation on substance. Sort everything the day before so you arrive with a clear head.
| To prepare | Detail | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Your documents | CV and cover letter up to date, in PDF, possibly printed in duplicate | A complete file is a sign of rigour appreciated in Switzerland |
| The journey | Route, train time, safety margin | Arriving late is hard to recover from |
| The outfit | Suited to the sector, clean and ironed, ready the night before | Classic for finance or legal, more relaxed for creative fields |
| The video link | Test camera and mic, neutral background, good lighting | For a remote interview, look at the camera, not the screen |
| Your notes | Questions to ask, key points, STAR examples | A discreet reminder reassures without you reciting |
Also check the expected language. In Switzerland, a role may be French-speaking, but the interview can partly switch to German or English depending on the company. If the posting hints at it, prepare a short introduction of yourself in the second language.
Why do the first 90 seconds matter so much?
Your groundwork keeps you going through the whole interview, but the opening carries a lot of weight. According to Michael Chad Hoeppner, a professor at Columbia Business School, you have roughly 90 seconds to truly capture your interviewer's attention, and the way you express yourself plays a key role in that. Several surveys point the same way: nearly a third of recruiters form a first opinion in that short window. The brain then tends to look for whatever confirms that initial impression.
The practical takeaway: take care with your entrance. A firm handshake, eye contact, a smile, a straight posture, and a clear first answer to "tell me about yourself." Prepare that 30 to 60 second opening pitch precisely, because it is often the first thing you will be asked. The rest of your preparation will then confirm the good first impression.
And remember that interview preparation starts upstream, right from the application: a coherent, well-targeted file already sets the tone of seriousness. That is the logic behind candidat.app, which helps you build a CV and a cover letter aligned with each posting from your real background, so you walk into the interview with a file that reflects who you are. If you want to understand how your CV is read first, our article on how the ATS works complements this step nicely.
Summary
Preparing for an interview comes down to five blocks. Do your research on the company (what they do, culture, news), prepare your answers to the classic questions and four to six solid STAR stories, plan the questions you will ask the recruiter, sort the logistics the day before (documents in PDF, journey, outfit, video), and work on your opening, because the first 90 seconds weigh heavily on the first impression. In Switzerland, rigour and motivation backed by concrete facts make the difference. Methodical preparation does not remove stress, but it turns it into confidence.
FAQ
How long does it take to prepare for an interview?
Ideally count two to four hours spread across the days beforehand, not the night before in one go. A first stretch for company research, a second to build your STAR examples and your answers, a last one for logistics. Spreading it out avoids saturation and lets the content settle.
What exactly is the STAR method?
STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. It is a structure for telling an experience clearly: the context, your specific role, what you actually did, and the outcome with numbers if possible. Recruiters value it because it proves your skills through facts rather than claims.
Do you really need to prepare questions for the recruiter?
Yes. Having no question leaves an impression of disinterest. Prepare three or four about the role, the team or the next steps. Avoid bringing up salary and holidays in a first interview in Switzerland; these topics get discussed once mutual interest is confirmed.
How do you handle stress before an interview?
Stress comes mostly from uncertainty. The more concrete your preparation, the fewer grey areas remain. Sort the logistics the day before, rehearse your introduction out loud, and remember an interview is an exchange, not an exam: you are also assessing whether the role suits you.
Does an interview in Switzerland have any specifics?
Yes, a few. Punctuality, a complete and polished file, motivation backed by facts, and restraint in presentation are all valued. Also check the expected language: depending on the company, the interview can switch to German or English, even for a role based in French-speaking Switzerland.