Pro Tips
Last-Minute Interview? Here’s How to Prepare in 24 Hours with Leya AI
Mar 17, 2025
We’ve all been there – you get a call or email about a job opportunity, and they want to interview you right away, maybe tomorrow or even later today. Preparing for a job interview on a tight deadline can feel like an impossible sprint. You might be thinking, “How can I possibly get ready in time?” Don’t panic. While it’s always better to have more time, you can absolutely make the most of the time you do have. In fact, with focused effort, even a single day of preparation can significantly boost your performance. A lot of candidates won’t do much when pressed for time, so if you put in the work (with the help of some smart tools), you’ll already be ahead. Let’s walk through how you can use the next 24 hours to prepare efficiently and effectively – and how Leya AI can act as your rapid prep coach.
Prioritize: Focus on What Matters Most
When time is short, prioritization is your best friend. You likely don’t have hours to spend on every little detail, so focus on high-impact preparation:
Research the company and role (1-2 hours): Quickly familiarize yourself with the company’s mission, products, and recent news. Jot down 2-3 reasons you’re excited about the role and 2-3 ways you meet the key job requirements. This addresses a major failure point – remember, 47% of candidates fail interviews from not knowing enough about the company . You won’t be one of them.
Practice the most common interview questions (2-3 hours): Certain questions are almost guaranteed to come up. “Tell me about yourself”, “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”, “Why do you want this job?” – these are perennial favorites. Since 93% of hiring managers ask “Tell me about yourself” , start there. Outline your answers and practice saying them out loud. If nothing else, having a strong intro and a clear reason for why you want the job will leave a positive impression.
Prepare 2-3 STAR stories: Think of a few solid examples from your past experience that show your skills – a time you solved a problem, a successful project, a conflict you managed, etc. Structure them in the Situation-Task-Action-Result format. These stories can be adapted to various behavioral questions. With limited time, a little practice on these stories will pay off, because you can plug them in for many different questions.
Plan a couple of questions to ask the interviewer: This shows your interest. Given the time crunch, even one thoughtful question about the role or team is fine.
This might look like a lot, but it’s doable in a day if you break it down into tasks. Now, here’s where Leya AI can turbocharge this process.
How Leya AI Can Speed Up Your Last-Minute Prep
Leya AI is like having a personal trainer for interviews on demand – perfect for when you need to cram effectively:
Instant Mock Interview Sessions: Rather than guessing what to practice, jump into a Chat Interview with Leya’s AI recruiter. In minutes, you’ll get a sense of the types of questions that might be asked for your role. The AI will fire off common questions and even some role-specific ones. This not only helps you practice answering, but it reveals any questions you might not have anticipated. It’s far more efficient than trying to brainstorm on your own. And don’t worry if you stumble on the first try – better now than in the real interview. You can quickly learn the areas you need to polish.
Guided Practice for “Tell Me About Yourself”: That opening question is so crucial. If you’re unsure about your answer, tell Leya’s AI a bit about your background and let it help formulate a concise, impactful introduction. The AI can literally simulate the prompt “Tell me about yourself” and then give you feedback on your response. With perhaps 15-20 minutes of iteration, you can refine an intro that normally takes people hours to perfect.
Video Interview Dry Run: If your interview is going to be virtual (and there’s a good chance – 60%+ of recruiters often use video interviews now ), use Leya’s Video Interview feature for a quick dry run. Even a short 10-minute session can make you aware of things like looking at the camera, speaking clearly, and not fidgeting. It’s a quick confidence booster because you’ll feel more familiar with the format. Plus, you can ensure your tech setup is working – nothing worse than wasting your real interview troubleshooting a microphone!
Quiz Yourself on Company/Role Knowledge: Since lack of company knowledge is a killer, use Leya’s Quiz Bank or just ask the AI questions about the role. For instance, ask, “What are some important trends in this industry?” or “What might be the biggest challenge for a [role] at [Company]?” The AI might not know specifics about a company’s internal issues, but it can simulate thoughtful questions. This helps you prepare talking points that show you’ve thought about the role and industry.
Time-Effective Practice: Perhaps the biggest benefit is how fast Leya AI allows you to practice. Within a couple of hours, you could go through multiple mock interviews covering a wide range of questions. Traditionally, setting up one mock interview with a friend or coach could take days of coordination – you don’t have that luxury now. Leya is ready whenever you are, be it midnight or 5 AM, and it doesn’t get tired or impatient. You can replay your answers, adjust, and try again, all in a short span. This kind of rapid iteration is invaluable when every minute counts.
Quick Tips to Shine (Even Last-Minute)
Aside from using Leya AI, keep these quick tips in mind as you prep:
Dress the part, even for a virtual call: Lay out your interview attire now. Dressing professionally will put you in the right mindset, and it prevents last-minute wardrobe scrambles. It also boosts confidence – when you look the part, you feel the part.
Get the logistics sorted: If it’s a video call, check the meeting link, ensure your internet is stable, and your webcam and audio work. Do a 1-minute test call with a friend or record yourself if you can. This is one less thing to worry about on interview day.
Use cheat sheets (wisely): One perk of virtual or phone interviews is you can have some notes in front of you. Jot down key bullet points – your STAR story headlines, company facts, questions to ask – and keep it handy. Don’t read off it verbatim, but a quick glance can help if your mind goes blank. Just avoid shuffling papers obviously on camera.
Mind your mindset: Take a couple of short breaks during your prep to stretch and breathe. It’s easy to get overwhelmed when cramming. A little exercise or even a brisk walk can clear your head and help you absorb what you’ve practiced. Also, remind yourself: the fact that you got an interview on short notice means they are interested in you. So go in with the mindset that they already like you – your job now is to confirm their positive impression.
Stay Calm and Confident – You’ve Got This!
Yes, a last-minute interview can spike your adrenaline, but it can also work in your favor. Sometimes not overthinking is good – you’ll be more natural and authentic. By using the hours you have wisely, you can walk into (or log into) the interview feeling surprisingly composed. Practice breeds confidence, even if squeezed into a short timeframe. In fact, studies show doing even one mock interview can significantly reduce anxiety and improve performance . So, those few practice runs with Leya AI are going to make a real difference.
On the day of the interview, do a quick warm-up: perhaps run one more quick Q&A with Leya or simply speak out loud your answers to the top 3 questions you expect. This will get you in the groove. Then, take a deep breath and remind yourself of all the prep you managed to do. Walk in with your head high – many candidates in your situation would have done far less.
Ace Your Interview with Leya AI – Even on a Tight Deadline
Opportunities often come when we least expect them. The fact that you have an interview on short notice means something is going right – your resume or networking worked – and you’ve got a shot at the job. With Leya AI as your secret weapon, you can maximize your preparation in minimal time. Users have found that even a few hours with Leya can leave them feeling interview-ready, a sentiment backed by data: candidates are twice as likely to get an offer after thorough mock interview practice . That could be you tomorrow.
So, if you have an interview looming and the clock is ticking, turn to Leya AI to get you in shape, fast. Try Leya AI’s chat and video interviews, quiz bank, and more – even if you only have an evening to prepare – and see the impact on your confidence. Instead of worrying, you’ll be actively improving. When you finally sit face-to-face (or face-to-screen) with your interviewer, they’ll see a candidate who is poised, knowledgeable, and ready to tackle any question despite the short notice. That speaks volumes about your professionalism and drive. Good luck – you’re about to show that even under time pressure, you can deliver your best. Use Leya AI, and go ace that interview!