Use this 15-minute checklist to prepare for a job interview

Your interviewer will probably open with some form of "Tell me a little about yourself." Plan your answer using a few quick bullet points to keep things brief en then commit it loosely to memory.

• Skip your personal history.
• Give two or three sentences about your career path.
• Mention how you decided to apply to this job.
• Leave enough curiosity that the interviewer becomes excited to learn more about you.

Think about the no.1 thing you really want to know. Line that question up to pose to the hiring manager. Just being curious is a marketable job skill.

For instance, the question could be about the expectations for the role, career advancement, something to help you understand the company culture, or even a qualitative question like, "Why do you see X as important?"