Creating an Interview Cheat Sheet (What to Write)

Your Secret Weapon for Phone Interviews

Phone interviews give you something in-person interviews don’t: the ability to have notes in front of you without anyone seeing them.

An interview cheat sheet isn’t cheating. It’s preparation. The candidates who succeed in phone screens aren’t necessarily smarter or more qualified than those who don’t. They’re often just better prepared, with the right information at their fingertips exactly when they need it.

I’ve been on both sides of this equation. As a job seeker early in my career, my cheat sheet helped me land roles I honestly wasn’t sure I was qualified for. It gave me confidence because I knew my key stories and numbers were right there if my mind went blank. As a hiring manager now, I can immediately tell when a candidate has prepared notes versus when they’re improvising everything. The prepared candidates sound sharper, more specific, more confident.

The difference in outcomes is significant enough that I consider cheat sheet preparation non-negotiable for anyone serious about their job search.

What Belongs on Your Cheat Sheet

Not everything. Not your entire work history. Not paragraphs of text you’ll try to read aloud. Your interview notes template should contain triggers and data points, not scripts. The goal is quick reference, not reading material.

Company Intelligence

The interviewer’s name and title. You’d be surprised how often candidates forget who they’re talking to partway through a call. Having the name visible means you can use it naturally: “That’s a great question, Sarah” sounds personable. Fumbling to remember if you’re talking to Sarah or Susan sounds unprepared.

Recent company news. A product launch. A leadership change. A funding round. A major client win. One or two bullet points that let you demonstrate you’ve done research beyond reading the job posting.

The specific job posting’s key requirements. What skills and experiences did they emphasize? What problems are they trying to solve? Having these visible helps you align your answers to what they’ve explicitly said they need.

Any mutual connections or relevant details you found on LinkedIn. If you noticed the interviewer went to the same university as you, or worked at a company where you know someone, that’s potentially valuable rapport-building information.

Your Numbers

Specific metrics from your experience are powerful but hard to remember under pressure. Revenue generated. Cost savings achieved. Team sizes managed. Percentage improvements. Project budgets. Timeline achievements. Customer satisfaction scores.

Numbers are compelling precisely because they’re specific. “I increased conversion by 23% over six months” is dramatically more convincing than “I significantly improved conversion rates.” But 23% versus 27% versus 32%? You might genuinely not remember which project produced which result. Having your numbers written down means you cite them correctly and confidently.

💡 Pro Tips: Round numbers slightly if the exact figure is awkward. “About 25%” is easier to say naturally than “23.7%,” and the precision difference rarely matters.

Story Triggers

For each major accomplishment or challenge you might discuss, write one or two words that trigger the full memory. Not the complete story. Just enough to remind you which story to tell.

• 📊 Leadership example: “Q3 launch, cross-functional, 2 weeks early”
• 🔥 Challenge overcome: “Budget cut 40%, still delivered MVP”
• 🤝 Conflict resolution: “Marketing disagreement, data resolved it”
• 💡 Innovation story: “Automation idea, saved 10 hrs/week”

When asked about a time you showed leadership, glancing at “Q3 launch” instantly triggers the full story without you needing to read anything. Your answer flows naturally because you’re telling a story you know, not reading one you wrote down.

Your Questions for Them

Have three to five questions ready for when they ask “Do you have any questions for us?” Nothing worse than blanking at this moment. Your questions should show genuine curiosity about the role, team, or company, not just things you could have Googled.

Write them down so you don’t forget them, but also so you can check off ones that got answered during the conversation. Nothing looks worse than asking a question they already addressed.

Answers to Tricky Questions

What’s your greatest weakness? Why are you leaving your current job? What’s your salary expectation? These questions trip people up because the “right” answer requires careful framing. Having your approach written down ensures you don’t fumble through an awkward improvisation.

A Template That Works

Here’s the exact format I recommend for your phone interview cheat sheet. One page maximum. Larger font than you think you need, because you’ll be glancing at it, not reading it carefully.

Print this out or display it on a second screen where you can reference it without obviously looking away from your conversation.

Using Your Notes Without Getting Caught

The goal is reference, not reading. If you’re staring at your notes and reading sentences aloud, the interviewer will hear it in your voice. Pauses become unnatural. Inflection flattens. You sound scripted because you are scripted.

The Glance Technique

Look at your notes between questions, not during your answers. When the interviewer finishes asking something, a brief pause while you “think” is expected and natural. Use that moment to glance at relevant triggers or numbers.

Then look away from your notes and answer from memory. Your notes reminded you which story to tell or which number to cite. Your actual answer flows naturally from your own knowledge and experience.

Expert Advice: Practice the glance technique during mock interviews. Have a friend ask you questions while your notes are positioned where they’ll be during the real call. Your eye movement and pause patterns should feel completely natural by interview day.

Positioning Your Notes

For phone interviews, position your notes directly in front of you, ideally at eye level. Tape them to a wall or prop them against your monitor. Looking down at papers on a desk while talking creates a noticeable change in your voice quality as your head position shifts.

For video interviews where notes might still be useful, position them just below or beside your camera so glancing at them doesn’t look dramatically off-screen. A sticky note on your monitor bezel with three key numbers is subtle. A full page document requiring obvious reading is not.

My own setup for important phone screens: I tape a single page to the wall directly behind my laptop, at eye level. When I glance at it, my head barely moves. To anyone watching, I’d just look like I was thinking.

What NOT to Put on Your Cheat Sheet

More is not better. Your interview preparation notes should be scannable in under two seconds. If you need to search for information, you’ve included too much.

A senior recruiter I know can always tell when candidates are reading full prepared answers: “Their voice changes completely. They go from conversational to monotone. The pacing becomes unnatural. It actually hurts them more than having no notes at all, because now they sound robotic AND I know they’re reading.”

Note: If your cheat sheet is longer than one page, you’ve defeated its purpose. Cut ruthlessly until only the most essential triggers and data points remain.

Cheat Sheets for Video Interviews

Video interviews require more subtlety since the interviewer can see your eyes move. But you can still use notes effectively with the right approach.

The Sticky Note Method

Place small sticky notes around your screen with just a few words each. They’re in your peripheral vision without requiring obvious eye movement to read. One note for your key numbers. One for story triggers. One for questions to ask.

The words should be large enough to read without squinting. Three to five sticky notes maximum, positioned so you can see them while still appearing to look at the camera.

Second Screen Method

If you have a second monitor, position it immediately adjacent to your primary screen so the eye movement between them is minimal. Keep only your most essential notes there, positioned near the top of the screen closest to your camera.

Some candidates use a tablet propped just below their laptop screen, angled so they can glance down slightly without obvious head movement. This works well if the tablet is positioned correctly.

A Question of Honesty

Is it dishonest to use notes during video interviews?

No more than it’s dishonest to use notes during any professional presentation or meeting. Preparation is expected and respected. Executives don’t memorize everything before board meetings. Salespeople have talking points ready for client calls. Lawyers reference case notes during arguments.

The key is that your notes support your natural conversation rather than replacing it. You’re not reading a script. You’re referencing key information while engaging authentically.

For broader preparation strategies covering all aspects of the interview process, explore our comprehensive interview guidance.

Practicing With Your Cheat Sheet

Creating the cheat sheet is only half the work. You need to practice using it so the reference feels natural rather than awkward.

Mock Interview Practice

Have a friend or family member ask you common interview questions while your cheat sheet is positioned exactly where it will be during the real interview. Practice the glance, the pause, the natural delivery that follows.

Ask for feedback specifically about whether your note references were obvious. Could they tell when you were looking at something? Did your voice change? Did your pauses seem natural or stilted?

Record Yourself

Set up your phone to record video of yourself during practice sessions. Watch the playback looking for tells: obvious eye movement, unnatural pauses, changes in vocal quality when referencing notes. These recordings reveal things you can’t notice while you’re doing them.

Refine Based on Practice

After each practice session, adjust your cheat sheet. Maybe you never referenced the company history section but needed your numbers multiple times. Maybe your story triggers were too vague and you needed more detail. Maybe the font was too small to read at a glance.

The cheat sheet should evolve through practice until it contains exactly what you need and nothing you don’t.

❓ FAQ

Final Thoughts

An effective interview cheat sheet gives you confidence because you know your key facts, stories, and numbers are within reach. You’re not relying entirely on memory under pressure. You’re prepared for the moments when stress might make you forget something important.

Build your cheat sheet before your next phone interview. Keep it short and scannable. Practice using it until glancing at your notes feels as natural as checking the time. That small piece of preparation might be the edge that transforms a good interview into a great one, and a great interview into a job offer.

What NOT to Put on Your Cheat Sheet

More is not better. Your interview preparation notes should be scannable in under two seconds. If you need to search for information, you’ve included too much.

A senior recruiter friend told me she can always identify when candidates are reading prepared answers: “Their voice changes completely. They shift from conversational and engaged to flat and monotone. The words might be perfect, but the delivery screams ‘I’m reading this.’ It actually hurts them more than having no notes at all.”

Note: If your cheat sheet is longer than one page, it’s too long. Edit ruthlessly until everything fits on a single sheet with readable font size.

Cheat Sheets for Video Interviews

Video interviews require more subtlety since the interviewer can see your eyes. But you can still use notes effectively with the right approach.

The Sticky Note Method

Place small sticky notes around your screen frame with just a few words each. They’re in your peripheral vision without requiring obvious eye movement to read. One note for your key numbers. One for story triggers. One for questions to ask. One for tricky answer reminders.

Because each note contains only a few words, you’re never obviously reading. A quick glance that might look like you’re thinking is all you need.

The Second Screen Method

If you have a second monitor, position it immediately adjacent to your primary screen so the eye movement between them is minimal. Keep only your most essential notes there. The interviewer sees you glance slightly to the side, which could easily be you checking the time or looking at the video window.

The Tablet Method

Prop a tablet just below your laptop screen, angled so you can see it while looking roughly toward your camera. This keeps your reference material in your natural line of sight.

Is it dishonest to use notes during video interviews?

No more dishonest than using notes during any professional meeting or presentation. Preparation is expected and respected. The key is ensuring your notes support natural conversation rather than replacing it. If you’re having a real dialogue with occasional memory aids, that’s professional preparation. If you’re reading a script while pretending to converse, that’s problematic.

For comprehensive guidance on all aspects of interview preparation, explore our complete interview resources.

Customizing for Different Interview Types

Phone Screens with Recruiters

These calls are often about logistics and basic qualification verification. Your cheat sheet should emphasize: your current situation and availability, salary expectations (or how you plan to defer that question), and clear articulation of why you’re interested in this specific role.

Hiring Manager Interviews

These go deeper into your experience and capabilities. Emphasize story triggers, specific accomplishments with numbers, and thoughtful questions about the team and role. The hiring manager wants to know if you can do the job and if you’ll be good to work with.

Technical or Skills-Based Interviews

Depending on your field, you might need reference material beyond standard interview prep. Key formulas. Technical specifications. Process frameworks. Things that are complex enough that having them written down prevents embarrassing blanks.

❓ FAQ

Final Thoughts

An effective interview cheat sheet gives you confidence because you know your key facts, numbers, and stories are within reach if your mind goes blank under pressure. You’re not relying entirely on memory during one of the most stressful professional situations you’ll face.

Build your cheat sheet before every interview. Keep it to one page. Make it scannable at a glance. Practice using it until reference feels natural. That small piece of preparation might be the edge that separates you from equally qualified candidates who didn’t bother.

The goal isn’t to read your way through an interview. It’s to have a safety net that lets you perform at your best, knowing backup is there if you need it. That confidence alone often means you won’t need the notes at all.