BlogGuide
Job Interview One‑Pager: How to Make One (Prep Sheet and Leave-Behind)
Two kinds of interview one-pager: a prep sheet for you and a leave-behind for the hiring manager: what to include, an example, a template.
By MakeOnepagers Team
Updated · 5 min read
A job interview one-pager is a single page that either prepares you for the interview or stays behind after it. The first kind, a prep sheet, is your private cheat sheet: your pitch, your best stories and your questions. The second kind, a leave-behind, is a page you give the hiring manager that sums up why you fit the role. Both work for the same reason: fitting your case on one page forces you to pick your strongest material.
One‑Pager examples
Six real One-Pagers made with MakeOnepagers. Open any one to edit it as your own.
Succession PlanOpen this One-Pager (opens in a new tab)
Hiring PlanOpen this One-Pager (opens in a new tab)
Recruitment ReportOpen this One-Pager (opens in a new tab)
Employee Survey ResultsOpen this One-Pager (opens in a new tab)
Firm Performance ReviewOpen this One-Pager (opens in a new tab)
Startup PitchOpen this One-Pager (opens in a new tab)
This guide covers what goes on each, a filled example of a leave-behind, the mistakes to avoid, and templates for both.
Prep sheet or leave-behind?
| Prep sheet | Leave-behind | |
|---|---|---|
| Who reads it | You, before and during the interview | The hiring manager and anyone they forward it to |
| When | The night before, and on the desk in a video interview | Handed over at the end, or attached to your thank-you email |
| What's on it | Your pitch, stories, company facts, questions | Your summary, three results, a plan for the role |
| Tone | Notes and keywords | Polished, like a short proposal |
Many candidates make both: the prep sheet keeps you sharp, and the leave-behind keeps you remembered.
What goes on an interview prep sheet
- Your 30-second pitch. Who you are, what you've done, why this role. Write it, then cut it in half.
- Three stories. One about a result, one about a problem you fixed, one about working with people. Note the situation, what you did and the outcome with a number.
- The company in numbers. Size, products, recent news, and one thing you genuinely like about them.
- The role's top three needs. From the job description, and which of your stories matches each.
- Your questions. Three questions that show you've thought about the job, not just the perks.
- Logistics. Names of the interviewers, time, link or address.
What goes on an interview leave-behind
- Your name, the role and one line of positioning. "Operations lead who cut fulfilment costs at two scale-ups."
- Three results, with numbers. The three achievements most relevant to this role.
- Why this role. Two sentences that connect your experience to their need.
- A 30-60-90 day plan. What you'd learn, fix and deliver in your first three months.
- Contact. Email, phone, and a portfolio or LinkedIn link.
A filled leave-behind example
Here's the text of a sample leave-behind for an operations role. The candidate is a sample, not a real person.
Jordan Reyes · Operations Lead
Cut fulfilment costs and delivery times at two growing online retailers.
Three Results
- Cut cost per order 18% in 12 months by renegotiating two carrier contracts
- Took same-day dispatch from 61% to 94% of orders by moving cut-off times
- Opened a second warehouse on time and 6% under budget
Why This Role
You're opening a second site next year and moving to same-day delivery. I've done both, and I know where they usually slip.
30-60-90 Day Plan
- Day 30: walk every shift, map the order flow, meet each carrier
- Day 60: fix the two slowest steps and agree targets with the team
- Day 90: present the second-site plan, with costs and a timeline
jordan@example.com · portfolio link
To show one project in depth, a portfolio project One-Pager template is a strong leave-behind too.
Every line answers a question the hiring manager has: what can you do, have you done it before, and what would you do here.
Mistakes to avoid
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Reprinting your CV on one page | Choose the three results that fit this role |
| Adjectives ("hard-working, passionate") | Numbers and outcomes |
| A 30-60-90 plan full of buzzwords | Concrete actions you could actually do |
| Facts about the company you didn't check | Use their own website and recent news |
| Reading from your prep sheet word for word | Use keywords, not sentences |
How to make it
By hand: Word or Google Docs is enough for a prep sheet. For a leave-behind, use a clean two-column layout with your name at the top and the three results as the biggest text.
From your CV or portfolio: you can upload your CV, a portfolio document or a project write-up to MakeOnepagers and get a designed One-Pager back, then edit it for the specific role. It only uses what's in your document, so check that your strongest results are in there first.
For more layouts, see our One-Pager templates and examples, or our guide on how to make a One-Pager.
Interview prep sheet template
My Pitch (30 seconds)
[Who I am] · [What I've done] · [Why this role]
Stories
- Result: [situation], [what I did], [number]
- Problem fixed: [situation], [what I did], [number]
- People: [situation], [what I did], [outcome]
The Company
[Size] · [Products] · [Recent news] · [What I like]
Their Top 3 Needs and My Matching Story
- [Need 1]: [Story]
- [Need 2]: [Story]
- [Need 3]: [Story]
My Questions
- [Question]
- [Question]
- [Question]
Make your leave-behind in minutes
Upload your CV or portfolio and get a designed One-Pager back, ready to tailor for the role. MakeOnepagers is free for 7 days with 3 One-Pagers included. Make your first One-Pager.
Frequently asked questions
Should I bring a one-pager to an interview?
A leave-behind can help you stand out, especially for senior, sales, operations or consulting roles where a proposal-style page fits the job. Offer it at the end rather than at the start, so the conversation comes first.
What is a 30-60-90 day plan?
It's a short plan of what you'd do in your first 30, 60 and 90 days in the role, usually learning, then fixing, then delivering. On a one-pager, keep it to one or two concrete lines per stage.
Can I use a one-pager in a video interview?
Yes. Keep your prep sheet beside the screen with keywords only, and send the leave-behind as a PDF in your thank-you email.
Is an interview one-pager the same as a CV?
No. A CV lists your history. An interview one-pager is built for one role: the results that match it and what you'd do there.
