Guide · Agent skill
How to use the Technical Interview Prep Coach agent skill
Updated · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data
The interview-prep skill is a coaching guide for technical interviews that an AI agent loads and follows. It covers algorithm patterns, a repeatable framework for system design rounds, and help shaping behavioral answers into STAR-format stories. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for help in plain language, and what to keep in mind when using it.
Technical Interview Prep CoachRightNow-AI/openfang · Apache-2.0 Download the skill Quick start
- 1Download the ZIP. Get the interview-prep ZIP from this page and unzip it so the folder contains SKILL.md.
- 2Choose an install location. Place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects, or in .claude/skills/ inside one project.
- 3Or upload in the Claude apps. In the Claude apps, open Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the ZIP.
- 4Ask a specific question. Name the pattern, round type or goal, such as sliding window or a system design walkthrough.
- 5Practice the framework. Apply the coding or system design framework to a real problem rather than only reading it.
- 6Run timed mock interviews. Ask the agent to run a timed mock, then review your filler words and unclear explanations.
- 7Refine your STAR stories. Draft behavioral stories with measurable outcomes and iterate with the agent's feedback.
What is an agent skill, and what does this one do?
An agent skill is a folder containing a SKILL.md file with instructions that an AI agent reads when it is relevant to your request. This one is a technical interview preparation guide for algorithms, system design and behavioral questions. Once installed, the agent answers your interview prep questions using a structured coaching approach.
- Explains common algorithm patterns: two pointers, sliding window, BFS/DFS, dynamic programming, binary search and backtracking
- Offers a system design framework: clarify requirements, estimate scale, draw the architecture, then deep-dive into components
- Helps you prepare 6-8 STAR behavioral stories covering leadership, conflict, failure, technical decisions, collaboration and pressure
- Suggests how to run timed mock interviews and what to fix after reviewing them
Install the interview-prep skill
Download the ZIP for the skill from this page and unzip it. The skill folder contains SKILL.md. Put that folder in one of these locations:
For all your projects, place it in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
- Personal: ~/.claude/skills/interview-prep/
- Project only: .claude/skills/interview-prep/ inside your project
- Claude apps: Settings → Capabilities → Skills, then upload the ZIP
Trigger the skill with natural requests
You do not need a special command. Describe what you are preparing for in ordinary words and the agent will apply the relevant part of the skill. Name the round type (coding, system design or behavioral) so the answer uses the matching framework.
Good requests state the pattern, the round or the goal. Specific questions get more useful coaching than general ones.
- "Explain when to use a sliding window versus two pointers."
- "Walk me through a system design framework for designing a URL shortener."
- "Help me turn my migration project into a STAR story with measurable results."
- "Make a four-week study plan for coding rounds, weighted toward graphs and dynamic programming."
- "Run me through a 45-minute mock coding interview with a timer."
Use the skill for each interview round
For coding rounds, the skill recommends restating the problem, clarifying edge cases with examples, discussing your approach before coding, implementing cleanly, testing with examples, and then optimizing. It also advises starting with a correct brute-force solution before improving time or space complexity.
For system design, it recommends clarifying functional and non-functional requirements, estimating QPS, storage and bandwidth, drawing a high-level architecture, then going deeper into schema, caching and scalability. It also stresses stating which trade-off you are making, such as consistency versus availability or latency versus throughput.
For behavioral rounds, it recommends preparing STAR stories in advance, with specific examples and measurable outcomes where possible.
Safety notes: scripts and network access
This skill is guidance only. According to its listing, it runs no scripts, uses no network access, requires nothing beyond the agent itself, and includes only the SKILL.md file. It does not run code, touch your files or access the internet.
Because it contains only general patterns and principles, it has no question bank. Do not expect exact questions from a specific company's interviews.
Tips for getting the most from it
The skill itself says to master patterns rather than memorize problems, and to spend time on weak areas found through practice. Use it as a planner and coach, then do the work yourself on real problems and timed mock interviews.
- Ask for a study plan first, then check your progress against it each week
- After each mock, ask the agent to point out filler words and unclear explanations
- Write your behavioral stories out loud and tighten them with the agent's feedback
- At the end of every interview, prepare thoughtful questions about the team, technical challenges and culture
What people use it for
- Learning when to apply sliding window, two pointers or binary search to array and string problems
- Building a weekly study plan for coding and system design rounds
- Structuring a 45-minute system design answer with requirements, estimates and trade-offs
- Drafting six to eight STAR stories from past projects, covering leadership and conflict
- Practicing a timed mock coding interview and reviewing communication
Frequently asked questions
Is the interview-prep skill free?
The skill is published under the Apache-2.0 licence, as stated on this page. The source does not list any price, so check the repository licence terms for details.
What do I need to use interview-prep?
The listing states that it requires nothing beyond the agent you install it into. It runs no scripts and uses no network access.
How do I install the interview-prep skill?
Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. Place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/ for all projects or in a project's .claude/skills/ folder, or upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills.
Does the skill include real company interview questions?
No. It contains only general algorithm patterns, system design principles and behavioral frameworks, with no question bank, so it cannot give exact questions from a specific company.
Can the skill run my code or access my files?
No. According to its description, it is guidance only: it does not run code, touch your files or access the internet.
Can it replace practice problems and mock interviews?
No. The skill itself stresses that reading a framework does not replace solving problems and doing timed mock interviews. Use it to plan and review your practice.
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Our verdict
Choose this skill if you are a software engineer, student or career changer who wants a structured plan and clear patterns for coding, system design and behavioral rounds. Skip it if you need a company's actual question list or expect it to replace hands-on problem solving and mock interviews.
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