Best Note-Taking Apps for Interview Preparation in 2024
Preparing for job interviews means structuring behavioral stories using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), mapping skills, and reviewing company research across devices. Top picks include Obsidian for visual skill mapping and STAR outlines (Wallflower Digest 2023), OneNote as a free cross-platform standout (PCMag 2025), and Apple Notes or Notability for iPad handwriting templates (Hulry 2023; historical data Medium 2018).
Recent grads, career changers, and professionals prepping for tech or behavioral roles need digital tools for STAR stories and skills lists. The Evidence Pack table below matches your device and style--free vs. structured templates--with setup checklists to follow. If your prep involves simple yes/no questions, skip advanced apps. Paper works fine there.
Quick Picks for Interview Prep Notes
Obsidian works well for candidates who need visual STAR templates and behavioral frameworks under pressure. OneNote offers a solid free tier for cross-platform use. Bear provides simple paid progress tracking. Job seekers use these to organize 3-5 STAR stories via bulleted outlines, as one user did to nail an interview (MIT CAPD 2022; Wallflower Digest 2023).
Obsidian stands out for Canvas mind-maps of strengths tied to job requirements, replacing hand-drawn versions for quick recall (Wallflower Digest 2023). OneNote's free version breaks the paid trend with full features like sections for company research (PCMag 2025). Bear costs $2.99/month USD for checkboxes with progress bars, good for to-do style prep (historical Bear blog 2021). Evernote runs $14.99/month USD but fits legacy users--tech data here is under 18 months old.
Job seekers under pressure benefit most. One case showed success mapping skills in Obsidian (Wallflower Digest 2023). For basics, stick to free options.
Obsidian and Notion for Structured Behavioral Interview Notes
Obsidian excels at Canvas for mind-mapping competencies and markdown headings for STAR stories. Notion rises for cross-platform templates. A user nailed an interview by listing skills in Obsidian Canvas, linking to behavioral examples--a proven method in one case (Wallflower Digest 2023).
Start with headings for each competency, then bullet STAR elements under them. Obsidian's local storage puts privacy first over cloud apps like Notion (PCMag recent; Codewave 2024). Notion templates adapt for behavioral prep, organizing stories by company via databases. Limitations: Obsidian has a steep learning curve for beginners, and Notion occasionally lags during sync.
This fits structured needs like 3-5 STAR stories (MIT CAPD 2022)--skip if you prefer handwriting.
Free Apps Like OneNote, Google Keep, and Apple Notes for Job Prep
OneNote, Google Keep, and Apple Notes deliver sync across devices without cost barriers. OneNote's free tier stands out as robust, handling notebooks for interview questions and research (PCMag 2025). Google Keep uses color-coding and labels for quick tags on meetings or stories (historical data Numeriblog 2022). Apple Notes builds templates via Shortcuts for daily prep (Hulry 2023).
Tag notes by company (like info from Glassdoor) or use symbols for Cornell-style capture during practice (Loveholidays 2024). These work better for narrative flow over rigid templates. Skip them for heavy handwriting--opt for iPad apps instead.
iPad Apps for Handwriting and Annotations in Interviews
Notability, GoodNotes, and Bear support stylus-based tactile prep like digital bullet journals. Notability helps with interview recording and annotations, Pencil-dependent for full power (historical data Medium 2018--potential updates since). Bear adds progress bars for checkboxes in checklists (Bear blog 2021-2022; Hello Brio 2022).
Create grids for habit trackers or story outlines using highlighters behind pen marks. Pros: Feels like paper with screen protectors. Cons: Older iPads limit Pencil support, and paid stationery packs add cost compared to free Apple Notes. Journalist cases highlight quick capture (historical Medium 2018).
Note-Taking Strategies and Templates for Technical/Behavioral Interviews
Use bulleted STAR outlines for 3-5 stories, tagging by company from Glassdoor or LinkedIn. BED margins (Background, Evidence, Demonstration) flag skills like Emotional Intelligence (MIT CAPD 2022; historical Whiteboard Talent 2020). Templates start simple: headings for skills, bullets for elements.
Tag properties for technical interviews--algorithms per role, for example (Effortless Academic 2024; Loveholidays 2024). Practice "yes, and..." for behavioral depth. Not meant for non-behavioral formats.
App Comparison: Cross-Platform vs Device-Specific for Prep
Cross-platform apps like OneNote and Notion sync everywhere. iPad ones like Notability focus on handwriting. Choose free OneNote for basics, Obsidian for visuals, iPad apps for creatives. Free tiers often limit advanced features (PCMag 2025; Codewave 2024; historical CollegeInfoGeek 2020). Roam at $15/month USD feels early-stage (historical UXDesign 2020). Free tiers handle basics--upgrade only for visuals or handwriting (PCMag 2025).
Evidence Pack
| App | Free Tier (Limits) | STAR Template Ease | Cross-Device Sync (Platforms) | Handwriting Support | Pricing (USD/month) | Best For | User Case | Recency Flag |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian | Yes (local files) | Canvas/mind-maps | Desktop/mobile (local) | Limited | Free | Behavioral mapping | Nailed interview (Wallflower Digest 2023) | Recent |
| OneNote | Yes (robust) | Bullets/sections | All (Windows/Mac/iOS/Android) | Basic | Free | Basics (PCMag 2025) | Job prep | Recent |
| Notability | No (trial) | Annotations | iOS/macOS | Full Pencil | In-app purchases | Interviews (historical Medium 2018) | Journalist notes | Historical |
| Apple Notes | Yes (unlimited) | Shortcuts | Apple ecosystem | Pencil | Free | Templates (Hulry 2023) | Bullet journal | Recent |
| Google Keep | Yes (basic) | Labels/colors | All (web/Android/iOS) | None | Free | Quick labels (historical Numeriblog 2022) | Meetings | Historical |
| Bear | No (basic) | Checkboxes | Apple ecosystem | Basic | $2.99 (PCMag recent) | Progress tracking | Work projects (Bear blog 2021) | Historical |
Quick Setup Checklists for Top Apps
Checklist 1: STAR in Obsidian
- Create Canvas file, add skill nodes linked to job.
- Use markdown headings (like ## Situation) for 3-5 stories.
- Tag by company and review via graph view when nerves hit (Wallflower Digest 2023).
Checklist 2: iPad Bullet Journal
- Turn on grid, draw trackers for stories.
- Add Cornell symbols (cues/questions/notes) (Loveholidays 2024; Hulry 2023).
- Sync and swipe for quick access.
When Simpler Tools Beat Advanced Apps
Paper scanned to Evernote works for light prep. Complex apps risk perfectionism overload (historical CollegeInfoGeek 2020). Evernote migration fits legacy users, but free Keep handles short timelines (PCMag recent; Effortless Academic 2024). Under pressure, basics reduce nerves--individual variability matters (Wallflower Digest 2023).
Apply This to Your Situation
- Need handwriting? Go with iPad apps like Notability.
- Cross-device sync a priority? Pick OneNote.
- Want visual STAR mapping? Try Obsidian Canvas.
FAQ
How do I use Obsidian for STAR interview stories?
Create a Canvas for skills, add linked cards for Situation/Task/Action/Result under markdown headings. One user mapped strengths this way and nailed the interview--review the graph for quick recall (Wallflower Digest 2023).
What's the best free app for job interview notes?
OneNote's robust free tier handles sections for stories and research across platforms, an exception to paid limits (PCMag 2025).
Can Apple Notes handle behavioral templates?
Yes, build them via Shortcuts: add Text actions for STAR structure with auto-dates, generating ready notes fast (Hulry 2023).
Are iPad apps like Notability good for annotations?
They work great with Pencil for recording and marking up stories, though older iPads limit it (historical data Medium 2018--check for updates).
How to organize notes for technical interviews?
Use tags or properties for skills (like algorithms) and Cornell symbols in daily capture, then link to STAR outlines (Effortless Academic 2024; Loveholidays 2024).
Pick one app from the table, set up a STAR template today, and practice one story aloud.