You’ve managed to secure an interview. That’s the hardest part over, right?W rong.
A lack of interview preparation is one of the most common reasons candidates fall at the final hurdle. An interview is not just a formality. It is your opportunity to prove that you are the best person for the role.
An interview allows you to demonstrate your skills, transferable experience and knowledge. More importantly, it gives you the chance to showcase your personality, motivations and aspirations, while allowing the interviewer to assess whether you would be the right fit for their team and culture.
Below are some key tips to help you prepare effectively for interviews in today’s market.
Why Interview Preparation Matters
In a competitive job market, you may be up against hundreds or even thousands of applicants. Any competent candidate will research the company. To stand out, you need to go further.
Start with the basics:
- The organisation’s mission, vision and values
- The services or products they offer
- Their market position
Then take it a step further:
- Review recent achievements, press releases and financial performance
- Understand how the business has adapted to the current market
- Consider the company’s long-term sustainability and strategy
This level of preparation demonstrates genuine interest, commercial awareness and proactivity.
If you are attending a video interview, building rapport can be more challenging. Take time to review the interviewer’s LinkedIn profile. Where appropriate, referencing shared interests, career paths or industry insights can help create a more natural conversation and demonstrate that you are personable and thoughtful in your approach.
Think About the Types of Questions You Could Be Asked
Anticipating interview questions allows you to form structured, confident responses rather than reacting on the spot.
When preparing, think not only about what the interviewer is asking, but why they are asking it.
Here are some common question types to listen out for:
- Closed questions
These often start with “Are you…?”, “Do you…?” or “Is there…?”. They are typically used to establish facts, confirm information or encourage conversation.
- Open questions
Questions beginning with “What?”, “Why?”, “How?” or “Tell me about…” are designed to explore your experience, motivations and thought process. Interviewers often use these to assess cultural fit and alignment with the organisation.
- Probing questions
Phrases such as “Describe a time when…” or “Explain how you…” are used when the interviewer wants more detail. If you are asked probing questions, it may indicate that your initial answer lacked depth or specificity.
- Clarifying questions
Watch for phrases like “Precisely…”, “Did I hear correctly?” or “Exactly what resources…”. These questions are asked when interviewers want to understand specific details or validate your explanation.
Recognising these question types will help you adjust your answers in real time.
Turning Preparation Into Performance
Your CV has secured you the interview. Now you must be able to support it with clear, specific examples.
Know your CV inside out and be prepared to talk confidently about your experience. Interviewers want to hear what you did, not what the team did.
Using real-life examples is essential. The STAR method is an effective way to structure your answers:
- Situation – Briefly explain the context
- Task – What needed to be done
- Action – What you did, how you did it and why
- Result – The outcome and what you learned
Practising your responses out loud can make a significant difference. Consider asking a friend or colleague to conduct a mock interview. This not only helps refine your answers but also builds confidence ahead of the real interview.
Use Previous Interview Feedback to Your Advantage
Many candidates receive interview feedback and fail to act on it.
If you have been told in the past that your examples were not detailed enough, or that your answers lacked structure, this is valuable insight. Addressing this feedback directly in your preparation can dramatically improve your performance.
Constructive feedback, even when negative, can be the difference between missing out again and securing the role next time.
Read the Job Specification Thoroughly
Interviewers are looking for someone who can do the job. You need to clearly demonstrate how your experience aligns with the role requirements.
Review the job specification carefully and:
- Identify the key skills and competencies required
- Match your experience to each requirement
- Prepare examples that clearly demonstrate transferable skills where applicable
Refer back to the job specification when answering questions. This shows focus, relevance and strong understanding of the role.
Understand the Company Culture and Dress Code
Looking professional is essential, but it’s equally important to consider company culture.
If the organisation has a formal dress code, make sure you align with it. Turning up underdressed can leave a negative impression. If the environment is more business casual, adjust accordingly while still maintaining a polished appearance.
Dressing appropriately not only demonstrates awareness and respect for the organisation but also helps you feel more confident and comfortable during the interview.
Prepare Your Environment for Video Interviews
Video interviews are now commonplace, and your setup matters.
Choose a quiet space with minimal distractions. Position yourself facing natural light, use a neutral background and ensure your camera is at eye level. Test your internet connection, audio and video platform in advance, and make sure your device is fully charged.
A professional setup helps keep the focus on you and what you are saying.
Don’t Be Late To Interviews
Punctuality sets the tone for the entire interview.
Give yourself plenty of time to prepare, whether attending in person or online. For video interviews, log in a few minutes early and test your setup beforehand. If possible, ask a friend to do a trial run with you.
Being late creates unnecessary stress and leaves a poor first impression that is difficult to recover from.
Send the Interviewer a Thank You Email/Note
Today’s job climate is becoming increasingly competitive; by sending a quick thank you email/note to the interviewer you are demonstrating professional courtesy and your commitment to the role. This could be the difference between you securing the job or getting overlooked.
Insight From Our Recruitment Team
“Interviews can be daunting, but the candidates who do best are usually the ones who take the time to really reflect on their experience and why the role matters to them. Being prepared helps build confidence, and that confidence always comes across in an interview.”
Charlotte Rigby, Associate Director
Final Interview Preperation Thoughts
Interview preparation is about more than rehearsing answers. It is about understanding your experience, aligning it with the role and communicating it with confidence and clarity.
Taking the time to prepare properly not only improves your performance, it also helps you approach interviews with greater confidence and control.
When you prepare well, interviews become an opportunity rather than an obstacle.
If you are looking for your next position, visit our jobs portal or get in contact with our recruitment team. They will support you throughout your career transition. View job vacancies.
