Putting your best foot forward: Top tips to prepare for your next interview

Preparing for an interview can be daunting. And while it may be second nature for some, for those candidates who need a helping hand or a refresher, our quick, easy, but very useful guide  may just help you secure your dream role.

1. Do your homework!

Not every interviewer will ask you: “What do you know about us?”. But many of them will. Ensure that a couple of days before your interview you have visited the company’s website, navigated to the “About us” page, checked out their products and services, learnt who the key stakeholders are, found out how many employees they have, and looked up the hiring manager on LinkedIn.

Take notes on what you have discovered about the company and treat them like flash cards. This will jog your memory a couple of times before your interview. Questions on this topic will often come at the beginning of an interview, so it’s your chance to make a great first impression.

2. Be ready for your Who? What? Where? When? Why? How?

These questions are going to be directed at you a lot throughout the interview, so have your answers ready.

The interviewer will often ask:

• What makes you stand out compared to other candidates?
• Where do you see yourself in the next five years?
• How did you achieve success in [a relevant project]?

This is the best opportunity that the interviewer will have to find out as much as they can about you, so ensure you’re giving them thorough information that they’ll find relevant.

3. Dress for success

A question a lot of people ask is, “Should I dress like I’m going for an interview, even if it’s via video call like Microsoft Teams or Zoom?”. My answer is always the same. Yes, yes, and yes again.

It’s so important to you show that you’re making an effort, which is reflected   in the way you dress for an interview. Whether it’s face-to-face or a Teams interview, you should always dress to impress.

4. Get organised

If you’re going for a face-to-face interview, pack your bag the night before, make sure you have planned your route and, if you’re travelling under your own steam, that you have petrol in your car.

Check ahead for any potential road works or route diversions, train/bus cancellations that may require you to set off earlier. Arrive at least ten minutes early, and if for whatever reason you are going to be late, call ahead (when safe to do so) and give them a heads up.

5. Keep the conversation going, right to the end

Always make sure you have questions to ask at the end of the interview.

This may be something about the role that hasn’t been covered, something you would like to know about the company, or perhaps it’s a question you want to ask the interviewer about their time at the organisation and what was it that attracted them to work there.

6. Confidence is key

Most importantly, try and relax and enjoy the time you get with the interviewer. Nerves are natural but they will soon disappear once you get into the flow.

And finally, if you follow all of the above, you’re far more likely to be the stand-out candidate that lands that ideal role.

Good luck!