Interview Preparation

Unless you're one of those lucky people with no fear, you probably find interviews to be a nerve-wracking experience.

It's only natural. But fear not (or at least fear a little bit less!), we have prepared this guide to help with your interview preparation and help your chances of success.

Why do I need to prepare?

Putting the time and effort into your preparation for an interview may be just as important as the interview itself. That may sound ridiculous, but hear me out for a second. Researching the company and the role you're interviewing for, as well as reviewing your CV & work history, will do wonders for your confidence and will help in showcasing your competence during lines of questioning. Being well prepared will also show you have a more complete understanding of the role and the company, boosting your chance of making a good first (or second, or third...) impression.

What does good preparation look like?

Everyone will have different ways of preparation that are best for them, but we would recommend looking back to your school days and how you used to revise for exams. Think about your learning style and lean into it. But make sure you're looking at the materials that will be useful. The company website is always a great place to start, and their social media pages are also a great place to look at the culture they promote. Don't forget to revise your CV as well, there's nothing more embarrassing than an interviewer bringing up something on your CV mid-interview that you forgot about or is outdated!

What questions should I expect?

We can't say for certain which questions will appear in your interviews, but these are some of the most common ones we've seen and we would recommend preparing some answers for:

    - What's your biggest strength and biggest weakness
    - What motivates you to succeed
    - What are your goals & ambitions in the workplace
    - What were your previous quotas, and how did you succeed against them
    - What made you leave your previous employer (try not to speak negatively about them)
    - Why do you want to join our company (tailor your reasons to the role and the team)

It's a safe bet that at least one of these questions will come up in your interview!

What questions can YOU ask?

It's always great to have a couple of questions up your sleeve for the end of the interview. Something to leave the interviewers with a good feeling about you and show that you care about the role. Here's some of the best we've heard in the past:

    - What made you join this company, and what's kept you here
    - Are there any challenges the company is currently facing that I could help with
    - What are the opportunities for growth in this role/team
    - Can you describe the work culture here
    - What is your onboarding/training process for new starters
    - Is there any reason you wouldn't consider me for this role

These are a great blend of questions to show you're interested, as well as make yourself seem desirable.

Final thoughts…

The main thing to remember is that most interviewers aren't looking to catch you out on purpose; interviewers want each of their candidates to do well in the interview. Be true to yourself. If they ask a question that you don't know the answer to, feel comfortable saying you don't currently know and will get back to them, or ask for some time to think over answers to any difficult questions. You've got this!