Interview guide
How to prepare for an interview
The best way to tackle interview nerves, and make sure that you do your best on the day, is to be prepared.
Do your research
- Find out about the company or organisation you’re applying to by visiting their website and their social media channels
- Make sure you know all of the details of the job you’re interviewing for by thoroughly reading the job description and person specification, and making notes on how your experience and attributes fit the role
- Write down any questions you still have. These will be useful in the interview, for the point at which you’re asked if you have questions of your own
Practice, practice, practice!
- Write down some interview questions you think you’re likely to be asked
- Ask someone to use your questions to do a mock interview with you
- Most interview questions will be about you, why you’re interested in the job, and what experiences you’ve had so far that will help you fulfil the role
- These kinds of questions often start with “Can you tell me about a time when..?” For example, “a time when you’ve had to use your initiative?” Practice answering using the ‘STAR’ framework
Shine with STAR
What is the STAR framework?
- Situation - What's the situation you were in?
- Task - What needed to happen?
- Action - What did you do, and how did you do it?
- Results - What was the outcome of your actions?
Here's an example
Start out with the situation
“Last summer I was volunteering for a charity.”
Next talk about the task
“I was given the job of improving their promotional strategy to increase donations”
Explain the action you took
“I researched how other charities get the best out of their promotions and then presented new ideas to my manager.”
Proudly share the result
“My manager took my ideas on board and after a week of new promotions, our donations increased by 10%.”
My interview experiences
Hear from Charlotte about the kinds of questions she sees come up time and again in interviews.
On the day
Here are our top tips to help you do your best on the day.
Dress for success
Wear something smart and comfortable that you would wear for work if you got the job.
Be prepared
Research, practice, and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to arrive at your destination.
Take your time
When answering questions, don’t feel like you need to rush to come up with an answer. Take a deep breath and repeat the question back if you need to.
Follow the STAR
This simple answer format can be a huge help - it’s a great one to practice beforehand.
Feedback is your friend
You can’t win them all. So even if you don’t get the job, asking for feedback is a powerful way to learn how to improve for next time. Most employers expect this and should be ready to provide it on request.
I’ve done so many interviews in the last few years that I’ve got some really good tips to pass on.
Write things down on flashcards — little cue cards. I write down the competencies (skills and qualities) from the person spec and job spec, and examples of how I fit the brief. I also write down two questions to ask. You don’t have to look at the cards in the interview, but it’s good to know you’ve got them there if you need them. And my other top tip is to smile — it tricks you into relaxing even when you’re nervous.