Interview Tips

Although you don’t know what questions you’ll be asked, coming to the interview with knowledge of the job and the department is crucial. Make sure you read the job description ahead of your interview and pull out key parts of the role along with any essential criteria, then relate these to your own experiences and skillset. Preparing examples from your lived experiences will help you to become more confident and will allow you to quickly recall this information. 

Use the job description and your application to think of some questions you might be asked during your interview. Then ask someone you trust (or use a mirror) to help you rehearse your answers. 
As part of your interview, you may be asked to deliver a presentation (this will be made clear on the interview invitation), if this is the case, ensure you practice delivering the presentation and time yourself to ensure you don’t go over the allocated time.

Most of our interviews take place remotely. Information on how to access your interview will be emailed to you as part of your invitation. It’s important to check your set up at home to make sure you have a computer, tablet or mobile phone with access to the software you will need for the interview.
For online interviews we recommend finding a quiet space, free from distractions. It also helps to have good lighting and a set of headphones handy, just in case.  

Wear appropriate clothing, be punctual and polite. It may sound simple, but little things like this go a long way. Being on time will also help you to feel more confident going into to the interview, there’s nothing worse than the stress of being late.  

Most of our interview questions are competency-based. This is where we ask you a question based on your skills and experience. We essentially want to assess what you can do. To structure your answer to these questions, use the STAR method: 
Situation 
– Set the scene for your interviewers 
Task 
– Tell the interviewers what you had to do 
Action 
– Explain to the interviewers why and how you did this 
Result 
– Conclude with the results and outcomes 

Have you ever been asked a question and your mind has gone completely blank? We’ve all been there. By having a glass of water or a drink handy, you can take a sip after a difficult question has been asked. The time it takes for you to pick up the glass and take a sip, will allow you more time to think of an appropriate answer.

Remember, an interview is a two-way conversation. As much as we want to find out more about you and your experiences, it’s a chance for you to find out more about us and the role you have applied for. Towards the end of your interview, you will be asked if you have any questions for the interviewers. Take this opportunity to ask any questions you may have about the role itself, the team, progression opportunities, etc.

Whether you thought the interview went well, or not so well, it’s good to take some time to reflect on the questions you were asked. Taking the time to process and break down the interview will help you prepare your future interviews. You can also ask your interviewers for feedback to give you more insight into how to improve for next time.

You can finally breathe a sigh of relief. All your hard work is over and it’s just a waiting game now. No matter what the outcome, you should feel proud for getting this far, as securing an interview is no mean feat.

Good luck with the interview, remember, we wouldn’t have invited you if we didn’t think you had the potential to do well. This is your time to shine. We hope to see you soon!