Whether you are applying for your first job or stepping into a senior leadership role, thorough preparation is key to interview success. Interviews are more than just a test of your experience; they are a chance to demonstrate your enthusiasm, cultural fit, and ability to contribute to the organisation. It is important to prepare confidently and make a strong impression.
1. Research the Company Thoroughly
Start by building a solid understanding of the company. Interviewers expect candidates to have a broad understanding of their company and markets. Ask AI search tools to summarise what you want to find out and use this as a basis for your own research because AI results can be partial and can make estimates incorrectly.
- Read recent news articles to understand current developments.
- Review competitors to understand the company’s market position.
- Check Companies House for financials like turnover and growth trends.
- Explore the company’s values and reflect on how they align with your own.
- Look up your interviewers on LinkedIn to understand their roles and backgrounds. This can help you tailor your questions and build rapport.
2. Know Your CV Inside Out
You should be able to confidently walk through your CV:
- Prepare a chronological summary from university onwards, with your most recent position first. If you have many years of experience, concentrate on the most recent positions during the last 10 years.
- Highlight key achievements, especially in your most recent roles.
- Be ready to summarise your experience clearly. Interviewers will ask more detailed questions later.
- Prepare a cohesive story that connects your experiences, achievements, and transitions. Be ready to explain:
- Why you moved between roles.
- What you learned at each stage.
- How your experience aligns with this new opportunity.
Demonstrate Business Impact
- Quantify achievements: revenue growth, cost savings, efficiency gains.
- Use metrics and KPIs to show how your work made a difference.
Use “I” and “we” correctly
- Highlight the personal impact you bring by explaining what “I” did.
- Explain your contribution to team-orientated environments and projects by explaining the results “I” and “we” delivered by working together.
Know your numbers
Be Ready to explain your performance metrics. Employers often want evidence of your impact, so come prepared with clear numbers and context.
- Billing figures – Total revenue you generated or contributed to.
- Gross profit – If relevant, know margins and profitability impact.
- Placements – Number of successful hires or projects delivered.
- Team size – How many people you managed or collaborated with.
- Budgets managed – Value of budgets you controlled or influenced.
- KPIs achieved – Targets met or exceeded (e.g. % growth, conversion rates).
Prepare for Technical or Functional Questions
- Mid-level: Expect questions on execution, tools, and collaboration.
- Senior-level: Expect questions on strategy, decision-making, and stakeholder management.
3. Logistics and Practical Preparation
- Know the interview location: Check the site, parking availability, and travel time.
- Bring necessary ID or documents. Some premises require this before reception.
- If it’s a virtual interview, test your tech setup in advance and ensure a quiet, well-lit space.
4. Presentation and Dress Code
- For in-person interviews, dress smartly and bring a drink if needed. It’s okay to take a sip to pause and think.
- For virtual interviews (e.g. Teams):
- Dress smart-casual, but still professional.
- Be more expressive and be conscious of your body language and tone on screen.
- Use a phone holder if using a mobile device and look at the camera to maintain eye contact.
- Don’t log in too early because it can pressure the interviewers.
5. Prepare to Ask Smart Questions
The best questions often come from active listening during the interview. For example: “You mentioned the company is expanding into new markets so how will this impact the team structure?”
Also, prepare a few thoughtful questions in advance about the role, team, or company strategy.
AI can help save time when preparing for interviews and it can help direct your thoughts and preparation. Prompts like the following can be helpful: “Based on the job description for the company [website address], prepare some thoughtful questions about the role, team, and company strategy that I can use at the end of my interview with them for the role [insert job title].”
You can follow this up by asking “Help me draft strong answers to these questions based on my experience outlined below and in my attached CV. Build their company values outlined on this [insert values page from website] into relevant answers.” Then use the questions above as headings for this and outline your experience in bullet points for each one. It is likely that your CV will not include answers to all the questions so fill in the gaps under each heading.
6. Discuss with Your Recruitment Consultant
If you’ve gained the interview through us seek guidance from our recruitment consultant. They can:
- Share insights about the company culture.
- Help you understand what the interviewer is looking for.
- Offer feedback on your preparation and presentation.
7. Prepare for Presentations
If your interview includes a presentation:
- Stick to the time limit.
- Be clear, concise, and structured.
- Practice delivering it aloud and anticipate follow-up questions.
8. Understand the Interview Format
Interviews can include various formats:
- Competency-based questions: Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result).
- Situational questions: Hypothetical scenarios to assess judgment.
- Technical or case-based questions: Common in finance, consulting, or engineering.
- Role-play exercises: Often used in customer service or sales roles.
- Testing: You may be asked to complete assessments before or during the interview to test aptitude, personality, or technical abilities.
9. Candidate Checklist
Here’s a quick checklist to keep you on track:
- Researched the company and interviewers
- Reviewed and summarised your CV
- Planned your journey or tested your tech
- Prepared answers using STAR/PAR techniques
- Practised your presentation (if applicable)
- Prepared smart, relevant questions
- Confirmed dress code and logistics
- Discussed prep with your recruiter (if applicable)
Finally, consider the most relevant and impactful 3 aspects of your career and experience that you want the interviewers to remember about you. Ensure you talk about each of these 3 times during the interview to embed it in their minds. If the interview questions don’t provide you with this opportunity, bring them up towards the end when they ask if you have anything else you’d like to mention.
Candidate Support Guide
We have a full candidate support guide available to download, which offers insights into navigating your career path, tailoring your job applications, interview preparation tips, guidance on different interview questions and how to answer them, how to deliver a powerful presentation, as well as handling salary expectations and negotiations. Download our guide today to help you be in the best position for your job hunting.