Three key ways to prepare for a job interview

Nearly 15 years ago I co-founded a social enterprise that is dedicated to helping those leaving education into careers. It continues to this day and places around 30k young people into work, something I’m personally very proud of. It’s fair to say over that time I learned a lot about what recruiters want and as importantly, what they don’t want. When I was invited to write this piece therefore, there was no shortage of material to draw from.

However, a simple ChatGPT search of “Top interview preparation tips” will give you much of my 15 years’ experience in a 60 second read, I guess my first tip therefore is, you must do that. It will give what I consider the “cost of entry” things you should do as an average applicant.

I would expect to see the need to research the company and where possible your interviewers. Practicing common interview questions and understanding the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) method of answering. Preparing your own questions to ask your interviewers, that focus on the role, the culture and future organisational challenges. Dressing appropriately and being punctual, polite and conscious of non-verbal communication. Maybe even the importance of polite, timely follow-up email summarising the interview highlights and thanking those involved for their time.