Your complete guide to preparation and different types of interviews

Interviews can be a really daunting experience, even for the most polished and experienced professionals. With the right interview preparation, you can confidently showcase your skills and make a lasting impression. At Marks Sattin, we're committed to helping people succeed and we're more than happy to provide interview tips to help you shine on the big day.

That is why we have helpfully collated key pieces of advice from our most experienced consultants to help you prepare for your next interview. Whether you're preparing for your first interview or you're a seasoned pro, these interview tips will guide you every step of the way.

KEY TAKEAWAYS FOR INTERVIEW SUCCESS

How to prepare before your interview
The interview day: punctuality and presentation
How to talk about your interview experience
How to prepare for different interview types
Bonus tips on interview success

If you are looking for support in your journey, that's where our seasoned consultants step in at Marks Sattin, sharing invaluable insights and expert advice tailored to equip you for success in your upcoming interview.

How to prepare before your interview

Interview preparation starts with research about the company. Understanding its products, services, culture, and structure can set you apart from other candidates.

Here are some reliable sources for gathering this crucial information ahead of your interview:

Company website: The most direct and up-to-date information
LinkedIn profile: A great way to understand the company's culture and leadership team
Companies house: For public companies, you can gather financial data and company status

Key preparations before your interview

Check the location before the day and explore alternative options for transport
Read through the job description, and know where your role will fit into the organisation
Expect the interviewer to do a CV walkthrough, spend some time going through your CV, and make sure to familiarise yourself with your previous roles and projects along with dates
Be prepared for any technical questions that could arise from reviewing your CV
Be prepared to explain your reasons for leaving each role
Have a mental note of all key achievements in each role

Tips for the interview day: punctuality and presentation

Arriving on time is critical. One of the biggest interview tips is to arrive 15 minutes early, giving yourself plenty of time for unexpected delays. Always check traffic reports or train times if necessary.

As a pro interview tip, it's also a good idea to have a contact telephone number for your consultant or the hiring manager to hand, just in case something crops up.

In an interview, presenting yourself professionally, showcasing confidence, and articulating your skills and experiences effectively are key to making a strong impression.

If the interview is face-to-face opt for professional and well-fitted clothing that aligns with the company's culture and industry norms.

Interview checklist: Top interview tips

Introduce yourself politely
Arrive on time or early if possible
Turn your mobile phone off during the interview
Express yourself clearly
Body language, smiling and making eye contact during an interview can go a long way
Show how your experience can benefit the company
Ask questions concerning the company for which you are being interviewed
Show willingness to learn and progressBe assertive without being aggressive
Prepare 10 relevant questions; you will probably cover five in the interview
Refrain from answering questions with a yes or no - expand where possible
Answer all questions truthfully and honestly
Stay positive about previous employers
Show that you have put time and energy into planning your career and that this is a crucial step toward your future
Do not talk about the salary and benefits package - getting an offer is the main priority and salary negotiations will follow
For every responsibility/requirement on the job specification, ensure you have at least one example of an experience or a transferable skill that covers that requirement for the interview

How to talk about your experience in an interview

When discussing your experience during the interview, here are some helpful interview tips:

Use recent examples: Focus on examples from the last 5 years to show that your skills are up to date
Diversify your examples: Use a range of scenarios rather than repeating the same example for different questions
Clarify if needed: If you don't understand a question, don't hesitate to ask for clarification
Pause before answering: It's better to take a brief moment to gather your thoughts than to rush into a response that may not be well-structured

When preparing for interview questions, make sure to avoid vague or cliched answers, like "I'm a great team player" unless you can back it up with specific examples. Interviewers want to hear about how you've demonstrated your abilities in real world situations.

Different types of interviews and how to prepare for them

Competency based interviewing

Competency-based interviewing is a series of scenario-based questions designed to examine your strengths across a number of soft skills.

The idea behind this type of question, where you are asked to give a specific example of a real-life situation in the workplace, is that the interviewer is able to determine how you would react to different situations in the workplace, based on how you behaved in the past.

A competency question will start with something like …. “Describe a situation when……” or “Tell me about a time when…..” It is important that you respond accordingly, with one specific example, rather than saying what you would, could or should do.

Prepare examples for each of the competencies; and rehearse your answers. Remember that the word ‘we’ should not form part of your answer, replace it with ‘I’. It is you they want to hear about. The hiring manager, after all, is looking to hire you, not your team.

The STAR technique

To prepare yourself for the competency questions you will need to understand the STAR (situation, task, action, result) method of structuring your answer.

The STAR technique enables you to showcase your relevant experience with the interviewer in a methodical manner. We recommend looking at each bullet point in the job description and preparing a STAR response to each so that you are equipped with some great examples to quote.

Depending on the industry and sector you are applying for, the types of interview questions may differ. For example, in a technology competency-based interview, you can expect questions about specific technical skills, problem-solving abilities, past project experiences, and your approach to handling technological challenges relevant to the role you're applying for.

Telephone interviews

As a minimum, you should brush up on the company’s business structure, clients, products, industry terminology, or anything else that may relate to the position you are applying for.
Spending an hour or two researching these things before a telephone interview can make a great impression on your interviewers and possibly land you a second interview or even a job.

Always remember:
- Keep a glass of water handy
- Smile - this will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice
- Speak slowly and enunciate clearly, be careful not to speak over the interviewer
- Keep your CV in clear view, on the top of your desk, so it is at your fingertips when you need to answer questions
- Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review
- Have a pen and paper handy for note-taking
- Make sure your phone is charged and you are in an area with good reception

As a minimum, you should brush up on the company’s business structure, clients, products, industry terminology, or anything else that may relate to the position you are applying for.

Spending an hour or two researching these things before a telephone interview can make a great impression on your interviewers and possibly land you a second interview or even a job.

Always remember:

Keep a glass of water handy
Smile - this will project a positive image to the listener and will change the tone of your voice
Speak slowly and enunciate clearly, be careful not to speak over the interviewer
Keep your CV in clear view, on the top of your desk, so it is at your fingertips when you need to answer questions
Have a short list of your accomplishments available to review
Have a pen and paper handy for note-taking
Make sure your phone is charged and you are in an area with good reception

Video interviews

Similarly, to telephone interviewing, you must brush up on the company’s business structure, clients, products, industry terminology, or anything else that may relate to the position you are applying for. Spending time researching before a video interview can make a great impression on your interviewers and possibly land you a second interview or even a job.

Always remember:
Keep a glass of water handy
Choose your room wisely
Do a test run to ensure the tech works for you
Speak slowly and enunciate clearly, be careful not to speak over the interviewer
Make sure your laptop or tablet if using one is charged and you are in an area with good reception

Similarly, to telephone interviewing, you must brush up on the company’s business structure, clients, products, industry terminology, or anything else that may relate to the position you are applying for. Spending time researching before a video interview can make a great impression on your interviewers and possibly land you a second interview or even a job.

Always remember:

Keep a glass of water handy
Choose your room wisely
Do a test run to ensure the tech works for you
Speak slowly and enunciate clearly, be careful not to speak over the interviewer
Make sure your laptop or tablet if using one is charged and you are in an area with good reception

Examples of interview questions

Describe a situation in which you were able to use persuasion to successfully convince someone to see things your way
Give me a specific example of a time when you used good judgment and logic in solving a problem
Tell me about a time when you had to go above and beyond the call of duty in order to get a job done
Give me an example of a time when you had to make a split-second decision
What is your typical way of dealing with conflict? Give me an example
Tell me about a time you were able to successfully deal with another person even when that individual may not have personally liked you (or vice versa)
Tell me about a difficult decision you have made in the last year
Give me an example of a time when something you tried to accomplish failed
Tell me about a time when you were forced to make an unpopular decision
What do you expect from this role?

Final interview tips and reminders for your interview:
If late, only apologise once

Remember what you have said to each interviewer. It is fine to duplicate information across the interviews, but make sure you are not repeating yourself to the same person. Sometimes, interviewers may have a short chat between interviews and the second interviewer may be given the task of probing a particular area, so expect some repetition

Never say overly negative things about your current employer or reasons for leaving

Focus on the future, not on the past

How Marks Sattin can guide you through the interview process

Feedback is a great learning opportunity for you and even the very best candidates often need several interviews in order to secure their ideal role.

If you are working with a recruiter or Marks Sattin, it is essential that you call the respective party and provide prompt feedback after your interview.

Whether it is positive or negative, it is essential that you take it on board and use it for future interviews.

When you do secure a new role, Marks Sattin can help to support you from handing in your resignation letter all the way to successful onboarding.
Explore career opportunities on our website, work with our experienced recruiters today, and navigate through your interviews today.