How to ace your interview

Article

  • Emma Jones

    Director of People

Everyone is different so you may feel a range of emotions if you are invited for an interview with us – excited, nervous, or possibly a bit of both!  

Remember, the interview goes both ways, it's as much a chance for you to find out if we're the right fit for you as it is for us to find out about your skills, experience, and potential to succeed in the role. We'll do all we can to help you to relax and be yourself! Here are some simple tips to help you prepare.

A few days before the interview

  • Double-check the date, and time and be clear on who you are seeing for the interview.  
  • Is the interview face-to-face?  Check the location, travel time, parking, and any information about signing in or arrival.
  • If the interview is virtual, check that you have the link for the meeting and test that the link works.  
  • Do you require a reasonable adjustment to allow you to attend the interview? If you do, please let us know beforehand.   
  • What do you know about our business? Please spend a little time looking at our website or social media channels, where you will find all kinds of information about our structure, values, products, jobs and people. You could even call into one of our branches to get an idea of what we do! 

Make sure you understand the job you're applying for

Read the role profile and make a note of anything you are not clear about so you can ask questions.   

The role profile will tell you the criteria and some of the skills and behaviours required, so think of some examples of where you may have demonstrated these.   

After the interview

  • Check the travel conditions to allow enough time for your journey.  
  • If you're interviewing remotely, check your device has sufficient charge and the link for the interview and your camera are working. Make sure you have some privacy, to allow you to concentrate without interruptions.  
  • Remember to switch off your phone, or put it onto silent mode.  
  • Try to relax and listen carefully to what is being asked, so you can provide a relevant answer.   
  • Be yourself, be honest – if you do not understand the questions, ask for them to be repeated.  
  • If the interviewer does not let you know, ask when and how you will hear about the outcome.  

After the interview

Relax and wait for the next steps! You'll receive feedback from our team whether you're successful or not.