Interview preparation and common questions

Most interview nerves come down to uncertainty: not knowing what you'll be asked, or not having your answers sorted out in your own head yet. Proper preparation won't remove the nerves completely, but it does mean you're not figuring out your answers for the first time in the room.

Research the company properly

Go beyond the homepage. Look at what they actually do, any recent news about them, and, where it's relevant, the specific team or department you'd be joining. Being able to speak with genuine knowledge about the organisation, rather than generic enthusiasm, makes a real difference. It also sets you up to ask better questions later on.

Use a simple structure for behavioural questions

A lot of interview questions ask you to describe a past situation: "tell me about a time when..." One well-known way to structure an answer like this is Situation, Task, Action, Result. Set the scene briefly, explain what you actually needed to do, describe what you specifically did (not what "we" did as a team), and finish with what happened, ideally with a concrete outcome.

Having two or three strong examples ready in this shape, covering things like teamwork, solving a problem, or handling something difficult, means you're rarely caught without a good answer, even when the exact question takes you by surprise.

Common questions worth preparing for

A handful of questions come up again and again, and it's worth having a real answer ready for each:

• "Tell me about yourself" wants a short, focused summary of your relevant background and what you're looking for next, not your entire life story.
• "Why do you want this role?" needs an answer specific to this company and role, not something generic that could apply anywhere.
• "What are your strengths?" works best with strengths genuinely relevant to the role, backed up with a brief example for each.
• "What's a weakness of yours?" should be something real, with the focus on what you're actually doing about it, rather than a disguised strength like "I work too hard."
• "Where do you see yourself in a few years?" doesn't need an exact plan. A general sense of direction is enough.

Prepare your own questions to ask

Nearly every interview ends with "do you have any questions for us?" and having none can come across as a lack of genuine interest. A few reliable options: what does success look like in this role after the first six months, what's the team structure and who would you be working with most closely, and what does the interviewer themselves enjoy most about working there.

It's usually best to avoid asking about salary or holiday allowance at this stage unless the interviewer brings it up first. There's typically a more natural point later in the process for that conversation.

Practical logistics

• Confirm the time, location or video link, and who you're meeting, ideally the day before
• If it's in person, plan your route and aim to arrive a few minutes early, not so early it becomes awkward, and not late
• Bring a copy of your CV, even if you already sent one
• Get a good night's sleep. It genuinely affects how clearly you think and speak the next day.

Interviews are a two-way conversation, not an exam with a single right answer. Solid preparation means you can actually focus on that conversation, rather than being thrown by the format of it.