Essential Interview Prep and Research

Emily

Hello and welcome back to our Guide to Job Searching! I’m Emily, and as always, I’m joined by Tom. Today, we’re diving into the world of interview preparation—how to research, what to expect, and how to set yourself up for success, no matter what kind of interview you’re facing.

Tom

Hi everyone! Yeah, this is a big topic to cover. Interviews have evolved quite a bit in recent years. I mean, it’s not just the classic face-to-face anymore. You’ve got video calls, AI screenings, even those panel interviews where it feels like you’re on Dragon’s Den

Emily

Absolutely - Firstly though, let's take some time out to congratulate ourselves on having got an interview. - We must have done something right, and they must have liked our CV or application to have given us the opportunity to have an interview; so that in itself is a small win and worth celebrating. - Now, let’s start with the basics. Face-to-face interviews, it’s still about arriving on time,- make sure you allow for road closures, cancelled trains and buses or whatever; better to get there an hour before and go relax somewhere, than turn up last minute in a state. Maybe even do a trial run so you know exactly where you're going. Dress appropriately, and bring the right documents; It can be super frustrating being on time and then the reception security ask to see the email invite and you can't find or access it. Take a printed copy just in case. - With video interviews, you’ve got to think about your tech—camera, microphone, WiFi. I always say, do a quick test call with a friend or even just record yourself to check lighting and sound. Don't sit right in front of a bright window, otherwise you'll just look like a silhouette. And don’t forget what’s in your background! . Keep it plain and simple, no untidy rooms and noises from elsewhere.

Tom

That's so true, you always want to show a professional approach. Another good tip, especially if you're on a tablet or mobile, is to make sure you position the device on a solid surface. It can be really hard for someone to watch you on a phone if it's constantly moving around. Lets turn now to AI screenings, which can be a bit different. You’re often recording answers to pre-set questions, so you don’t get that human feedback. It can feel a bit robotic, but the trick is to treat it like a real conversation—smile, use your hands, look at the camera and just try to imagine you are having a chat with a friendly colleague. - The final type of interview worth mentioning here, is the panel interview, which can be intimidating. You’ve got multiple people to engage Usually this is made up of someone from HR, then perhaps your line manager, and then possibly someone from the team. It's important with these types of interviews to just relax and make sure you address each member of the panel equally; make sure you make good eye contact with all of them whilst displaying a relaxed, confident demeanour.

Emily

right, and each format needs a slightly different approach. But one thing that’s always important is research. Not just the company’s website, but their culture, mission, recent news, even their competitors. It’s about showing you understand what matters to them and not just how you fit in, but how your values and qualities align with those of the organisation.

Tom

That reminds me of a panel interview I had at a tech startup. I did a deep dive into their latest product launch—red the press release, checked out user reviews, their LinkedIn. During the interview, I asked how they planned to differentiate their product from a competitor’s new feature. The panel lit up. They were so keen to explain why they felt their product was better that it sparked a really friendly conversation whereby I could demonstrate my understanding and that our thinking was in sync. It showed I’d done my homework and had a genuine interest. It’s those little details that can just give you that crucial edge.

Emily

Sounds great- And it’s not just about impressing them—Like you mentioned, it’s about making sure your values align with theirs. Like we talked about in our ‘Finding Your Why’ episode, you want to work somewhere that fits your own goals and beliefs. So, research is as much for you as it is for them.

Tom

Alright, so you’ve done your research and you know the format. Now it’s about how you show up. Body language is huge, whether you’re in person or on camera. Eye contact, posture, where you put your hands—these little things can make a big difference. I always used to fidget with my pen, and I didn’t even realise until I watched a recording of myself. It’s a bit cringey, but so helpful.

Emily

That's true actually, now i think about it I used to cross my arms without thinking, which can come across as closed off. Now, I try to keep my hands visible, maybe rest them lightly on the table. And for my nerves, I swear by mindful breathing. Before a big video interview, I took a few slow breaths and did a last-minute WiFi check—because nothing throws you off like a frozen screen mid-answer. That little routine helped me feel grounded and ready. While I think of it - another handy little tip for video interviews is to keep Post-it notes around with hints to relax, smile and with a few questions to ask if prompted.

Tom

That’s a great tip. And these days, there are so many tools to help you practice. AI platforms like ChatGPT or Google Gemini can throw interview questions at you, and you can even use Yoodli for mock video interviews. It gives you feedback on your pace, filler words, even your facial expressions. I wish I’d had that years ago. I remember one interview where I rambled on about a project, totally lost my thread, and only realised afterwards how off-track I’d gone. Practising with these tools can really help you tighten up your answers. Which leads us on to one of the best techniques to use for interviews-

Tom

The STAR technique, which stands for — Situation, ( set the context with specific details about when and where the example occurred), Task, ( Explain your responsibility or the challenge you needed to address), Action, ( Describe the specific steps you took to handle the situation), Result. ( What was the outcome and what did you learn), It’s brilliant for structuring answers, especially for those behavioural questions. Let me give you a real example so you can see how it works. Here we go :- Tell me about a time you dealt with a difficult customer? - So an ideal response would be - At my last job a customer came in upset because an item they bought the day before was now on sale (Situation); I needed to listen to the customer so i could understand their frustration whilst sticking to our store policy, (Task); I listened empathetically, explained our store policy and as it was within 7 days of purchase reduced the price (Action); The customer was happy with the refunded amount which allowed them to make an additional purchase of a t-shirt (Result). Using this technique takes some practice but once you get the hang of it your answers will become more concise and meaningful

Tom

As we mentioned earlier, there are some fantastic AI tools available to help you practice. Recording yourself—even if it feels a bit awkward at first—can be incredibly eye-opening. You’ll start to notice habits, filler words, or body language quirks that you might never have picked up on otherwise. And when it comes to the tough questions—like explaining gaps in your CV or handling those curveballs like, “If you had a superpower, what would it be?”—the key is to stay calm and be genuine. Just like we said back in our very first episode: train like an athlete. Repetition builds confidence. The more you practice, the more natural it all feels. That preparation helps ensure that when the real interview comes around, you're not thrown off—you’ve already been there in your mind. That kind of readiness can make a huge difference in boosting your chances of success.

Emily

Brilliant, thank you so much for that Tom. So - you’ve made it through the questions, it’s time to finish strong. I always recommend having a couple of thoughtful questions ready. Not , “What’s the salary?” but things like, “How does your team live out the company’s values day-to-day?” or “What’s the biggest challenge facing the team right now?” It shows you’re thinking about how you’d fit in and contribute. Sometimes it's a good idea to have a notepad with the questions already written. Two questions is usually fine, unless they invite more. Having them written demonstrates that you have prepared beforehand, and that you are able to think clearly in a pressurised situation. It's important to be aware of their time as well, as they may have a schedule to keep.

Tom

Yeah, and it’s your last chance to leave a positive impression. Even just a genuine thank you at the end can go a long way. After the interview, I always send a quick thank you note—just a couple of lines to say I appreciated their time and enjoyed the conversation. It’s simple, but it keeps you top of mind.

Emily

And don’t forget to reflect on how it went. What felt good? What would you do differently next time? Some of those AI tools we mentioned, like Yoodli, can help you spot things you might’ve missed—maybe you spoke too quickly, or didn’t answer a question as clearly as you thought. It’s all useful feedback.

Tom

And if you don’t get the job, it’s tough, but it’s not the end of the world. Like we've said before, we don't know the reasons why we may not have been successful, but always consider that it may be simply because they were recruiting from within and already had someone from their own organisation lined up for the role. Every interview is a chance to learn and get better. Like we said in our episode on planning to succeed, resilience is key. Take what you can from the experience and keep moving forward.

Emily

Exactly. So, whether you’re prepping for your first interview or your fiftieth, remember—it’s all about preparation, practice, and learning as you go. We’ll be back next time with more tips to help you on your job search journey. Tom, thanks for sharing your stories today!

Tom

Always a pleasure, Emily. And thanks to everyone for listening. Good luck with your interviews, and we’ll catch you in the next episode. Bye for now

Emily

Bye everyone!