Career Advice 　>　 Interview Techniques

Interview Techniques

With a whole host of advice on job interview techniques, you’ll be able to get interview ready – fast. Whether you’re trying to figure out what the most common interview questions are, you want to know how to answer second interview questions, or you’ve got a competency-based interview coming up – you’ll find everything you need to nail your interview training.

Types of interview questions

Interview questions come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the most common types of interview questions (and our top tips on how to answer them).

What to bring to a job interview

From your CV and references to proof of right to work and thoughtful questions, here’s everything you need to bring to your next interview.

12 things you should never do at an interview

How can you ensure that you have an embarrassment free interview experience? Here are 12 things all interviewees hope they don’t do on the big day, and how to avoid them.

Psychometric testing: What you need to know

Not sure you’re up to speed when it comes to psychometric testing? From test types to prep tips, here’s everything you need to know.

Behavioural interview questions and answers

From handling conflict to missing deadlines, we cover the top 10 behavioural interview questions, with our advice on how to ace your answers.

How to deal with interview anxiety

Here are some of the best ways to battle job interview nerves and make sure you stay confident, calm and collected on the big day.

Following up after an interview

Types of interview questions

Types of interview questions

Interview questions come in all shapes and sizes. Here are some of the most common types of interview questions (and our top tips on how to answer them).

What to bring to a job interview

What to bring to a job interview

From your CV and references to proof of right to work and thoughtful questions, here’s everything you need to bring to your next interview.

what not to do at an interview

12 things you should never do at an interview

How can you ensure that you have an embarrassment free interview experience? Here are 12 things all interviewees hope they don’t do on the big day, and how to avoid them.

Psychometric testing

Psychometric testing: What you need to know

Not sure you’re up to speed when it comes to psychometric testing? From test types to prep tips, here’s everything you need to know.

Behavioural interview questions

Behavioural interview questions and answers

From handling conflict to missing deadlines, we cover the top 10 behavioural interview questions, with our advice on how to ace your answers.

interview anxiety

How to deal with interview anxiety

Here are some of the best ways to battle job interview nerves and make sure you stay confident, calm and collected on the big day.

questions not to ask at an interview

10 questions you should never ask at an interview

Asking the wrong question can ruin your chances. From holiday requests to background checks, here are 10 questions to avoid at your next job interview.

Interview body language

Interview body language tips

Worried about your posture? From eye contact to handshakes, master your non-verbal communication with our expert interview body language tips.

how to cancel an interview

Five good reasons to cancel an interview (and how to do it)

Need to cancel an interview but worried about burning bridges? Here are five valid reasons to cancel and a guide on how to do it professionally.

job interview mistakes

Common job interview mistakes (and how to avoid them)

From badmouthing bosses to wardrobe malfunctions, we cover the most common interview mistakes and expert tips on how to avoid them.

illegal interview questions

30 interview questions potential employers are not allowed to ask

Are you married? How old are you? Discover the 30 interview questions employers shouldn’t be asking you, and how to answer them if they do.

interview types

Interview types: What you need to know

From phone screenings to lunch meetings, interviews come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s the most common interview types and how to prepare for them.

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Job interview tips

group interview tasks

Group interview tasks, activities, and questions

From the icebreaker to the case study, here’s our guide to the most common group interview tasks, activities, and questions.

Team leader interview questions

Team leader interview questions

Looking to take the next step in your career? Here are 10 frequently asked team leader interview questions (and how to answer them).  

exit interview

Exit interview tips

Leaving your job? Make sure you leave on good terms with our comprehensive guide to exit interviews, including what to say and what not to say.

Job interview nightmares

Job interview nightmares revealed

We asked more than 200 recruiters to share their all-time top interview faux-pas. Here’s what we found out.

Six reasons to reject a job offer (and how to do it)

Fom salary disputes to gut feelings, here are six valid reasons to reject a job offer – along with some templates to help you do it politely.

second interviews

Second interviews: What to expect and how to prepare

Got a call back? Here’s everything you need to know about second interviews, from questions to expect to top tips for success.

telephone interview tips

Telephone interview tips

Never had a telephone interview before, and worried about how to impress? Here’s our list of Telephone Interviews tips, covering some key do’s and don’ts…

what to wear to an interview

What to wear to an interview

Unsure about interview attire? From smart casual to formal looks, find out what to wear for an interview to make the best first impression.

how to tell if an interview went well

How to tell if an interview went well (or badly)

Unsure how your interview went? From positive body language to employer red flags, here are the signs to look out for to stop the overthinking.

How to ask about salary in an interview

How to ask about salary in an interview

Unsure how to talk about salary in an interview? From timing it right to negotiating your worth, read our essential guide to the money talk.

icebreaker questions

105 icebreaker questions for work

Here are 105 icebreaker questions to help break the ice at work. Find out how to answer them (and ask them) effectively with our helpful guide.

bad interview answers

Interview answers that quietly ruin your chances (and what to say instead)

Avoid the silent rejection pile. Here are five common interview answers that secretly sabotage your success, and the best ways to fix them.

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Preparing for an interview

What are your weaknesses

How to answer: What are your weaknesses?

Not sure how to talk about your weaknesses in an interview? Here’s what you should cover in your answer (and some examples of what to avoid).

Why do you want to work here

How to answer: Why do you want to work here?

Struggling with the interview question ‘Why do you want to work here?’ Read our guide to find out how answer it effectively.

How to answer tell me about yourself

How to answer: Tell me about yourself…

Find talking about yourself a bit of a challenge? Here’s our advice for how to answer: ‘Tell me about yourself…’ at your next interview.

Second interview questions and answers

Second interview questions and answers

Made it to the next round? Prepare for success with our guide to common second interview questions and answers.

customer service interview questions

Customer service interview questions

Preparing for a customer service interview? From teamwork to tricky customers, we cover the top five questions and how to answer them.

Telephone interview questions and answers

Telephone interview questions and answers

Got a phone screening interview coming up? Here are some common phone interview questions and our expert advice on how to answer them.

group interview tips

Group interview tips

Nervous about a group interview? Here are some of our top group interview tips, dos and don’ts, and advice on how to stand out and get hired.

How to answer: What's the most valuable thing you’ve learned during the last year?

How to answer: What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned during the last year?

Our expert guide on how to answer this common interview question, including a step-by-step approach and a great example answer.

interview question

How to answer: Tell me about a time you’ve dealt with a difficult person

Difficult interview questions? What about difficult people? Here’s our advice for how to answer: ‘Tell me about a time you’ve dealt with a difficult person’:

questions to ask at the end of an interview

Best questions to ask at the end of an interview

From general queries to company-specific questions, here are the best questions to ask at the end of a job interview.

manager interview questions and answers

25 manager interview questions and answers

Ace your management interview with our list of manager interview questions and answers. Includes tips for all management roles.

how to follow up on a job application

How to follow up on a job application

Not heard back from an employer? Here’s when and how to follow up on a job application – plus some email templates to help you get started.

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Questions to ask at a job interview

competency based interviews

Competency-based interviews: What you need to know

You might be familiar with certain interview types, for example telephone interviews or group interviews, but have you ever heard of competency-based interviews?

video interview tips

Video interview tips

Got a video interview coming up? Here’s how to prepare for a video interview, and answer common video interview questions with confidence.

Competency based interview questions and answers

Competency based interview questions and answers

Learn how to answer competency based interview questions effectively with our list of competency interview questions and answers.

common interview questions and answers

Common interview questions and answers

The inclusion of certain interview questions is inevitable. But, with a bit of practice, they needn’t be anything to worry about…

star method

STAR method: What you need to know

Never heard of the STAR interview technique before? Here’s everything you need to know – and how you can use it to nail your next interview.

how to explain a gap in your cv

How to explain a gap in your CV

To help make sure your career break isn’t holding you back, here are a few tips on how to explain a gap in your CV – and examples to suit your situation.

Disclosing a criminal record: How (and when) to tell an employer

Disclosing a criminal record: How (and when) to tell an employer

We spoke to Offploy, an organisation dedicated to supporting people with convictions into employment, for their advice on the best way to approach criminal record disclosure.

best AI skills for remote and hybrid AI jobs

How to prepare for an interview

When it comes to an interview, you can never be too prepared. If you’re invited to a face-to-face interview – here are our top tips on how to prepare:

Retail interview questions

Looking for a role in retail? Here’s how to put yourself in the shop window and nail the interview process.

Receptionist interview questions

Want to make a great first impression? Here are five interview questions you may be asked as a receptionist, and tips on how to answer them.

Nursing Interview Questions

Looking for a career helping others? Nursing could be for you. Here are a few of the most popular nursing interview questions, along with our advice on how to answer them.

Difficult interview questions and answers

Not sure what type of biscuit you are (or why you’re even being asked)? Here are some of our favourite tough interview questions, and how to answer them.

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Telephone, video and group interviews

Eight ways you’re selling yourself short in your job search

Can’t get the job you want? To make sure you’re showing recruiters what you can really do, here are eight ways you’re selling yourself short in your job search (and our advice on how to turn it around):

How to answer: What are your strengths?

Not big on self-promotion? Here’s our advice for how to answer: ‘What are your strengths?’ at your next interview.

Six reasons you didn’t get the job

We’ve already covered five things you should never do if you don’t get the job – but to stop you from beating yourself up, here are six reasons you didn’t get the job:

How to: Deal with interview rejection

Sick of being told that ‘everything happens for a reason’ (and other apt motivational slogans)? Here are our top tips to help you ace your next interview:

Tech interview questions

To help inspire you, here are five of our favourite tech interview questions courtesy of the latest edition of James Reed’s bestselling book, ‘Why You: 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again’, and our advice on how to answer them:

Five things you should never do if you don’t get the job

We’ve already covered how to survive interview rejection, but here are five things you should never do if you don’t get the job:

Remote working interview questions

Not sure how to prove you’d be great at remote working? To help you with your interview preparation, here are five of the most common remote interview questions – and our advice on how to answer them:

Engineering interview questions

Not sure what you’ll be asked at an engineering interview? Here are five of the most common engineering interview questions you should be prepared for:

Six annoying things recruiters say

Always being told you’re overqualified? It might not mean what you think. To help reassure you, here are six of the most annoying things recruiters say, and what they actually might mean:

Seven signs you’re overthinking your interview

Unfortunately, overanalysing interviews usually comes with the territory. To make sure you’re not misreading the situation, here are seven signs you’re overthinking you’re interview (and how to stop):

Six types of interviewers that you need to know

As difficult as it can be to believe,interviewers are actually human. To help you get to grips with some of their styles, here are six common types of interviewers which you could encounter.

Five career goal questions, and how to answer them

Five career goal questions, and how to answer them

Where are you currently in your career, and where do you want to go next? Here are five our favourite career goal questions courtesy of James Reed’s bestselling book, ‘Why You: 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again’,

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Other advice on: Interview Techniques

How to answer curveball interview questions

How to: Answer curveball interview questions

Not sure the best way to answer a curveball question? Here are five examples to make sure you don’t get caught short:

Five interview questions you should stop being scared of

To coincide with the launch of James Reed’s new book, ‘Why You: 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again’, here are five interview answers to help you get over ‘the fear’:

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FAQs

How should I prepare for a job interview?

Good preparation is the key to a successful interview. Start by researching the company and understanding the role inside out. You should also prepare answers to common interview questions, and have a few of your own questions ready to ask them. For even more tips, check out our guide on how to prepare for an interview. Oh, and don’t forget to plan your outfit and route in advance—no one wants to turn up late and flustered.

How can I answer ‘what are your weaknesses?’

Ah, the dreaded weakness question. Honesty is the best policy here, but with a twist. Pick a real, minor weakness and explain how you’re actively working to improve it. For helpful examples, check out our article on how to answer: what are your weaknesses?. Showing self-awareness and a desire to grow will make any employer take notice.

What should I wear to a job interview?

Your interview outfit should be smart, professional, and appropriate for the company’s culture. It’s always safer to be slightly overdressed than too casual. For most office roles, business-casual is a safe bet. If in doubt, check the company’s website or social media to get a feel for their dress code. You can also read our top tips for interview outfits to feel confident and polished for the big day.

Is it okay to ask questions in an interview?

Yes, you absolutely should ask questions. It shows you’re engaged, interested in the role, and have done your homework. Prepare a few questions about the team, the company culture, or the day-to-day responsibilities. Take a look at the best questions to ask at the end of an interview for inspiration. Asking thoughtful questions can leave a lasting positive impression and help you decide if the job is right for you.