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.

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

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

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

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

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?

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

Following up after an interview

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.

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.

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Job interview tips

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:

Six reasons to reject a job offer

If you’re on the fence about accepting a role, here are six great reasons you might decide to turn down a job offer.

10 icebreaker questions for work

So you’re aren’t stuck for what to say, here are 10 icebreaker questions that will help get the conversation going (and example answers).

Team leader interview questions

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

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.

How to deal with job interview stress

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.

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Preparing for an interview

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

We’ve already covered some of the most common interview questions, but here’s our advice on the best way to answer: ‘why do you want this job?’

Three questions interviewers are asking in 2021 (and how to answer them)

Three emerging interview questions for 2021, courtesy of James Reed’s bestselling book, ‘Why You: 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again’.

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).

Five common job interview mistakes 

A successful job interview means selling yourself just the right amount. To make sure you’re not accidentally putting your interviewer off, here are five job interview weaknesses, and how you can avoid them:

Body language: Interview do’s and don’ts

To make sure you don’t end your interview before it’s even begun, here’s our guide to the do’s and don’ts of interview body language.

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.

Should I ask about salary at my interview?

Nothing divides interview opinion quite as much as salary. To make sure you know exactly when (and how) to ask about salary at your interview, here are a few of our top tips:

Eight signs your interview went well

Figuring out whether your interview went well isn’t always easy. To help you spot them, here are eight signs to look out for:

Psychometric testing: What you need to know

Not sure you’re up-to-speed when it comes to psychometric testing? Find out the facts now.

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.

Eight of the most awkward interview moments  

A job interview can be a pretty terrifying experience. Here are eight of the most awkward interview moments, and our advice on how to deal with them:

11 things to do when your interview goes badly

Unfortunately, interviews don’t always go to plan. We’ve already covered how to deal with stress in an interview, but here are 11 things you should always do after a bad interview:

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Questions to ask at a job interview

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):

Types of interview questions

Interview questions come in all shapes and sizes. We’ve already covered the types of interviews you might have, but here are five of the most common types of interview questions (and our top tips on how to answer them):

Four things to take to a job interview

Outfit? Check. Answers? Check. Checklist? Check. We’ve already covered how to prepare for an interview, but here are four things you should always take with you on the big day:

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.

Second interviews: What you need to know

Great news: you’ve been invited to a second interview. We’ve already covered second interview questions and answers, but here’s everything you need to know about second interviews:

Five questions you should never ask at an interview

Some questions are better left unasked. Here are five that you should never bring up at an interview:

Interviews: Questions you should not be asked

Not sure exactly what you can and can’t be asked at an interview? Here’s a list of questions to avoid, and how to answer them should they arise:

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: Cancel an interview

There’s only one thing scarier than an interview: cancelling one. To make sure you’re doing it in the right way, here are a few tips on how to cancel an interview:

Five good reasons to cancel an interview

Cancelling an interview can be a pretty awkward experience. To make sure you don’t burn any bridges, here are five good reasons to cancel an interview:

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:

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Telephone, video and group interviews

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:

Interview types: What you need to know

We’ve already covered how to prepare for an interview, but here’s everything you need to know about the five most common types of interviews.

Telephone interview tips: dos and don’ts

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…

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:

Group interview tasks and activities

We’ve already covered what not to do at a group interview, but here’s our guide to some of the most popular group interview tasks and activities.

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:

Behavioural interview questions

When it comes to an interview, you always need to be on your best behaviour. To help inspire you, here are five of our favourite behavioural questions courtesy of James Reed’s bestselling book, ‘Why You: 101 Interview Questions You’ll Never Fear Again’, and our advice on how to answer them:

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):

Group interview questions

Role-plays. Hypothetical scenarios. Lego? It must be a group interview. We’ve already covered some group interview dos and don’ts, but here are a few common group interview questions that could come up, and how to handle them:

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.

What to wear for an interview

Not sure what to wear on the big day? Here’s our five-step plan for success, plus two outfits that will help you nail (almost) every interview:

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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.

What are the most common interview questions?

Hiring managers love to ask certain questions to see if you’re a good fit. Expect classics like ‘Tell me about yourself’, ‘What are your biggest strengths and weaknesses?’, and ‘Why do you want this job?’. Preparing for these will help you feel more confident. We’ve got a full list of common questions (and how to answer them) to help you out, as well as tips for second interview questions and competency-based interviews.

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.