8 INTERVIEW PREPARATION TIPS

As Alexander Bell said ‘Before anything else, preparation is the key to success’.

So, here are our 8 steps for preparing for an interview:

1) Head directly to the website of the organisation and thoroughly read through every page. Never start an interview unless you can confidently answer ‘what do you know about us?’ Or ‘what do we do?’....unless you've got a good excuse like it's for MI5 or the company is in stealth mode.

2) Visit the company’s social media pages and understand the company culture, recent news, and events. This will give you a feeling for what it is like to work there, and you may be able to use this knowledge when answering questions during the interview.

3) Research the person that is interviewing you by visiting LinkedIn and Google their name. You may have something in common, similar interests, or attended the same university. You will also get an insight into their career path.

4) If the interview is taking place via video, ensure that you have the correct software installed and updated so you’re not late. Also, check that your camera is well-positioned and background noise is kept to a minimum. If it's an on-site interview, arrive with plenty of time, especially if travelling from afar. Research a nearby place to grab a coffee where you can revisit your interview preparation if you arrive early

5) Always wear smart clothing – unless specifically told not to. This is even more important if the role will have a customer-facing element.

6) Prepare questions to ask before the interview. When you are under the pressure of an interview you may forget things that you noticed in your interview preparation, or ask things that are important to you. Asking questions also makes you seem keen and can help open the conversation.

7) Based on your understanding of the role and the organisation, identify the key traits and skills required for the position. Next, evaluate your own experience, skills, and strengths in relation to these qualifications. Provide specific examples of activities or work experiences where you have demonstrated or developed these skills. If you find that you need to improve in certain areas, use this opportunity to refresh your knowledge.

8) Run through a mock interview using generic interview questions with a family member or friend who can offer feedback on your answers, and put you in an interview mindset.

If you go through all of the above steps, you should go into the interview feeling fully prepared and confident.

RedTech Recruitment are a specialist recruitment agency supporting Engineers and Scientists find roles in the tech industry. We have 2 divisions - Graduates & Experienced Hires.

To view our live roles visit www.redtech-recruit.com or email [email protected] to make a speculative application.

If you are looking to hire top emerging academic talent, please email [email protected]