How to get ready for an interview

Your interviewer will expect you to know:

• what their organisation does
• who their customers are
• the size of the organization
• what their values are
• who their main competitors are

If you've researched this information, you’ll be able to have a meaningful conversation with the employer about the company. Doing this research demonstrates to the employer that you really want the job.

You can find this information on the company’s website. There will usually be an ‘about us’, ‘our story’ or ‘our history’ section that will tell you all you need to know.

If the organisation is open to customers, go and visit to find out what products they offer and how they deliver good customer service.

You need to understand the job description of the role you've applied for. Look through all the information you've been sent to make sure you understand the expectations of the job.

This will help you prepare answers for any questions relating to the role and show examples of how you're the right person for the job.

Make sure you know where your interview is and do a practice journey to check how long it will take to get there. Make sure you have a contact phone number for the organisation with you so you can contact them if necessary.

Think about the culture of the organisation you are applying for to help you decide what to wear. If it’s a place which is open to the public, visit and see what staff are wearing. If not, take a look at the website and see if you can get a feel for the dress code there. If in doubt, it’s always better to wear smart clothes.

Think carefully about the main points you want to portray about yourself before an interview. Each question you're asked will be another opportunity to give key information about yourself to the employer.

You can’t predict exactly what questions the employer will ask, but if you prepare these points in advance you can include them in your answers. This will help you show the employer that you're right for the position.

You'll usually be asked if you have any questions at the end of an interview, so have some prepared. Avoid asking about benefits, pay or holiday. Concentrate on showing your interest in the role and a career with the company by asking about training and progression opportunities.