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Everyone knows it’s important to prepare well for an interview but knowing exactly what to focus on when there is so much information available can be daunting.

There is of course a multitude of different interview styles to consider, however from our years of experience in prepping candidates for interviews, there are some things that should always be taken into focus beforehand.

So – here’s our checklist of 3 key things to make sure are covered for any upcoming media interview – whether it’s a video call or face to face meeting.

1. The Company and The Role.

Yes, it seems obvious but it’s surprising how often good candidates on paper don’t think about an interview as a two-way process and blow their chances. It’s imperative that you spend time to prepare and research around the company and role itself.

Key things to remember:

• Think about (and write down / say out loud so it really hits home) how you will articulate why the company appeals to you and any ‘shared values’ (usually found on their website).
• What can you offer them in relation to key elements of the role listed on the job spec or highlighted by your recruiter (ideally using clear and concise work examples to demonstrate it)
• Practice answers to some of the more general questions you may encounter, such as your strengths, biggest achievement in a previous role and even your interests outside of work

2. Understand the Interview Style.

Understand what type of interview it will be and then plan accordingly.

Will it just be a general chat around your experience and what you can bring to the role, or something more in-depth?

Are there particular competency-based questions the interviewer(s) likes to ask? What’s their style – structured or conversational? – knowing this in advance will help you adapt your prep and subsequent answers. For example, Amazon interviewers tend to ask broad competency-led questions around their key ‘leadership principles’. If you research these in advance, you’ve already got an advantage.

Be prepared to share stories around behavioural questions – i.e. how you’ve navigated a difficult situation with a client or used your creative thinking skills to solve a complex problem.

3. Find someone with relevant industry knowledge to prepare you

If you are dealing with a recruitment agency, you should feel that any person who represents you wants to help you do your best. In many instances, they will have had other candidates interview with that company / interviewer before so should be able to offer some upfront advice on interview style and things to mention.

In addition, you should get feedback from any 1^st stage interview and be able to build on that. If you know what they liked or any areas of concern from the first stage, you can hone your answers for the 2^nd stage.

Any good recruiter will give you as much info as is fair to upfront, but if you are unsure about anything or just need further clarification on what to expect, ask them.

For more in-depth advice on interviews and more – Book Your Session.