The key to having a good interview in the UK lies in your preparation and planning. First impressions count, so that interview is crucial.

Preparation

Taking the time to think carefully about the company, what they are looking for in an employee, and how you will fit into that organisation, places you at an advantage over your rivals and increases your chances of success. Just remember, good preparation will give you confidence and that will be useful in your interview, no matter what the job.

Before the interview, read through the job description and think carefully about the role, and do some internet research on the company, this will allow you to demonstrate some knowledge of their business and the position they are looking to fill. Being able to speak confidently about these things is what separates those who ‘interview well’ to those who don’t.

Plan your route to the interview the day before, and select a smart outfit in keeping with the company’s image, this will ensure that you do not arrive late and badly dressed; two things that UK employers hate.

Be confident

During the interview maintain eye contact and speak clearly and enthusiastically. Studies have shown that most interviewers form only 7% of their opinion on someone based on what they say, the other 93% is based on how you look, act and sound. Confidence and enthusiasm are essential, but be careful, too much can be mistaken for arrogance.

You will be asked to talk about yourself quite a lot in your interview in the UK. Your ambitions, strengths and weaknesses will all be of interest to the interviewer, so be prepared for this. It is a good idea to go through your Curriculum Vitae (CV) before your interview, so that nothing you say contradicts what you have written down in your CV. The interviewer will have a copy of your CV or application form in front of them and will be asking questions based on what you have written about yourself. The format of interviews will be very different according to the sector e.g. as a social worker you can expect to have a panel interview by two or three people that lasts for over an hour and may include another one-to-one interview that explores some very personal issues. On the other hand, some other sectors may have very informal interviews that feel more like a friendly chat.

What skills are they looking for? Think of some good examples of when you used those skills, and the positive effect that this had on the job that you were doing. This will impress your interviewer much more than simply stating that you have them. And don’t be afraid to take your time when answering questions, it shows that you are thinking about what you are saying, rather than just repeating things from memory. More than anything, your interviewer will want to feel they are having a conversation, not listening to a pre-prepared talk - and they will want to have a sense of who you are by the end of the interview. 

Asking questions

Make sure that you have some intelligent questions to ask at the end of the interview, as you will almost certainly be given the chance to do so. Not having anything to ask at this point will make you appear passive, but remember, it is not customary in the UK to discuss money at this stage, unless your interviewer brings it up. Salaries and other benefits are usually discussed during the second interview or when you are offered the job, so be patient.

Finally, relax! If this isn’t the job for you it just means that there is a better one out there for you to find. Finding the right job can sometimes take a bit of time in the UK, but thanks to years of economic growth there are many job opportunities out there, so be calm, have confidence in your abilities and try to enjoy the process.

For servives relating to this topic, see our Find a... section.
 

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USEFUL PHRASES

Talking about your Good Points
I’m creative and dynamic – my track record in my current job proves that.
My track record shows that I have good experience.
As you can see from my CV, I have a strong background in…
I’m self-motivated and good at organising my time.
I think I’m flexible in the way I plan my work
I’m keen to learn.

Talking about Negative Points
One fault is that I’m a bit of a perfectionist.
I sometimes try to hard to get everything exactly right.
Some people might say I talk too much.
Recently I’ve tried to…
I’m working on this at the moment.
I think I’ve improved a lot in this area.

Talking about Future Plans
I would like to be the manager of a whole division in five years
I hope to climb the career ladder as fast as I can.

Talking about Experience
Have you ever…before?
Yes, I have.  I’ve done that a lot in my current job.
Yes, I have.  I did it in my previous job.
No, I haven’t, but I’m willing to learn if it’s necessary for this job

 

GRAMMAR SPOT

Future Perfect & Future Continuous

Future Perfect: will + have + past participle
Use the Future Perfect to describe an action or state that will be finished before or at a time in the future:
By the end of this year, I will have completed my Masters degree.
Next Thursday he will have been in London for 2 years.

Future Continuous: will + be + -ing
Use the Future Continuous to describe an ongoing activity that will be in progress at a time in the future:
In six months, I will be starting a new job in my country.
Eventually all international business people will be speaking in English.