Your First Interview? Here's What to Expect

An interview is a conversation, not a test

If you've never had a job interview before, the whole thing can sound a little intimidating. What will they ask? What should you say? What if your mind goes completely blank?

The good news is that an interview isn't designed to catch you out. It's a conversation that gives both you and the employer a chance to work out whether the opportunity is right for you.

You don't need to have perfect answers to every question. A little preparation can make a huge difference.

1. Research the organisation

Spend some time finding out who you're applying to. Look at the company's website and social media. Understand what they do, who their customers are and what they're currently working on. You don't need to memorise the entire company history.

Just make sure you can answer a simple question, for example, "Why are you interested in working here?"

Being able to talk about something specific you've discovered shows that you're interested and have made the effort to prepare.

2. Read the job advert again

Don't just read the advert when you apply and forget about it. Read it again before your interview. Look at the skills, responsibilities and qualities the employer has mentioned. Think about examples from your own experience that demonstrate them.

If the advert says they're looking for someone who is organised, think about a time you had to organise something. If they mention teamwork, think about a project, sports team, volunteering experience or other situation where you worked with other people.

3. Prepare some examples

You don't need to memorise a speech. Instead, prepare a few examples that you can adapt to different questions.

Think about times when you:

• Solved a problem
• Worked as part of a team
• Took responsibility
• Learned something new
• Dealt with a difficult situation
• Made a mistake and learned from it
• Achieved something you're proud of

4. Plan your journey

This sounds obvious, but don't leave it until the morning of your interview. Check where you're going, how long the journey takes and what time you need to leave.

If you're travelling by public transport, check for potential delays and give yourself some extra time.

If the interview is online, test your camera, microphone and internet connection beforehand. Find somewhere quiet where you won't be interrupted.

Aim to arrive or join the meeting a little early. After all, you don't want your first impression to be an apology for being late because of a train delay, traffic or whatever applies to the situation.

5. Prepare questions

An interview isn't just an opportunity for the employer to ask you questions. It's also your opportunity to find out whether you actually want to work there. It's better for you to find out a job isn't something you would be happy with in the interview, rather than once you actually start.

Prepare two or three questions in advance, such as:

• "What would a typical day look like in this role?"
• "What training would I receive during my first few months?"
• "Who would I be working with?"
• "What would success look like after six months?"

6. Don't panic if you get stuck

This is probably the most important one. At some point, you might get asked a question you weren't expecting. Your mind might go blank, and that's completely normal. Sometimes employers might throw you a curveball question to see if you can adapt and think quickly.

You don't need to immediately launch into an answer just because there's a few seconds of silence. Take a moment.

It's completely fine to say: "That's a good question. Let me think about that for a moment."

If you don't understand what the interviewer is asking, ask them to explain it differently. Maybe you can't think of a relevant example immediately. Say so and take some time.

An interview isn't a test of how quickly you can speak. It's an opportunity to show how you think, communicate and approach problems.

You don't need to be perfect

If it's your first interview, the employer already knows you won't have years of professional experience, so they're not expecting you to behave like someone who's been working for 20 years. They want to see whether you're interested, prepared and capable of learning.

So do your research, read the advert, prepare a few examples, plan your journey and think of some questions. Then take a breath and remember, an interview is not just about proving you're right for the job. It's also your chance to decide whether the job is right for you.