Video on interview preparation

Career Snapshot - Interviews

Interviews are an inevitable part of recruitment for jobs and postgraduate study. It’s exciting to be invited to interview but many people find them a stressful experience.

The more prepared you are for an interview, the better you’re likely to perform. Start with the Career Snapshot: interviews video which gives an overview of how best to prepare. We also have two short presentations, Types of Interview and Interview Questions, which can help you to better understand the interview process. You can also use Shortlist.Me to practise video interviews as well attend interview workshops or book an appointment with a careers consultant.

Interview Tabs

Purpose and formats of interview

Success at interview comes from solid preparation and understanding the purpose of the activity. An interview is designed to establish if you have the potential to succeed and the motivation to perform well in the advertised opportunity. Whether you’re applying for a part-time job, an internship, graduate role or postgraduate programme, there are some rules that apply. If you understand these rules, and play by them, then you’re on route to success.

Purpose of an interview:

Three questions sit in the mind of an interviewer as they try to decide if you're suitable for their opportunity.

1. Can you do this? Do you have the right skills nd abilities? This could be an assessment of relevant academic and technical knowledge, and evidence of relevant “transferable skills” such as working in a team, organising your time, or dealing with ambiguity. Explore Know your skills for advice on how to reflect on your skills and abilities, and Reading advertisements to ensure you can identify what’s required by a recruiter.

2. Will you do this? Do you appear motivated for this specific opportunity with this specific organisation? The interviewer may explore your knowledge of the opportunity and the organisation. For example, in industry, they may check if you know what they do, what they make, how they work or who they work with, while in academia, they may check your knowledge of their module and project options or research focus. In both cases they want to see a genuine interest and passion for them specifically. Explore Know your motivation for advice on how to identify your needs, values and motivators.

3. Will you fit? Can they picture you with them? This may assess how easy you will be to work with, or line manage, and if you’ll get on with others. It could also be an assessment of how well you communicate through the structure of your answers and your demeanour.

Interview Formats

Interviews vary a lot, but whatever the format, the underlying principle is the same. The most common interview formats are outlined below.

Telephone Interviews

These are usually short phone calls with a recruiter who is making a broad assessment on your suitability for an opportunity. The interviewer may ask you about information on your CV, or within your cover letter, and why you have applied for the opportunity. They are checking if you have the core skills, and motivations, but they may also check your eligibility based on qualifications or experience. Telephone interviews are normally short, at around 10 minutes, and while they can feel very informal and relaxed, it is important to remember that the interviewer is deciding about your future in the application process. Telephone interviews have largely been replaced by recorded video interviews in recent years.

Recorded Video Interviews

These grew in popularity with recruiters during the pandemic and many big organisations are opting for this type of interview format at an early stage of their recruitment process as they attempt to combat the use of applicants using Generative AI to complete application forms, submit CVs, and write cover letters. The principle is the same as a telephone interview (see above) but technology enables more efficient processing which has made this format very popular with big organisations who attract lots of applicants. Typically, you will receive an email invite to an online platform where you will be asked to record your answers to several short questions. You will need a webcam, microphone, good internet connection, and a quite space to record your answers. Follow any instructions carefully and make sure you look professional as the interviewer will get to see you. It is normal to have around 20 seconds to read a question and consider your answer before the recording begins. You then get around two or three minutes to give your answer. Many students dislike this interview format as they find the situation alien, but you can practise using Shortlist.Me to build confidence and get familiar with the setup and typical question style.

Real-time Interviews (in person and online)

The traditional format for an interview is often imagined as an applicant sat in a room in front of an interview panel of two or three people. While this interview format still exists, many organisations have adopted technology as video conference platforms, such as Zoom or MS Teams, are readily available. The move online allows for real-time interactions, and it can expedite the interview process while reducing costs and carbon footprint through reduced travel. You may be invited to an in-person interview, but do not be surprised if your interview is arranged via a video call, even if you are in the same geographic location, as it may simply be easier for the recruitment team to run interviews online and give all applicants the same experience.