Interview Guide

Before the interview

• Research the company and the role. Go through the company's website and social media channels. Pay attention to its history, its activities and its values.
• Dress professionally. Smart, professional clothing — even where the company has a casual dress code.
• Prepare examples. Every answer should link to a specific event that demonstrates your suitability for the role.
• Be ready for different formats. An interview can be one-on-one, a group discussion, a phone call or a panel.
• Practise with a mock interview. Rehearsing with a friend builds confidence and sharpens the answers.

Common question types

Competency-based questions

These test a range of skills and require answers set in the context of actual events.

• Approach: use the STAR method — Situation, Task, Action, Result — to structure the answer.
• Example: "Describe a situation where you showed leadership."
• Practise: 25 competency-based questions and answers.

Behavioural questions

These focus on past experience to assess whether you have the skills the role needs.

• Approach: STAR again.
• Example: "Tell me about a time you wish you had handled a situation differently with a colleague."
• Practise: Indeed's question list and The Interview Guys' answer walkthroughs.

Case questions

Used to assess analytical and problem-solving skills against a real business challenge.

• Approach: understand the problem, structure it and solve it, then make a recommendation. Research the company's past projects beforehand — they inform the kind of case you will be given.
• Example: "Firm X is considering purchasing a competitor. Would this be a wise business decision?"
• Practise: PrepLounge on approaching cases and Simon-Kucher's case preparation guide.

Situational questions

Close to behavioural questions, but set in a hypothetical workplace scenario rather than your own past.

• Approach: STAR still works.
• Example: "If you knew a colleague was wrong about something, how would you handle it?"
• Practise: FlexJobs' situational questions and example answers.

Role-play questions

The interviewer sets a real workplace scenario and asks you to act it out.

• Approach: research the company and the job description thoroughly — the scenario comes out of both.
• Example: handling a customer complaint, or marketing a product.
• Practise: Indeed's role-play guide.

Types of interview

Video interview

Usually early in the process, after the CV and cover letter stage. It comes in two forms: a synchronous interview, conducted live over the internet with both parties present, and an asynchronous one, recorded by you at your convenience with no interviewer there — often used to screen a large field quickly.

• Be ready for technical questions about the role and its responsibilities.
• Understand the company's principles and culture, and tailor your answers to them.
• Outline responses to common questions in advance — asynchronous formats give you very little preparation time per question.

Telephone interview

A pre-scheduled call of around 30 minutes, used as part of screening.

• Know your CV and cover letter inside out. They will be discussed.
• Be enthusiastic and sell yourself, even if you lack some of the listed qualifications.
• Use STAR for competency-based questions.
• Take the call somewhere without distractions.
• Refer to notes sparingly, and avoid making noise the microphone will pick up.
• Write down questions to ask the interviewer.
• Dress professionally anyway — it puts you in the right mindset.

In-person interview

Usually the final stage, with a hiring manager, partner or CEO. It runs 30 minutes to an hour at the company's office. By this point the firm is genuinely interested in you and is assessing cultural fit.

• Research the firm thoroughly — know why you are applying to this one.
• Prepare two meaningful questions to ask.
• Practise a firm, short handshake.
• Control your body language: maintain eye contact, use hand gestures naturally, and smile.