Interview Success: Do’s and Don’ts for Every Type of Interview

Landing a role requires more than just a great CV. In this guide, recruitment expert Becky Brown breaks down the crucial strategies for tackling pre-recorded, virtual, and in-person interviews to help you make a genuine and lasting impact.

Acing the Pre-Recorded Video Interview

Pre-recorded interviews are designed to help recruiters manage high volumes of candidates. Think of it as your first chance to stand out.

Check Your Tech: Before recording, use the platform’s test function to ensure your camera and audio are working correctly. Don’t assume the software is the same as the last one you used
Create a Quiet Space: Find a calm area where you won’t be disturbed. If an interruption happens (a very common occurrence), simply compose yourself and get back on track.
Talk to a Person: Look at the camera lens as if you are speaking to a person, because a real recruiter will be reviewing your answers 99% of the time.
Focus on Body Language: Only 7% of the message you convey is the actual words you use. Your tone of voice accounts for 38%, and body language (non-verbal cues) accounts for 55%. Focus on conveying your motivation and interest.

Don’t Read a Script: Avoid reading an answer directly off a screen. Recruiters can tell if an answer is stilted or ungenuine, and this is a major risk of over-preparing.
Don’t Use AI for Copy: Never use ChatGPT or similar tools to generate formulaic, identikit answers for written or video responses, as recruiters have seen this pattern too often.
Don’t Try to Cheat: Absolutely do not try to get prompts from friends behind the camera—recruiters can spot this “a mile away”.

General Interview Strategy: Handling Questions Like a Pro

These strategies apply whether you are on a one-to-one video call or in an in-person session.

Ask for Thinking Time: If you are asked a complex or curveball question, it is perfectly acceptable to say, “Do you mind if I just take a moment and have a think?”. Interviewers prefer a minute of silence followed by a thoughtful answer over immediate waffling.
Seek Clarification: If English is not your first language, or if the question is confusing (some are deliberately multi-layered), don’t hesitate to check your understanding. Rephrase the question back: “Can I just check that this is what you’re asking/this is what you mean?”.
Don’t ‘Fudge It’: If you don’t know the answer to a technical question, don’t lie or waffle. Instead, say you are unsure, but explain the logical steps you would take to find the answer or solve the problem. This demonstrates a valuable professional skill.
Show Genuine Motivation: When asked why you want the job, go beyond simply reciting company facts (e.g., when the company was founded). Explain your real motivation by connecting the role to your personal interests or experiences.
Vary Your Examples: When asked about your skills, don’t use every example from the same internship or work experience. Leverage transferable skills from part-time jobs (e.g., dealing with difficult customers in a shop) or your extracurricular activities (e.g., commitment to a sports team) to show the breadth of your capabilities.

Assessment Centres and Group Exercises

At an Assessment Centre, you will be assessed against a score sheet or matrix for specific competencies such as knowledge, communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.

The Group Task: This exercise is about seeing how you work with others. Assessors look for respectful behaviour, listening skills, and the ability to pick out the important points.
Interject Respectfully: Make your voice heard by speaking when there is a break in the conversation, not by talking over others.
Choose Your Role Wisely: While one person may volunteer to be the ‘timekeeper,’ avoid taking on this role just to have a job. Ensure you still contribute your knowledge and critical thinking to the actual task.
Dress Code: If you are unsure of what to wear for an in-person interview or assessment centre, always check with your contact at the company.