Interviews are a significant milestone when you're trying to secure a job or gain admission to a university. They provide an opportunity to demonstrate why you're the ideal candidate, but they can also feel daunting if you're unprepared. Taking the time to prepare can make all the difference. Preparation demonstrates your seriousness, boosts your confidence and increases your chances of success.
During my tenure as Principal of two schools in Cambridge, I also managed the Careers Department. I took on this responsibility because I found it incredibly rewarding to see my students succeed in their interviews, whether gaining entry to university or landing the job they desired. I excelled in this role because I genuinely enjoyed it.
While I wasn’t 100 per cent successful, I estimate my success rate was at least 90 per cent. For example, in one year, nine of my students gained admission to the University of Cambridge. For most schools, having even one student admitted to Cambridge or Oxford would be considered a remarkable achievement. At that time interviewing well could mean the difference between success or failure.
That said, it’s more accurate to say that the students were the ones who succeeded; I was simply instrumental in helping them achieve their goals. With guidance and practice, almost anyone can excel in an interview.
Some students who came to my school to retake exams already had what I considered sufficiently strong results to secure university admission or obtain their desired job. However, they had failed their interviews. The more interviews they failed, the more nervous they became, which in turn made them more likely to fail again. It was a vicious cycle.
In addition to assisting with their CVs and university application forms, I also provided them with interview practice. After the first mock interview, it was usually evident why they had struggled in previous interviews. I took detailed notes during these mock interview sessions and then discussed with them at the end the areas where they had gone wrong. They were often shocked by the inappropriate or disastrous answers to my interview questions. Some answers were not only problematic but occasionally even humorous.
It wasn’t a matter of lacking the right qualifications or skills but rather of being unprepared and overly nervous. By the second mock interview, their interview skills began to improve, and by the fourth or fifth, they had learned how to handle difficult questions and were no longer as anxious because they were well-prepared.
Most importantly, they never resorted to being untruthful when answering questions.
Interviewers can usually detect dishonesty, and no one is expected to know everything. If you don’t have an answer or the knowledge to answer, it’s best to admit this and turn the question back to the interviewer. For example, you could say: “That is something which wasn’t covered at my school/university, but I know it’s important. Would you have the time after this interview to explain it to me?” I call this one of my “get-out-of-jail-free” answers. It shows honesty and a desire to learn.
One of the main problems was that students often failed to understand what employers or university admissions tutors were looking for. They had the right qualifications and skills but didn’t know how to present these effectively or consider what the interviewer was looking for in a candidate.
Here’s one example: one of my students came from a well-known and highly successful UK holiday company. He had applied to several universities to study Business Studies but had failed all his interviews. His A-level results were average but sufficient to gain admission to study Business Studies. Before giving any mock interviews, I always asked my students if they had experienced previous interviews that they had failed. I asked this particular student if he had been asked why he wanted to study Business Studies. His answer was honest and might seem reasonable to some, but it was disastrous: he had said, “I want to go into business and make money.”
Why was this the wrong answer? Because he failed to understand that he wasn’t being interviewed by another businessman but by a teacher or an academic. His answer demonstrated to the admissions tutor that he hadn’t studied the course content.
What would have been the right answer — or at least one that would have greatly improved his chances of success? “Having looked carefully at your course content, I felt these were the subjects that would help me in my business career.
In particular, I felt your course stood out by covering important topics such as human resource management, understanding the economy, strategic leadership and international business.” Each business course offers different areas of study, so he would have needed to tailor his answer.
He retook his A-levels with us, achieved better grades, and gained entry to a more prestigious university. And yes, his interview went well. Whether you are applying for a place at university or a job, the same rules apply. Do your homework in advance of an interview.
Briefly, here are some bits of advice:
- Get some interview practice.
- Study the job description to understand what they’re looking for.
- Be ready to explain why you think you’re the right person for the job.
- Be prepared to answer when asked to tell the interviewer about yourself.
- When answering questions, don’t ramble. Keep your responses to the point and well-articulated.
There are many other factors that can help you succeed, such as body language and eye contact. I hope this brief article helps you understand the importance of preparation. Walking into an interview unprepared will only make you feel nervous and unsure of yourself.
Good luck with your next interview!
KAREEM EASTERBROOK
Former Cambridge School Principal and Interview Skills Advisor
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