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Thorough company research is what separates good candidates from great ones. Start with the company's website — read their About page, mission statement, and recent news. Then check LinkedIn for company updates, team size, and recent hires. Search Google News for anything published in the last three months. Review their Glassdoor profile to understand the culture.

Prepare two or three insightful questions that show you've done your homework — "I noticed you recently launched a new product in the SME market — how does this role contribute to that growth?" is infinitely more impressive than "What are the working hours?"

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) for competency-based questions. Prepare 6–8 strong examples from your career that you can flex to answer different questions. Common UK interview questions include:

• "Tell me about yourself" — keep it to 90 seconds, career story, current role, why you're here
• "What's your greatest weakness?" — choose a real one and explain the specific steps you're taking to address it
• "Why do you want to leave your current role?" — keep it positive and forward-looking
• "Where do you see yourself in five years?" — align your answer with realistic progression at this company
• "Give me an example of dealing with a difficult stakeholder" — have a real story ready, STAR format

Video interviews require different preparation to face-to-face meetings. Check your technology 30 minutes before — camera, microphone, internet connection, and background. Use a neutral, tidy background or a professional virtual background. Ensure good lighting (natural light facing you is ideal). Dress professionally from head to toe — unexpected situations happen.

Look at the camera, not the screen, when speaking — this creates the impression of eye contact. Have a glass of water nearby. For telephone interviews, stand up if possible — it affects your vocal energy. Have your CV and notes in front of you. Take brief pauses before answering to appear considered rather than rehearsed.

Technical interviews (common in technology, finance, and engineering sectors) require specific preparation beyond standard interview techniques. For tech roles, practise coding challenges on LeetCode or HackerRank. For finance roles, brush up on your modelling skills and be prepared to walk through a case study. For any role, prepare a portfolio of recent work examples.

When you don't know an answer, say so clearly — "That's outside my direct experience, but here's how I'd approach finding the answer..." This demonstrates intellectual honesty and problem-solving ability, both of which are highly valued by UK employers.

Always have five questions prepared — you may have time for two or three. The best questions are ones that couldn't be answered by reading the company website. Good options include: "What does success look like in this role after 90 days?", "What are the biggest challenges the team is currently facing?", "How would you describe the management style here?", "What career development opportunities have previous people in this role pursued?"

Avoid asking about salary, holiday allowance, or working hours in a first interview — your TalentBridge consultant can handle those discussions on your behalf.

Send a brief thank-you email within 24 hours of your interview. Keep it short (5–8 sentences), reference something specific from the conversation, reiterate your enthusiasm for the role, and express that you look forward to hearing their decision. This is standard practice in the US and increasingly expected in the UK market.

If you're working with a TalentBridge consultant, contact them immediately after your interview while the details are fresh. They'll relay your feedback to the employer and gather initial thoughts. If you receive a rejection, always ask for feedback — it's valuable intelligence for your next interview.