The job interview in the UK

Research the company: its site, products, values and recent news, and the job and its requirements, and who will interview you on LinkedIn.

• Read the job advert and compare your skills to the requirements and write examples.
• Prepare answers to the minimum questions: Tell me about yourself, Why do you want this job?, What are your strengths and weaknesses?
• and Where do you see yourself in five years?.
• Practise aloud in front of a mirror or with a friend.
• Prepare your questions for the interviewer on the team, training and growth.
• Check the route and travel time, and prepare documents (copies of CV, right to work and certificates).
• And sleep well, and bring water, a pen and a notebook.
• And if you have a disability or special need tell them in advance so they make reasonable adjustments.

British interviews rely on behavioural questions: Give me an example of a time you worked in a team or a time you solved a problem or handled conflict or met a tight deadline.

• Answer in the STAR way: Situation, state the situation briefly, Task, what task was required of you, Action, what you yourself specifically did (use I not only we), Result, what the result was and its measure in numbers if possible, and what you learned.
• Make the answer one to two minutes.
• Use examples from work, study and volunteering.
• Answer honestly about your weaknesses and mention how you work on improving them.
• And if you do not understand the question ask for it to be repeated politely: Could you repeat the question, please?.
• And you need not answer every question at once, since thinking for a few seconds is acceptable.

Wear tidy clothes suited to the field: a suit or smart shirt and trousers for offices, and clean comfortable clothes for manual jobs.

• And arrive ten minutes before the time and no more, and if you are late for some circumstance call at once and inform them.
• Greet with a smile and shake firmly if they shake (and if you do not shake hands for religious reasons say I do not shake hands for religious reasons, but I am very pleased to meet you).
• Keep eye contact and listen well and do not interrupt.
• Answer briefly and clearly and do not speak negatively about previous employers.
• Turn off your phone.
• And at the end ask your questions and show interest, and thank them for their time.
• And you need not make excuses for your language; the courage to speak is valued, but practise the basic sentences in advance.

You may be asked about your salary expectations.

• Research the average pay for this role via Glassdoor or Indeed and set a realistic range and say I am looking for something in the range of….
• Salaries in Britain are stated annually (per annum) or hourly, with the National Living Wage which must not be below it. Ask about working hours, annual leave (usually 28 days including holidays), insurance, the workplace pension and the probation period.
• And in a video interview choose a quiet place, good lighting and a tidy background, and test the camera, microphone and internet before the time, and look at the camera, and turn off notifications.
• And log in minutes before the time.
• And prepare a backup plan if the internet cuts out.

Send a brief thank-you message within a day thanking them and confirming your interest.

• Ask about the decision date, and if you get no reply in the period follow up gently.
• If you get a verbal offer ask for a written offer letter stating the salary, title, start date and terms, and do not resign from your current job before obtaining it and checking your right to work.
• You can negotiate salary and benefits politely.
• Accept or decline in writing.
• And if you are rejected ask for feedback that helps you, and do not take it personally since competition is strong.
• And keep applying and improve your CV. And if you feel you were treated with discrimination consult Acas or Citizens Advice.
• And do not pay any sum to an employer before starting work.
• And keep a record of your interviews.

What is STAR?