What makes a successful interview in 2025?

Interviews continue to be a crucial step in the job application process, but the landscape has evolved a bit too! Here’s how you can stay ahead:

Prepare for Virtual Interviews

With many organisations adopting virtual interviews. Here’s how to excel:

• Test Your Technology: Ensure your internet connection, camera, and microphone work seamlessly before the interview.
• Create a Professional Environment: Choose a quiet, well-lit space with minimal distractions. Check out the Student Opportunity Hub for an interview space, you can email careers@warwick.ac.uk to book an interview room during term time. 
• Practice Virtual Communication: Maintain eye contact by looking at the camera and use clear, confident body language. If you choose to have notes with you ensure you are not reading from these and only have minimal notes to glance at without it being a distraction. 
• Engage in Group Activities: Many organisations conduct virtual group tasks as part of their assessment process. Actively contribute to discussions, collaborate effectively, and ensure your points are clear and concise to showcase your teamwork and problem-solving abilities in an online setting. Consider video call tools like raising hands to ask questions and muting your mic when not talking to help the group run smoothly. 

Showcase Relevant Experiences

Emphasising your academic projects, part-time work, volunteering, and extracurricular achievements can set you apart:

• Leverage Your Projects: Highlight coursework or group projects that demonstrate a wealth of transferable skills such as teamwork and communication as well as technical skills. 
• Internships and Placements: Discuss your contributions to any experiences you have already completed and what you learned, and importantly include any outcomes of your work or positive impacts you had. 
• Part-Time Work and Volunteering: Highlight transferable skills such as communication, time management, and problem-solving gained from part-time roles or volunteering opportunities. Employers like to see a range of examples presented and extracurriculars are really valuable even if they don’t feel connected to the role – it’s the skills that are the important part. 

Demonstrate research and enthusiasm

Employers value candidates who have a genuine interest in their organisation. Tailor your answers and show your motivation by practising common interview questions. Review responses to questions like “Tell me about yourself,” “What interested you in the role?” or “What do you find appealing about our company?” Practising helps build confidence and ensures you communicate effectively. But will also help you consider your answers ahead of time. 

Understanding the Role

Familiarise yourself with the job description and align your skills with their requirements. Use this to help you prepare relevant examples that showcase the skills employers want and practice these using the STAR format. 

Learning About the Company

Research their mission, values, and recent projects to show genuine enthusiasm. Use sources like the company’s website, LinkedIn page, recent news articles, or other social media pages. Consider how you can demonstrate the same values. 

Prepare Questions to Evaluate the Role

Interviews are a two-way street. Asking thoughtful questions helps you determine if the company and role align with your goals and values. Ask questions that will help you understand the things that are important to you such as the company culture, the projects and type of work, growth opportunities or work-life balance. 

These answers may well come in handy if you receive multiple offers and need to make a choice! By preparing insightful questions, you can demonstrate genuine interest while ensuring the opportunity aligns with your personal and professional aspirations. By preparing for virtual interview practices and tailoring your responses to highlight your unique experiences aligning with the company’s skills requirements and values, you’ll leave a stronger impression on potential employers.