According to Hays' 2026 UK Salary and Recruiting Trends guide, employers are increasingly focused on practical capability and adaptability over traditional CV credentials. This means interviews are more likely to involve real tasks, scenario-based questions, and demonstrations of how you think, rather than a simple walkthrough of your work history.

How should you prepare?

• Research the company properly. Read their website, recent news, and any content they publish. Understand what they do, who their customers are, and what challenges they face
• Re-read the job description and map your experience to the key requirements. Prepare a specific example for each one
• Prepare for competency questions using the STAR method: situation, task, action, result
• Prepare two or three thoughtful questions to ask at the end. Avoid questions about salary or holidays at a first interview
• If it is a video interview, test your technology, lighting, and background in advance

What do interviewers actually look for?

Beyond the obvious skills match, most interviewers are trying to answer three questions: can this person do the job, will they fit in here, and are they genuinely interested in this role. Your preparation, your examples, and the questions you ask all signal the answer to that third question more than anything else.

How do you handle nerves?

Preparation is the most effective solution for interview nerves. The more familiar you are with your own examples and the company's context, the less you have to think on the spot. It also helps to reframe the interview as a two-way conversation. You are also deciding whether this role and company are right for you.

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