Interviews: preparing, the STAR method and common questions

Interviews feel less frightening when you know what is coming. Most questions fall into a few familiar types, and a clear structure lets you answer with real examples instead of panicking.

How to prepare

• The National Careers Service suggests reading the job description carefully, researching the organisation's website, reviewing your own CV and preparing some examples from your past experience to use in answers.
• Bright Network notes that a 30 to 60 minute interview usually involves roughly five to ten questions, and that it is fine to ask the employer in advance what you should prepare.
• Practise your answers with someone you trust, as the National Careers Service recommends. Say them out loud: answers always sound different spoken than they do in your head.
• Prepare two or three questions of your own to ask at the end.

The STAR method

• STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action and Result. The National Careers Service says you can use it to structure examples in interviews, CVs, cover letters and application forms.
• Situation: briefly set the scene. Task: explain what you needed to achieve. Action: describe what you did (say 'I', not just 'we'). Result: what happened, and what you learned.
• Spend most of your answer on Action and Result. These are what the interviewer is really assessing.
• Worked example, 'Tell me about a time you showed teamwork': 'Situation: our Year 11 group of four had two weeks to build a science fair project, and one member was ill for the first week. Task: as the person who kept the plan, I needed to make sure we still finished on time. Action: I split the remaining tasks by each person's strengths, set up a shared checklist and arranged two short catch-ups each week. Result: we submitted a day early and won second place, and I learned how much clear planning reduces stress for everyone.'
• The National Careers Service advises using examples from work, home or volunteering, keeping them brief and speaking naturally rather than reciting a script.

Common questions and how to answer them

• 'Tell me about yourself': Queen's University Belfast suggests a short overview of skills and experience relevant to the role, kept under 4 or 5 minutes; for a school student, one or two minutes is plenty. Model: 'I am a Year 12 student studying Biology and Chemistry. I tutor two younger students in maths and helped run our school's health awareness week. I am applying because I want to see how a laboratory works day to day.'
• 'Why do you want this role?': link what the role involves to your interests and goals, and say what attracts you to the organisation. Bright Network suggests a structured answer such as three reasons that show you are a good fit.
• 'What are your strengths?': QUB suggests picking at least 3 relevant strengths and backing each with brief evidence.
• 'What is a weakness?': choose a real skill you are working on and explain the steps you are taking. Both QUB and Bright Network say to avoid answering that you are a perfectionist or have no weaknesses. Model: 'I used to rush presentations, so I now rehearse with a timer twice before each one.'
• 'Do you have any questions for us?': always say yes. QUB suggests asking about the role's immediate priorities, the work culture, the biggest challenges in the first few months, or training and development.

Handling tricky moments

• The National Careers Service says you can ask the interviewer to repeat or clarify a question, and you can refer to your notes.
• If your mind goes blank, say 'That is a good question, let me think for a moment', take a breath and use STAR as a mental checklist.
• If you do not know something, say so honestly and explain how you would find out. Never invent experience.
• If asked about a gap or a weak grade, give a short honest answer and move on to what you learned or did next.

Questions you can ask at the end

• 'What would a typical day look like for someone in this role?'
• 'What would you like me to achieve in the first few weeks?'
• 'What do people enjoy most about working here?'
• 'When can I expect to hear about the next steps?' The National Careers Service says it is fine to ask when you will hear back.