Lesson 15: Interviews

An interview is a conversation with a purpose: the interviewer wants to find out whether you are the right person for a place, a role, or an opportunity — a school, a job, a club, or a programme. Unlike a presentation, you cannot plan every word in advance, because you do not know the questions. But you can prepare thoroughly, and preparation is what makes the difference between an interview that feels like an interrogation and one that feels like a conversation. The skills in this lesson apply to any interview, from a school admission chat to a first part-time job.

Preparing What to Say About Yourself

The hardest part of most interviews is talking about yourself. Interviewers often ask about your strengths, your weaknesses, or a time you solved a problem — and these questions are much easier if you have thought about them in advance. A useful structure for answering "tell me about a time when..." questions is STAR: describe the Situation, the Task you faced, the Action you took, and the Result. For example: "In our science project (situation), I had to present our results to the class (task), so I made cue cards and practised the opening three times (action), and the presentation went smoothly and we got top marks (result)." A STAR answer is specific, short, and shows what you actually did, which is far more convincing than a general claim like "I am a hard worker."

On the Day: Listening and Answering

In the interview itself, listen to each question fully before you start answering — nervous candidates often answer the question they expected rather than the one that was asked. It is fine to pause and think for a few seconds; a thoughtful pause looks confident, while an instant rush of words often wanders. Keep answers focused: a minute or two is usually enough, and if the interviewer wants more, they will ask. If you do not know an answer, say so honestly rather than guessing — "I have not done that yet, but I would approach it by..." shows a better attitude than a bluff. Use the speaking skills from earlier lessons: sit upright, make comfortable eye contact, and speak at a steady pace. And remember that an interview is two-way: you are also finding out whether the opportunity is right for you.

Questions to Ask Them

Almost every interview ends with "Do you have any questions for us?" — and saying "No" is a missed opportunity. Prepare two or three genuine questions in advance: about what a typical day looks like, what the team is working on, or what success in the role would look like. Good questions show that you are interested and thinking seriously about the opportunity, and they give you useful information. Avoid asking about things you could easily have found out yourself, such as basic facts on the organisation's website. After the interview, thank the interviewer, and if you can, note down what went well and what you would improve — each interview makes the next one easier.