How to excel at your job interview

Many students choose to work while they’re studying at university – and it's about more than just earning extra money. A part-time job helps you build real-world experience, develop practical skills, and strengthen soft skills such as communication, teamwork and problem-solving. This enhances your employability after you graduate.

A tailored resume and cover letter will help you get an interview, but acing your job interview will help you secure the role. Strong interview skills require preparation and practise.

Here are 7 steps to help you excel at your first - or next - job interview.

 1. Research the company and job position 

Look at the company’s website and social media pages to find out about their history, products, services, values and culture. If you're asked why you want to work for the company, include what you have researched in your response. 

Read the job description a few times to understand the qualifications and skills needed. Be ready to explain how your experiences (even if they are academic or volunteer-based) match the knowledge, skills, and personality the company is looking for in an employee.  

 2. Prepare for common interview questions 

Research and make a list of common interview questions you may be asked. You need to be able to speak about your skills and experience concisely and include examples in your responses.  

Here are examples of common interview questions and tips on how to answer them. 

• Why are you interested in this job? 

Explain why you like the company and align your answer with their goals. It could be because you like their products and services, identify with their mission statement, values and culture or because they have learning opportunities.  

For example, “I've been following your company's growth and am really impressed with the variety of your products. I love learning new things and admire how your company focuses on innovation.” 

• Tell me about our work experience. 

If you have work experience, list the previous job roles you've held and how the responsibilities align with the skill set the recruiter is looking for.  

For example, if you have worked as a waiter and you’re applying for a retail position, you can mention responsibilities that are similar between the two roles such as customer service, operating the register, working in a team or inventory management. Remember to highlight recent achievements such as “I promoted an event on social media which led to an increase of customer traffic by 20%.” 

If you don’t have a lot of work experience, you can highlight school projects or other programs (e.g. volunteer, clubs, sports) where you have taken an active role. Talk about the soft skills (also known as transferable skills) that you have developed through them.  

• What are your strengths? 

Interviews want to know what you can bring to the role and why you would be the most suitable candidate. Highlight around 2-3 strengths (that align with their requirements) and how you've developed them.  

For example, if multi-tasking is one of the job requirements, then talk about how you've managed multiple projects and delivered them on time. Or you can talk about your strong communication skills which has helped increase efficiency in team projects at university or build rapport with customers in your last job.  

• What are your weaknesses? 

Recruiters ask about your weaknesses to assess your willingness to develop and improve. Choose weaknesses that you are actively working on improving. For example, you may say that time management is a weakness but learning to balance all your study and personal commitments is helping you improve.  

You can choose a weakness that you have had in a past role and explain what you did to close that gap. For example, “I had poor presentation skills, so I overcame this by practising my presentations beforehand, seeking feedback from my lecturer and studying videos online to learn from expert speakers.” 

• Tell us about a time when you faced a challenge and how you overcame it.  

The interviewer may ask this question to assess your problem-solving skills. Use examples from school, volunteer work, internships or any previous casual or part-time jobs. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to help you structure your answer. 

Here’s an example: 

Situation: In a group project for university, one team member wasn’t contributing their fair share of work, which was causing delays and frustration among the rest of the team. 

Task: As the team leader, it was my responsibility to ensure that the project was completed on time and that all members contributed equally. 

Action: I had a one-on-one conversation with the team member and asked if there were any challenges that she was facing and how I could help. She said that she was struggling to balance all her university work and wasn’t too sure how to answer the project section she was assigned. After our conversation, I gave her tips on how to better manage her time (such as using a digital calendar and time management app) and redistributed some of the project tasks that better aligned with each person’s strength. I set up weekly meetings to monitor progress. 

Result: The team member appreciated the support, and our group became more collaborative. We were able to complete the project on time and received a great mark.  

• Scenarios 

Employers may pose a work scenario and ask how you would respond to it. They want to see if you have critical thinking skills or how you handle conflict.  

For example, they may ask how you would respond to a customer complaint. You could say “I would listen without interrupting to fully understand the issue. Then, I would clarify the problem by asking questions. I will explain the solution and act on it immediately. If I do not have a solution, I will ask my manager for help. I would later follow up to ensure the issue has been resolved and that the customer feels satisfied.” 

To prepare for scenario questions, you can research possible answers for different work scenarios or think about examples from your previous work or school roles. 

3. Practise your interview responses 

Practising your answers to common interview questions builds your confidence. During your practice: 

• Keep your answers short and to the point.  

• Avoid long-winded responses.  

• Focus on sounding natural while still being professional.  

• Speak slowly and clearly, especially if English isn’t your first language.  

  
  

Practise saying your responses out loud in front of a mirror or with a family member or friend who can provide you constructive feedback. You can also book a session with the careers service at your university campus who can give help you improve your interview skills and offer feedback on your interview performance. 

During your interview, remember to remain calm and take time to think about your answers if you need to.  

4. Practise effective non-verbal communication  

Non-verbal communication like body language, facial expressions and tone of voice can have a greater impact than verbal communication in face-to-face meetings. While words convey information, it is your non-verbal cues that shape how your responses are interpreted and received by the recruiter. 

Some types of effective non-verbal communication are: 

• Sitting up straight without crossing your arms or legs 

• Maintaining eye contact to show you are actively listening and interested 

• Smiling to show warmth 

• Nodding to show you are listening and understanding what the other person is saying 

• Appropriate hand gestures 

• Leaning in slightly while speaking or listening 

5. Dress and present yourself appropriately 

Research the company’s dress code and aim to dress a little more formal than the company norm to make a good impression. You may not need to come in a business suit, but do not come to the interview in old casual clothes either. Look neat and tidy.  

6. Ask questions 

Asking questions shows the recruiter that you’ve done your research and are genuinely interested in the role. It also helps you decide whether the role is right for you. Remember, they're not just interviewing you, you're interviewing them too.  

Examples of questions you can ask are: 

• What does a typical day look like in this job? 

• What is the work environment like? 

• What are the most important qualities you’re looking for in a candidate for this role? 

• What are the biggest challenges someone in this role would face? 

• Are there opportunities for professional growth in this company? 

• When do you expect to make a decision regarding the position? 

7. Follow up after the interview 

You can send a thank you email within 24 hours of your interview. The email should address the interviewer by name, thank them for their time, reaffirm your interest in the role and that you look forward to hearing from them.  

Interviews are a learning experience. The more you practise, the easier they’ll become. Use each interview as lesson for improvement and a way to build confidence.  

At Kaplan International College Adelaide, our College Services team will assist you with adjusting to life in Australia and any academic or personal challenges you have may have. Read our essential career guide for students for advice on getting job-ready before graduation.