How to prepare for an interview when it's your first one

The six-step plan

1. 1

   Research the employer for 20 minutes

   Read their website's about page, one recent news item and the job advert twice. Write down two things you genuinely find interesting about them; you will be asked why you applied.

2. 2

   Prepare four STAR examples

   One each for teamwork, learning something quickly, being reliable, and handling a problem. School projects, sport, volunteering, family responsibilities and part-time work all count.

3. 3

   Practise 'why this role?' out loud

   Say it to a mirror, a friend or your phone until it is two or three sentences that sound like you. It is the one question you will definitely get.

4. 4

   Plan the practical things the night before

   Route and travel time with 20 minutes spare, clean smart-casual clothes, a printed CV, the interviewer's name, and a charged phone with the contact number.

5. 5

   Write two questions to ask them

   'What does a good first three months look like in this role?' and 'What do people who do well here have in common?' show you are thinking about doing the job, not just getting it.

6. 6

   On the day: arrive early, then be yourself

   Be polite to everyone from reception onwards, make eye contact, answer the question that was asked, and it is fine to pause and think before answering.

Check every example against STAR

• sSituation, did you set the scene with a specific example?
• tTask, was it clear what you were trying to do?
• aAction, did you say what you actually did (not the team)?
• rResult, did you explain the outcome, ideally with a number?

The questions you will actually get

Taken from the question bank in the Shine interview practice tool. Pick your sector and prepare an answer to each.

The night before

• Confirm the time, address or video link, and who you are meeting.
• Lay out your outfit and put your CV, notebook and pen in a bag.
• Re-read your four examples once. Do not rewrite them.
• Set two alarms. Aim to be nearby 20 minutes early and walk in 5 to 10 minutes early.
• Sleep. A rested version of you interviews better than a rehearsed, tired one.

Common questions

How do you prepare for a first job interview?

Research the employer for 20 minutes, prepare four short STAR examples covering teamwork, learning quickly, reliability and solving a problem, practise your answer to 'why this role?' out loud, plan your route and outfit the night before, and write two questions to ask at the end. First-job interviews mostly test attitude and reliability, not experience.

What questions are asked in an apprenticeship interview?

Typical apprenticeship interview questions are: why do you want this role, why an apprenticeship rather than university, tell me about a time you learned something quickly, describe working in a team when it did not go to plan, what would you do if a colleague was cutting corners on safety, and where do you see yourself in three years.

What is the STAR method?

STAR stands for Situation, Task, Action, Result. You describe a specific situation, what you needed to do, what you personally did, and what happened as a result, ideally with a number. It keeps answers short, concrete and about you rather than the whole team.

What should I wear to an interview at 16 or 17?

Smart casual is right for most first-job and apprenticeship interviews: clean, plain trousers or a skirt, a shirt or plain top, clean shoes. For office-based apprenticeships, a shirt and smart trousers or a simple dress. You do not need a suit unless the invitation says so.

What if I have no experience to talk about?

Use examples from school projects, sport, clubs, volunteering, caring for family, or a hobby you have stuck at. Interviewers for entry-level roles want to see that you turn up, learn, work with others and take responsibility. Those show up outside paid work too.

How do I answer 'tell me about yourself'?

Keep it to about 45 seconds: what you are doing now, one or two things you are good at with a quick example, and why you applied for this role. Do not recite your CV or start with your childhood.