Writing an engaging and impactful CV and Cover Letter is the first stage of a successful job hunt.
But there is another part of the process that makes people nervous, no matter how extensive their career history is: the job interview.
The impression you make in a job interview is usually what determines if your application is successful or not.
To help give you the best chance of success, we spoke to two of our interview coaches to get their expert advice on how to ace a job interview:
LeighAnne Jordan: LeighAnne is a qualified coach who specialises in career and confidence coaching. She has over 20 years of recruitment experience, and helps clients to prepare for interviews so they can perform at their best.
Gavin Morden: Gavin is an accredited coach and Chartered Manager with over 25 years of experience. He helps people facing redundancy and those looking for their next career move to clarify their direction, strategically search for jobs, and prepare for interviews.
How to Ace a Job Interview in 2026
Nail your online setup
Online interviews are the norm now – especially for first round screening interviews. They can either be live, or involve you recording answers to pre-recorded questions.
If you are interviewing online, ensure you choose a tidy space with good lighting and minimal background noise.
You should also test your camera and microphone in advance to avoid technical issues on the day.
Work with AI
AI isn’t just being used to write job descriptions and analyse CVs for keywords anymore; it is also being used as an interviewer.
Many companies are using AI to conduct initial interviews and analyse interview performance. Therefore, it is important to understand that it could very likely come up as part of your interview process.
As LeighAnne says:
“You can’t ignore AI anymore, it isn’t going anywhere. Instead, be prepared for it coming up in the interview process. Get to know the software, and even use it to practise your answers if you can.”
Do your research
Interviewers will expect a level of preparedness from you – and the research you do can be key to helping you stand out from other candidates.
Gavin explains:
“An interviewer will have done their due diligence on you. Ensure you do the same! If you can, find out who is interviewing you, review their LinkedIn profile, and if you have mutual connections, use this to build connection and empathy.”
Alongside the job description and the person interviewing you, you need to learn about the company too. Researching their values and culture will help you understand how you will fit into their existing team – and whether the company is right for you, too.
As LeighAnne says:
“A job interview isn’t just about them finding the right candidate – it is also about you finding the right role. Research an organisation’s values to ensure they align with yours. If you get the feeling it isn’t the right fit, it’s okay to walk away – no matter how far through the process you are.”
Create a narrative
One of the most effective ways to showcase your experience is to create a narrative that links your career together.
Gavin says the key to an engaging career narrative is to carefully consider the experience you want to share in your interview:
“If you plan effectively for your interview, you can ‘bread crumb’ key points into your answers that you want the interviewer to explore further, so you control the narrative you want to share and drive the discussion in the direction you would like.”
To create your narrative, we recommend making a list of the key points you want to cover, and then mapping out how you can discuss them in your interview.
Prepare your answers
Every recruiting company will expect you to enter a job interview with solid examples of your skills and experience. To ensure you exceed their expectations, you need to prepare how you talk about these points.
Don’t over-rehearse or recite stories word for word, and keep your answers succinct.
As Gavin says:
“You need to grab and hold attention Meandering answers switch interviewers off, so practise ahead of time and focus on your key points, emphasising where you have added value in the past and how you can bring this to a new role in the future.”
You also need to ensure your examples reflect and expand on the information you have already included in your CV.
Gavin explains:
“The person who shows up at the interview needs to reflect what the interviewer expects to see from the CV. This is why you need to avoid overusing AI when applying for a job – it can sometimes create a disconnect between the story on the CV, and who then appears face to face.”
Demonstrate where you can grow and evolve
No matter what stage you are at in your career, it can be tempting to stretch or inflate your experience to ensure you hit every point of criteria in the job description.
But according to LeighAnne, this isn’t always the right approach:
“You don’t want to tick every box an employer is looking for, as it might mean you are overqualified for the position. The job needs to provide growth opportunities for you.”
Throughout your interview, demonstrate a ‘can-do’ attitude, a willingness to learn, and a commitment to personal development. The right company will want to see how you can grow, as your professional successes will only impact how you can positively contribute to their wider strategy and goals.
Show personality
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking, but ensure you present yourself with enthusiasm and show your interviewer who you are beyond your profession.
As LeighAnne says:
“By this point, an employer will have a clear view of your experience and skills. The thing they will be most curious about is your personality. Sharing more of your identity is the final piece of the puzzle, and can be critical to position you as the ideal candidate to fill the role.”
Focus your energy where it counts
Finally – job applications tend to include multiple stages. You need to ensure you meet each stage with the same level of commitment and enthusiasm to get the most out of the process.
LeighAnne explains:
“Instead of feeling frustrated by a multi-interview application process, see it as an opportunity. These additional stages help you learn more about the role and organisation, which helps you understand if both are right for you. And don’t forget – the longer you stay in the process, the stronger you become as a candidate.”
Additionally, the current job market is candidate rich, which means there is increased competition for every role.
For this reason, LeighAnne says, you need to protect your energy and be strategic about the interviews you accept:
“Instead of applying and interviewing for everything, focus your efforts on the right thing. A job search takes a lot of effort, so you need to concentrate on the best opportunities to ensure you have the mental capacity to perform at your best.”
A big thank you to LeighAnne and Gavin for sharing their expertise!
We hope this blog post has given you some new ideas for how to prepare for your job interview, so you can walk into your next one feeling prepared, confident, and excited to demonstrate what you bring to the table.
If you would like some professional support in making the best impression in your next job interview, you can find out more about our interview coaching services here.