Most interview advice sounds the same: “Dress professionally.” “Arrive early.” “Research the company.” All true. But if you really want to perform well in an interview, there are a few things that aren’t usually mentioned. 1. Don’t Prepare Answers. Prepare Stories. An interviewer can ask you something you didn’t expect. Instead of memorising answers, prepare 5–6 real stories from your life. Think about a time you: * Solved a problem * Dealt with a difficult person * Made a mistake * Worked under pressure * Took responsibility * Helped someone * Learned something quickly You can use these stories to answer dozens of different questions. Your real experiences are harder to forget than a memorised script. ⸻ 2. Read the Job Advert Like an Interviewer Don’t just look at the job title. Take the job advert and highlight the things the employer keeps asking for. If the advert says: “Must be able to work under pressure, communicate with customers and meet deadlines.” You already have three clues about what they may want to hear. Prepare examples that prove you can do those things. You’re not guessing what the company wants. They’re literally telling you. ⸻ 3. Have an Answer for the Question Behind the Question Sometimes the interviewer isn’t really asking what you think they’re asking. For example: “Why should we hire you?” They’re not asking you to explain why you’re better than everyone else. They’re really asking: “What problem can you solve for us?” So instead of: “I’m hardworking and I’m a team player.” Try connecting yourself to the job: “I’ve worked in situations where I had to deal with customers, solve problems quickly and still get the work done. I think that experience would allow me to contribute quickly in this role.” Now you’re giving them a reason to remember you. ⸻ 4. Never Say “I Don’t Know” and Stop There Sometimes you genuinely won’t know the answer. Don’t panic. Instead, show them how you think. Try: “I haven’t dealt with that situation before, but this is how I would approach it…” That can be much more impressive than pretending you know something you don’t. Companies aren’t only hiring what you already know. They’re also hiring how quickly you can learn. ⸻ 5. Prepare Your Own Questions At the end, they’ll probably ask: “Do you have any questions for us?” Don’t say: “No, I’m fine.” This is one of the easiest opportunities to stand out. Ask something like: “If I started tomorrow, what would you want me to have achieved after my first three months?” That’s a powerful question. Why? Because you’re no longer talking like someone who simply wants a job. You’re talking like someone already thinking about doing the job well. ⸻ 6. Your First Impression Starts Before the Interview Your interview doesn’t necessarily begin when you sit down. It can begin when you enter the building. How you speak to the receptionist. How you treat security. Whether you’re staring at your phone while waiting. Whether you’re polite to the person showing you where to sit. You never know who has influence over the hiring decision. Treat everyone like the interviewer. ⸻ 7. Don’t Lie About Something You Can Easily Be Tested On If you don’t know Excel, don’t say you’re “advanced in Excel.” If you’ve never managed people, don’t claim you have. You might get the job — and then spend your first week trying to hide something you could have simply learned. Confidence is good. Fake competence is expensive. ⸻ 8. Know Your Own CV This sounds obvious, but people forget. If something is written on your CV, assume the interviewer can ask about it. If you wrote: “Managed a team of 10 people.” Be ready to explain: * What did they do? * What were you responsible for? * What problems did you face? * What did you achieve? Your CV isn’t just a document. It’s the list of questions you’re potentially giving the interviewer. ⸻ 9. The Best Answer Isn’t Always the Longest Answer You don’t get extra points for talking for five minutes. Answer the question. Give an example. Then stop. If they want more, they’ll ask. A simple structure is: Situation → What you did → Result Instead of telling a long story about a difficult customer, explain what happened, what you did and what changed because of your actions. Make it easy for the interviewer to see your value. ⸻ 10. Don’t Try to Look Desperate You want the job. That’s obvious. But there’s a difference between showing enthusiasm and begging for an opportunity. You don’t need to say: “I’ll do absolutely anything. Please give me a chance.” Instead, show them why you’re interested and what you can bring. Confidence says: “I want this opportunity, and I believe I can add value.” That’s a very different message. ⸻ The Real Interview Hack Here’s something worth remembering: The interview isn’t only about convincing them to hire you. You’re also trying to find out whether you actually want to work there. Pay attention to how they speak about employees. Ask about the team. Ask what a normal day looks like. Ask why the position is available. A company interviewing you is assessing you. You should be assessing them too. And finally, don’t walk into the room thinking: “I hope they choose me.” Walk in thinking: “Let’s see if we’re a good match.” That small change in mindset can completely change the way you speak, sit, answer questions and carry yourself. You’re not going there to beg for a job. You’re going there to demonstrate what you can bring to the table.