Whether you’re applying for your first role after graduation, returning to work after a break, or pursuing an upgraded position to match your skills better, job interviews can be daunting. Yet with the right preparation — especially focused on communication, confidence, and clarity — you can improve your chances of success. In fact, some research suggests that structured interview skills training improves both verbal and non-verbal communication behaviours during interviews, especially for individuals with speech, language and communication needs.
Today’s blog post offers a step-by-step plan, practical strategies, lists of tips, and real-world insights to help you prepare and perform at your best. It can surprise some people that interview skills can be targeted in a speech therapy setting, but it’s true! Read more about how speech therapy can help adults in various settings.
Why Interview Preparation Matters
Hiring managers don’t just assess what you’ve done — they assess how you communicate it. Interviews are designed to measure:
- Your understanding of the role and organisation
- How you think under pressure
- Your communication, problem-solving and interpersonal skills
- Whether you’re a good cultural fit
In my experience, an employer could glean all the experience that they need to know about from your CV. The interview really showcases your communication skills. It makes sense that there is nervousness when being put on the spot, especially if the interviewer isn’t particularly open or conversational. Preparation builds confidence, reduces anxiety, and gives you structured ways to demonstrate your value. Read more about understanding social communication.
Step 1: Understand the Role and the Employer
Research the Job Description
Before you even start crafting your answers, review the job description carefully. Highlight:
- Key skills required
- Core responsibilities
- Credentials and qualifications
- Keywords that recur
Then match each skill with specific examples from your experience that show how you’ve demonstrated that trait. This makes your responses more credible and tailored. I’ve also found that if you focus on a handful of characteristics that you know the company is looking for, then you can better prepare specific examples from your experiences that match it.
Here is an image from a therapy session of putting this into practice (the text on the left shows the information from the job posting, and the right-hand side is the brainstorming completed together to identify key characteristics):
Know the Organization
Hiring managers expect you to understand:
- What the organization does (its mission, services, products)
- Its culture and values
- Industry trends or challenges
Researching the organisation — from its website to recent press coverage — helps you show genuine interest and industry awareness.
Pro tip: If possible, follow the company on LinkedIn before your interview to see recent announcements or leadership posts — these often give insight into priorities and culture.
Step 2: Reflect on Your Story
A job interview is essentially a conversation about you and your fit for the role. To prepare:
Analyse Your Strengths and Achievements
Ask yourself:
- What are my core professional strengths?
- What specific achievements can I discuss?
- How have I used skills relevant to this job?
Structured reflection helps you articulate clearer, more persuasive responses.
Practice Telling Your Story
Narrative matters. Employers remember stories — especially when they’re concise, specific and values-driven.
A useful framework here is the STAR method:
S – Situation
T – Task you were given
A – Actions you took
R – Results you achieved (quantified where possible)
Using STAR helps you stay relevant and clear, particularly for behavioural interview questions. This format also helps to keep a “flow” that you can make sound conversational, instead of too rigid.
Step 3: Practice, Practice, Practice — Including Mock Interviews
One of the most effective ways to reduce interview anxiety and improve performance is through mock interviews. A mock interview is a simulated interview used for training and confidence building. Participants can receive feedback and reflect on how they perform under realistic conditions. Read more about preparing what to say.
Mock Interview Case Study: Youth With Communication Needs
In a study evaluating an interview skills training programme for adolescents with developmental language disorders (2017), researchers found that structured interview practice improved both verbal and non-verbal communication behaviours. Interestingly, the skills of the interviewer can also affect performance, so keep that in mind – it’s a two-way conversation, not just all on you!
This also highlights that practising for an interview isn’t memorizing answers — it’s about shaping how you present yourself.
Simulation Tools and AI
Emerging research is exploring interactive simulation systems that use artificial intelligence to offer interview practice and feedback. Otter.ai can transcribe audio recordings and is a great way to review the content (or tone of voice) of what you are practicing.
If you have time and want to craft a better written answer to practice aloud, tools such as ChaGPT can help you to work out an answer in different styles.
I’ve also liked using mock interview practice videos on Youtube to provide more time pressure but still be able to practice on your own.
In the speech therapy setting
During speech therapy sessions, I find mock interviews to be the best way to apply the individual skills we are working on. For instance, if someone struggles most with nonverbal communication during an interview; I will practice the exact skill (ie nodding head while listening) with video feedback and then apply this to a single question. We can keep increasing the length or difficulty of answers as needed. It is great to have video feedback (even though it feels awkward to start!), especially because I can look back at a client’s progress over a few weeks to show them how much they’ve improved.
Step 4: Master Common Interview Questions
While no one can predict every question you’ll hear, some topics recur often:
- “Tell me about yourself”
- “Why do you want this role?”
- “What are your strengths and weaknesses?”
- “Describe a challenge you faced and how you addressed it”
Preparing concise, reflective responses to these themes will give you confidence. Write down (yes, actually write down!) 3 past experiences that showcase you at your best and 3 experiences that were challenging but still can show a positive angle. Career resources emphasize rehearsing your answers — verbally — long before the interview date.
Tip: Practice with a peer and ask for honest feedback — this helps identify habits like fillers or overly long responses. Alternatively, see the AI-based options listed above.
Step 5: Plan the Details
What to Bring
- Multiple copies of your CV
- A notebook and pen
- Any documentation of achievements (certificates, portfolios)
If the interview is online, some logistics to consider
- A copy of your CV where you can easily see it
- Making sure the link for your online meeting works
- Checking your audio/video equipment for any issues
- Keep a glass of water in case you find yourself getting too nervous
Dress for Success
First impressions count — some psychologists suggest they form within seven seconds of meeting someone. Dressing appropriately for the company culture (leaning professional if in doubt) shows respect and readiness. Even if the interview is online, it may help you feel more prepared to dress up a bit.
Logistics
Confirm the interview location, method (virtual or in person), time, and technology needed. Plan to arrive early — lateness signals poor planning and can undermine confidence.
Step 6: During the Interview
Communication Tips
- Use clear, concise responses
- Allow your body language to be more open
- Avoid excessive filler words (“um”, “like”)- instead, pause to think of a confident answer
- Listen actively to questions
- Take short pauses to calm yourself or organize your thoughts – you don’t have to rush!
Body language cues — leaning slightly forward, nodding, and smiling where appropriate — signal engagement and confidence. Read more about understanding emotion through facial expression.
Building rapport is not just about friendly chatter: it helps interviewers see you as a future colleague, not just a candidate. Read more about clear speech in the remote setting.
Asking Your Own Questions
Come prepared with thoughtful questions, such as:
- “What would success in this role look like in six months?”
- “How does the team communicate and collaborate?”
- “What opportunities for professional development do you offer?”
Smart questions demonstrate interest, curiosity, and strategic thinking.
Step 7: Follow-Up After the Interview
A personalised thank-you note — sent within 24 hours — reinforces your interest and professionalism. Simple messages that summarise one key takeaway from the interview and reaffirm your fit can make a lasting impression. This can vary by industry, but is generally a good action to take.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Even well-prepared candidates can falter if they:
- Don’t research the company or role
- Fail to adapt answers to the job’s specifics
- Ignore proper introductions and rapport
- Forget to turn off phones or attend virtually with casual backgrounds
Behavioural etiquette experts warn that overlooking these basics can undermine even impressive qualifications.
Real-World Example
Case: Jack’s Story — From Nervous Candidate to Confident Communicator
Jack was on the job hunt after moving to various countries. He felt unconfident as a candidate and had recently completed courses to upgrade himself in the IT field, however had little job experience in this field and was unsure how to handle this in interviews. Initially, in practice sessions, he would undermine his skills as he felt he didn’t have enough experience.
We practiced looking at job postings in the analytic way described above: looking for values and characteristics that would fit the best candidate. We also practiced steady rate of speech and reviewed verbal answers to common questions multiple times.
By the end of our sessions,
- He could clearly connect her communication skills with job needs
- He answered behavioural questions without rambling
- His confidence and body language were strong
Another positive is that Jack was able to secure an interview and got the job!
Conclusion
Interview success isn’t random — it’s built on preparation, self-reflection, active practice, and strategic communication. Whether you’re nervous about behavioural questions, struggle with word retrieval under pressure, or simply want to shine, these steps give you a framework for success.
Approach each interview as a performance of your best self — one that’s grounded in preparation, supported by research, and delivered with clarity and confidence. It’s okay to make mistakes and move past them to further confident answers.
References
- Mathrick R, Meagher T, Norbury CF. Evaluation of an interview skills training package for adolescents with speech, language and communication needs. Int J Lang Commun Disord. 2017 Nov;52(6):786-799. doi: 10.1111/1460-6984.12315. Epub 2017 Apr 18. PMID: 28421695.
