Celebrating National Careers Week - Top Ten Interview Tips! (2025)
Details: Written by Kelly Worsnop
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Published:
Top 10 Interview Tips to Help You Land Your Dream Job
It's National Careers Week (NCW) – a week dedicated to providing careers guidance and supporting people across the UK to take positive steps towards their future. Whether you’re just starting out, considering a career change, or looking to develop your skills, National Careers Week is all about helping you make informed decisions about work and learning.
What free education resources do we offer?
At The Skills Network, we support learners across the country through a wide range of free education resources, designed to help you grow your knowledge and progress in your career. This includes access to Skills Bootcamps and fully funded online courses, helping you build industry-specific skills that employers are actively looking for.
What are Skills Bootcamps?
Skills Bootcamps are a £3bn Government initiative designed to close the UK’s skills gap, which was intensified by the disruption caused to job sectors and businesses during the Coronavirus pandemic.
We deliver a range of flexible, government-funded Skills Bootcamps lasting up to 14 weeks for people living in England. These programmes help you develop the latest skills in high-demand areas like Early Years, Digital Marketing, Cyber Security, Project Management, and Software Development.
As part of the government’s Lifetime Skills Guarantee and Plan for Jobs, our Skills Bootcamps are designed to support people who are unemployed, looking to change careers, or wanting to progress in their current role – all with the added benefit of a guaranteed interview upon completion.
Our learners also receive dedicated careers support throughout the programme, including CV writing advice, mock interviews, and tailored employability workshops to help them feel fully prepared.
Through our unique Skills Bootcamps delivery model, employers can efficiently access and interview candidates who have completed a Bootcamp and proven their skills. There’s no recruitment fee for this service, as it’s fully funded by the government (that’s no salary percentage fee, nothing).
What careers and progression support does The Skills Network offer?
All our Skills Bootcamps learners who are unemployed or looking to change careers are guaranteed a job interview with a potential employer upon completing their programme.
We’re committed to making sure every learner feels confident and ready for their interview, with a dedicated team of Progression Coordinators on hand throughout the course. They provide tailored 1-2-1 support, CV and LinkedIn advice, employability workshops shaped by the current job market, and even mock interviews to help you prepare.
Whether you’ve just completed a Skills Bootcamp, enhanced your CV with one of our free online courses, or taken part in online learning to upskill, interviews are your chance to show employers why you’re the right fit.
Here are our top tips to help you feel confident and make a lasting impression:
- Take a deep breath!
- Do your research
- Dress to impress
- Plan your journey
- Listen carefully and take your time
- Be specific
- Refresh your memory
- Stay positive and be yourself
- Know your CV inside out
- Reflect afterwards
Interviews can feel overwhelming, but pausing to breathe and collect your thoughts can make all the difference. Take a sip of water, remind yourself that you're prepared, and approach the interview with confidence – you've got this!
If you’ve joined a Skills Bootcamp or attended an employability workshop with us, you’ll know research is key. Find out what the company does, their goals, and their core values. Linking these into your answers shows genuine interest in the role.
First impressions matter. Wear something smart and appropriate for the job you're applying for, whether it’s a formal business role or something more creative. Feeling good in what you wear will give you a confidence boost.
Running late is the last thing you need on interview day. Check your route, plan for delays, and aim to arrive around 10 minutes early. If it’s an online interview, check your tech and log in a few minutes ahead of time.
Don’t rush your answers. Take a moment to understand each question and don’t be afraid to ask for clarification. A thoughtful, clear response is always better than rushing through.
Avoid one-word answers! Prepare examples that show how you’ve used your skills and experience. Practising common interview questions in advance helps you give detailed, relevant responses.
Before the interview, remind yourself why you're a great fit for the role. What are your key strengths? What have you achieved recently? Keeping these fresh in your mind helps you stay focused under pressure.
Let your enthusiasm for the job shine through. Employers want to get to know the real you, so show your personality, stay upbeat, and remember – they’ve invited you to interview because they’re already interested.
Take another look at your CV before the interview. Be ready to talk about your experience, skills, hobbies, and interests – these are great talking points and often come up in the classic “Tell me about yourself” question.
Once it’s over, take a few minutes to think about what went well and what you might do differently next time. Every interview is a learning experience, and reflecting will only make you stronger going forward.
Ready to take the next step?
At The Skills Network, we offer a wide range of free online courses and career-boosting Skills Bootcamps to help you stand out in today’s job market. Whether you're looking to build confidence before an interview, develop new skills, or switch careers entirely, we’ve got you covered.
Want to know more about National Careers Week and how it supports people into work?Click here to find out more.
Want to build new skills and boost your career? Explore our Skills Bootcamps and free online courses here.
Whether you're preparing for your next interview, thinking about a career change, or simply ready to learn something new, The Skills Network is here to support you every step of the way.
Your future starts now – let's make it happen!