An interview might feel like an interrogation, but it should actually be a conversation where you also ask questions about the suitability of the role towards your career goals
When you're preparing for an interview, it can feel like you're about to be interrogated. But the reality is that you're not only attempting to show the employer your best qualities, but you're also interviewing them too. It should not result in you firing a barrage of questions back at the recruiter, but you can certainly pick up a lot of useful information about the company you're interviewing for, which can inform you about whether this is a place you'd be happy to work in or not.
Details about your role
The interviewer or panel is likely to flesh out a little more about the realities of the job in the course of the interview, with comments such as, "This job will involve a lot of teamwork/report writing/travel" or, "Your role would be integral in driving forward our new communications strategy". You can also ask questions about how your role would operate amongst the wider team or where they'd like you to be in the job in 6 months' time. These answers can be really useful in getting a clearer picture about the realities of the job and how the team will be operating
Meeting your potential manager
The person to be line managing you will likely be on your interview panel, and perhaps also the departmental manager too. Do they seem organised and professional? Do they speak over your answers? Are they actively listening to your responses to their questions? Are they asking you inappropriate questions? Do they respond to your questions well, or evasively/defensively? Do they offer training within the role? What support do they give their staff? How much supervision will they provide? In general, do they seem like people you can imagine working for?
Remember that an interview is a two-way street and you want to find whether the company will be a good fit for you as much as they're assessing your suitability for them.
Atmosphere of the potential work environment
Setting your interview nerves aside, do the people you interact with or see around the office while you're waiting seem happy and collaborative, or stressed and on edge? Is there visible diversity within the workplace? Does it seem to be a very formal office or are the employees dressed more casually? If it's relevant to you, can you see accessible entrances to all areas of the building and are there accessible bathrooms? You can pick up a good deal of information by tuning into the environment around you, and if you have any doubts, read reviews from real employees on Glassdoor/Indeed to see how they find working there.
Remember that an interview is a two-way street and you want to find whether the company will be a good fit for you as much as they're assessing your suitability for them. Want to go in with extra confidence? Then book a practice interview to ease those nerves so you can go in and create the best impression and bag the job you've been after!
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Rachel Garman is the Information and Research Officer at University College London Careers. Her latest blog for UCL can be found here
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