Job interview guide for job seekers

1. Before the job interview
2. During the job interview
3. Common questions and example answers
4. Questions you can ask
5. After the job interview
6. Frequently asked questions
7. Extra tips from our recruiters

Why?
When you understand what the company does and what it is looking for, you can give more targeted and relevant answers. It also shows that you are genuinely engaged.

What to do

• Visit the company’s website - especially the “About us” and “Careers” pages and its latest news.
• Check the company’s LinkedIn page and make a note of its posts, values and typical vacancies.
• Search for the company online - has it appeared in the news recently?
• Look at its values, products, culture and language - these can give you useful angles for your answers.
  
  

Example
You have applied for a customer service position at a company that places great importance on “personal contact and high quality”.
→ When discussing your experience, you can highlight situations where you provided excellent service and built strong customer relationships.

What to do:

• Read the advertisement carefully and underline keywords such as “organised”, “independent”, “team player”, “financial understanding”, etc.
• Consider which experiences or examples you can share that match these requirements.
• Use the requirements as a starting point when preparing your own stories (see the STAR method below).

STAR stands for:

• Situation: What was the starting point?
• Task: What was your responsibility?
• Action: What did you do specifically?
• Result: What was the outcome?

Example

Question: “Can you give an example of a time when you solved a challenge?”

Answer using STAR: “When I worked in retail, a customer was very unhappy about a delivery (S). My task was to find a quick solution and prevent the customer from leaving dissatisfied (T). I listened, apologised and contacted the supplier immediately to arrange for a replacement to be sent the same day (A). The customer was pleasantly surprised and later left a positive review (R).”

👉 Prepare 2-3 examples in advance that you can adapt to different questions.

The company is not the only party assessing the match - you also need to decide whether the job is right for you.

Good questions to consider:

• What does a typical working day look like?
• How would you describe the team and the way you work together?
• What are the success criteria for this role during the first 3-6 months?
• How do you support employee development?

👉 Choose 2-3 questions that suit you and the role - and write them down so you remember them.

In section 4 of this guide, we take a closer look at the questions you can ask - and what they communicate.

What to wear:

• For office roles: smart and neutral - for example, a shirt or blouse with dark trousers.
• For warehouse or production roles: practical but presentable - clean and well-groomed.
• For creative roles: feel free to show some personal style, while still looking professional.

Travel and timing:

• Plan your route well in advance.
• Arrive 10-15 minutes early - but not earlier.
• For an online interview: test your sound, camera and background the day before.

Things you can bring:

• A printed CV (and, if relevant, your application).
• The name of your contact person.
• Notes or examples, such as your STAR stories.

The first few minutes often set the tone for the rest of the interview.

Do this:

• Arrive in good time - it is better to be 10 minutes early than 2 minutes late.
• Offer a firm handshake, if meeting in person, smile and greet them politely:
  “Hello, my name is [name]. It is a pleasure to meet you.”
• Maintain eye contact without staring.
• Wait until you are invited to sit down during an in-person interview.

Online interview?

• Log in five minutes early and check that your sound and camera are working.
• Choose a quiet location with a neutral background and good lighting.

Feeling nervous is completely normal - and can actually be a sign that the job matters to you. What matters most is how you handle it.

Useful techniques:

• Take a few deep breaths into your stomach before you go in.
• Keep water nearby and take a short pause when you need one.
• If you lose your train of thought, pause and say, for example:
  “I would just like a moment to think about that” or “That is a good question - I think the best example is…”

You do not need to know everything - but you should be able to explain what you can contribute and how you work.

Tips:

• Give short, clear answers and structure them using the STAR method where appropriate.
• Keep the focus positive, even when discussing challenges.
• Be honest - it is fine to say “I have not done that before” if you can also show that you are willing to learn.

Example

Question: “Do you have experience in customer service?”

Answer: “Yes, from my previous retail role, where I helped customers every day with purchases, returns and complaints. I learnt how important it is to stay calm and listen actively - especially when a customer is frustrated.”

The interview is not only about what you say - it is also about how you say it.

Non-verbal signals:

• Smile and maintain open body language; avoid crossing your arms.
• Listen actively: nod and say “yes” or “I understand” at appropriate points.
• Avoid interrupting - wait until the question has been completed.

Tone of voice:

• Be professional but personable - avoid slang or internal expressions the employer may not understand.
• Speak at a calm pace and avoid talking too quickly.

If the interview becomes more conversational, it is perfectly fine to ask an occasional question as you go, for example: “How does the team typically work together on tasks like this?”

This shows interest and curiosity - but let the employer guide the overall flow.

And remember: you will find more practical suggestions in section 4.

What they want to know: A short introduction that gives an overview of your experience, who you are as a person and why you are relevant to the role.

How you can answer:

• Begin with your current or most recent role.
• Highlight relevant experience.
• Finish by explaining why you are interested in this particular position.

Example

“I currently work in an administrative role, where I am responsible for tasks including diary management, document handling and customer contact. I previously worked in a smaller team, where I often had to juggle several tasks at once, which I enjoyed. I applied for this position because I would like to work in a larger organisation and develop my project management skills.”

What they want to know: What you believe you are good at - and how that fits the job.

How you can answer:

• Choose 1-2 strengths that are relevant to the role.
• Support them with specific examples.

Example

“I am very good at creating structure and maintaining an overview - both for myself and for my colleagues. In my previous job, for example, I introduced a new filing system that made it easier for the team to find documents quickly.”

What they want to know: Can you reflect on your own performance? And are you able to develop?

How you can answer:

• Choose a manageable weakness that you are genuinely working on.
• Explain what you have done to improve.

Example

“In the past, I found it difficult to say no when I already had too much on my plate. However, I have become better at setting realistic boundaries and prioritising - for example, by planning my week and speaking with my manager when tasks begin to build up.”

How you can answer:

• Show that you have read and understood the job advertisement.
• Explain what you can contribute.
• Avoid generic answers such as “I need a job”.

Example

“I applied because I can see that you are looking for someone with experience in customer contact and administrative tasks - which is exactly the type of work I am passionate about. I was also drawn to your focus on wellbeing and collaboration, which are important to me in my day-to-day work.”

What they want to know: How do you respond in difficult situations? Can you remain calm and work constructively with others?

How you can answer:

• Use a specific example.
• Focus on communication and finding a solution.

Example using STAR

“In my previous job, a colleague was often late completing their part of a shared project (S). I took the initiative to speak with them about it (T). Rather than criticising, I asked questions and listened (A). It turned out that they had too many tasks, so we adjusted the workload and improved our collaboration (R).”

What they want to know: Do you have ambitions? And do they fit the role?

How you can answer:

• Be honest but realistic.
• Show that you want to develop without making it sound as though the job is merely a stepping stone.

Example

“I hope to develop professionally and take on more responsibility - perhaps as a specialist in administration or project coordination. However, the most important thing for me is to become part of a workplace where I can continue learning and contribute over time.”

What they want to know: Are you a good colleague? How do you collaborate with others? Can you take responsibility while also listening?

How you can answer:

• Highlight a specific strength you bring to teamwork, such as communication, helpfulness or organisation.
• Support it with an example of effective team behaviour.

Example

“I thrive in teams where communication is positive and expectations are clear. I am happy to take responsibility and help colleagues when they are busy. In my previous job, for example, I volunteered to onboard new colleagues because I enjoy helping people feel welcome.”

• It shows that you have prepared and thought about the role.
• It gives you a better understanding of the day-to-day work and expectations.
• It signals that you are curious and forward-looking.
• It can make you more memorable to the employer.

Good questions:

✔️ relate to the role, team or company.
✔️ are open-ended and invite discussion.
✔️ give you genuine insight into what you want to know.

Less suitable questions for a first interview:

❌ focus on salary, holiday or working from home; wait until later or ask diplomatically.
❌ can be answered directly from the job advertisement or website.
❌ sound critical or distrustful, for example: “Why do so many people resign?”

👥 About the team and collaboration

• What does the team I would be working with look like?
  → Signal: you are thinking about relationships and collaboration.
• How would you describe the way the department works together?
  → Signal: you want to understand the culture.

📈 About expectations and objectives

• What would you like me to have achieved during the first 3-6 months?
  → Signal: you are action-oriented and forward-looking.
• What does a typical working day look like in this role?
  → Signal: you are picturing the job in practical terms.

🚀 About development opportunities

• Are there opportunities for professional development, such as courses or internal training?
  → Signal: you want to learn and grow.
• Are there examples of employees who have progressed internally within the company?
  → Signal: you are thinking long term.

💼 About management and culture

• How would you describe the management style in the department?
  → Signal: you value good leadership.
• How do you support wellbeing and employee satisfaction?
  → Signal: you value a positive working environment.

• The employer will typically invite questions at the end:
  “Do you have any questions for us?”
• Some questions can also be asked during the interview when they fit naturally into the conversation.

👉 Choose 2-3 questions - write them down and adapt them as the interview develops.

If the employer mentions something interesting, ask a follow-up question:

“You mentioned that you are implementing a new system - how will that affect this role?”

It is good practice to thank the employer for the interview. It shows respect and engagement and can strengthen their overall impression of you.

Example of a short follow-up email

Subject: Thank you for the interview

Dear [contact person’s name],

Thank you for a very good conversation yesterday about the position of [job title].

It was a pleasure to learn more about the company and the team, and our conversation confirmed my interest in the position.

I look forward to hearing from you and, of course, remain available should you have any further questions.

Kind regards,
[Your name]

When should you send it?

• Either the same day or the following day - ideally within 24 hours.
• If your interview was arranged through Temp-Team, ask your consultant whether it makes sense for you to follow up directly - we will often do it for you.

• At the end of the interview, feel free to ask when you can expect to hear from them.
• If more time passes than promised, it is fine to follow up, for example:
  “I just wanted to ask whether there have been any updates in the process, as I remain very interested in the position.”
• Keep your tone friendly and approachable - even if you receive a rejection.

Make notes immediately after the interview if possible. This will help you remember the details and reflect on the experience.

Ask yourself:

• Which questions went well?
• Was there anything I wish I had answered differently?
• Did I communicate the most important points about my skills?
• How did the chemistry feel?
• What did I learn about the company - and is it right for me?

A rejection does not mean you are not capable - it simply means another candidate was a better match on this occasion.

Good advice:

• Ask for feedback if you feel comfortable doing so.
• Use it to adjust your approach and become stronger for your next interview.
• Remember: many candidates secure a job after several interviews - not the first one.

💡 At Temp-Team, we support you throughout the process. If you do not get the position, we will help you move towards your next opportunity.

Yes - but in moderation.

It is fine to make a few notes, especially when you are given important information about the job, responsibilities or the next stage of the process. It shows that you are attentive and engaged.

Tip: Let them know that you are taking notes:

“I hope you do not mind if I make a few notes.”

However, avoid writing everything down, as it can be distracting and prevent you from maintaining eye contact.

That is completely fine. What matters is how you handle it.

You could say:

• “That is a good question - I just need a moment to think.”
• “I have not encountered that exact situation before, but I would approach it by…”
• “I do not know for certain, but I am very willing to learn.”

This demonstrates: reflection, honesty and a willingness to learn - all positive qualities.

It depends on the context and timing of the interview.

In general, we recommend waiting until the employer raises these topics, or until a possible second interview if you move forward in the process.

If you still decide to ask, use a respectful formulation such as:

“Is there anything you can tell me at this stage about the salary range or the terms and conditions for the position?”

There is rarely a single clear indicator, but positive signs can include:

• The interview lasts longer than planned.
• The interviewer appears genuinely interested.
• You are introduced to the team or asked when you could start.

However, you can have a good interview without getting the job - and the reverse can also be true. Try not to overanalyse it afterwards. Instead, use the time for reflection and your next steps.

Yes - you can always decline.

However, do so politely and respectfully, so you leave a positive impression.

Example

“Thank you for considering me. After giving it further thought, I have decided to decline as I have chosen a different direction. I wish you every success with the recruitment process.”