How to prepare for an interview at BT

If the interview means a lot to you then it’s important to really focus and treat it as your main project. Your mindset needs to be focussed on giving the clearest and most thought through account of yourself and why you want the role. Soclear your diary and focus on preparation, research and practice.

Get started by setting up a Google Alert for BT. That way you’ll always have the latest updates sent to you. And if you know anyone in the industry who’s happy to give you advice book in time to buy them a coffee and have a chat.

You should also research the company online, and find out what you can about the team and hiring manager. Also make sure you read more broadly about the company. Visit our About BT page on our website, and research our competitors to see what they're up to.

Some areas worth covering in your research include:

• How's BT performing?
• What's the broader market like?
• What forces are influencing the industry?
• What are the current hot topics, products and services?  

Review the job advert, your CV and any other materials you submitted in application. Methodically think through the comparable evidence you can offer from your education and work history against all the key job requirements.

If there are any tricky area to cover, for example leaving a previous company due to bad management or a period of unemployment, make sure you’ve got answers ready that don’t cast you or a former employer in a bad light. You can search online for resources to help you work out good responses.

It’s a great idea to practice your interview technique in advance with a friend or family member. And don’t just go through the motions. Ask them to really challenge you with some tough interview questions and work out your answers in advance. Some examples include:

• Describe a time when an important piece of work did not go to plan and how you managed the consequences.
• How do you handle stress?
• Why are you leaving your current position?
• What's your greatest achievement?

Search online to find more difficult interview question examples and responses. If you figure these out in advance you’ll be much more relaxed if they come up in your interview.

Potential employers will tend to check out your social media presence prior to interview so it’s worth bearing these points in mind:

• Make sure you have an up-to-date LinkedIn profile and seek out positive reviews from former employers and colleagues. And make sure your CV matches your LinkedIn.  
• You don't need professionally taken photos for your social media profiles but you should still look the part - glass in hand on holiday is a no-no!
• Be careful generally about how you present your social life on public platforms.
• Ensure any opinions you express publicly are not too confrontational. Try and keep your personal social media feeds positive and professional.

Keep your eyes peeled for the second part to this blog of how to prepare on the day of your interview.