Skills For Success: Practical Tools For Professional Growth

# How To Work Out What An Interviewer Really Wants To See In Candidates

Most candidates spend hours preparing answers, yet still walk into interviews unclear about what the interviewer is actually assessing.

This interactive Skills for Success session focuses on the front end of interview preparation. The mindset, job specification analysis and positioning work that determines whether your answers land or miss the mark.
If you can quickly decode what a role really requires, and what interviewers are testing, you put yourself in a far stronger position before the first question is even asked.

This practical workshop will help you cut through vague job descriptions, identify real priorities, and tailor your preparation so you focus on what matters most.

## What You Will Learn

By the end of this session, you will:

• Reset your interview preparation mindset and adopt a more strategic approach to early stage planning
• Decode interviewer priorities and understand what different question types are designed to assess
• Analyse job specifications quickly and extract the most important requirements
• Apply a structured prioritisation exercise to sharpen your thinking
• Leave with a focused preparation plan for upcoming interviews

## Learning Objectives And Outcomes

By the end of this session, you will:

1. Reset Your Interview Preparation Mindset
   Understand why last-minute preparation often fails and adopt a more strategic approach to preparing for an interview.
2. Decode Interviewer Priorities
   Recognise what interviewers are really assessing and map common question types to capability, clarity, and contribution.
3. Analyse Job Specifications Quickly
   Use a rapid review method to extract the most important priorities from any role description.
4. Apply A Practical Prioritisation Exercise
   Complete the Five Requirements Drill and sharpen your thinking through paired or breakout discussions.
5. Create A Focused Preparation Plan
   Capture the key takeaways and leave with clear next steps to guide your preparation for future interviews.

## Who This Session Is For

This session is ideal for:

• Professionals preparing for interviews in the near future
• Career changers or returners to work
• Technical professionals moving into more senior roles
• Anyone who wants a more structured and confident approach to interview preparation

## Format And Delivery

This will be an interactive, practical session with short teaching segments followed by exercises and discussion.

You are welcome to participate as much or as little as you feel comfortable. The more you choose to get involved, the more you are likely to gain from the session.

No prior preparation is required. Simply join with a recent job description in mind if you have one.

## Monthly Skills Masterclass: Subject TBC

Please note that for March 2026, this event will take place on the 4th March (Wendesday)

Join us for our monthly Skills For Success masterclass, a practical, interactive session designed to help early to mid-career professionals continue building the capabilities that support long term professional growth.
Each month, we focus on a specific workplace skill linked to performance, progression, and confidence in high-impact situations. The exact topic for this session will be shared in advance, giving you time to decide whether it is right for you and your current career stage.

Sessions are delivered in a small group format and combine short teaching segments with guided exercises, discussion, and reflection. You can take part as much or as little as you feel comfortable, though the more involved you are, the more you will gain from the experience.

This session is well-suited to professionals from technical, analytical, business, and professional services backgrounds, as well as anyone keen to invest in developing the skills that will support their next career step.

### What You Can Expect

• Practical tools you can apply immediately at work
• Structured exercises and real-world scenarios
• Opportunities to learn through doing and observing
• Supportive group discussion and constructive feedback
• A focused, developmental environment

The specific subject for this masterclass will be announced ahead of the event. Keep an eye on the event page for updates and further details.

## Monthly Skills Masterclass: Subject TBC

Join us for our monthly Skills For Success masterclass, a practical, interactive session designed to help early to mid-career professionals continue building the capabilities that support long term professional growth.
Each month, we focus on a specific workplace skill linked to performance, progression, and confidence in high-impact situations. The exact topic for this session will be shared in advance, giving you time to decide whether it is right for you and your current career stage.

Sessions are delivered in a small group format and combine short teaching segments with guided exercises, discussion, and reflection. You can take part as much or as little as you feel comfortable, though the more involved you are, the more you will gain from the experience.

This session is well-suited to professionals from technical, analytical, business, and professional services backgrounds, as well as anyone keen to invest in developing the skills that will support their next career step.

### What You Can Expect

• Practical tools you can apply immediately at work
• Structured exercises and real-world scenarios
• Opportunities to learn through doing and observing
• Supportive group discussion and constructive feedback
• A focused, developmental environment

The specific subject for this masterclass will be announced ahead of the event. Keep an eye on the event page for updates and further details.

## Monthly Skills Masterclass: Subject TBC

Join us for our monthly Skills For Success masterclass, a practical, interactive session designed to help early to mid-career professionals continue building the capabilities that support long term professional growth.
Each month, we focus on a specific workplace skill linked to performance, progression, and confidence in high-impact situations. The exact topic for this session will be shared in advance, giving you time to decide whether it is right for you and your current career stage.

Sessions are delivered in a small group format and combine short teaching segments with guided exercises, discussion, and reflection. You can take part as much or as little as you feel comfortable, though the more involved you are, the more you will gain from the experience.

This session is well-suited to professionals from technical, analytical, business, and professional services backgrounds, as well as anyone keen to invest in developing the skills that will support their next career step.

### What You Can Expect

• Practical tools you can apply immediately at work
• Structured exercises and real-world scenarios
• Opportunities to learn through doing and observing
• Supportive group discussion and constructive feedback
• A focused, developmental environment

The specific subject for this masterclass will be announced ahead of the event. Keep an eye on the event page for updates and further details.