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

# 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.