Are you looking for job interview tips after being out of the job market for 20 years?“Ch-Ch-Changes – turn and face the strange”. David Bowie released that song in 1971, but I know it more from the movie, Shrek 2, which was released in 2004. There have been so many changes in those intervening years. We are definitely living in some strange times, and change, well, it’s often something we don’t choose for ourselves, is it?
If redundancy or career change has brought you back onto the job market, today’s interview process may feel unfamiliar. While employers still want to understand your skills, motivation and suitability for the role, the way they assess candidates has evolved considerably.
As a Career Coach, I work with many clients who are experiencing redundancy. Anxiety, fear, uncertainty are natural emotions when you are facing the prospect of interviewing for a new job. In this article, I explain how job interviews have changed, what employers are looking for today, and the most important job interview tips to help you succeed.
The employment landscape has changed at a breakneck speed, but how has the job interview changed over the past two decades? Is it really that different?
The answer is Yes and No. The good news is that employers are still trying to answer three questions:
- Can you do the job?
- Will you do the job?
- Will you be a good fit for the organisation and contribute to its success?
The technology, format and language may have changed, but those three questions remain the same.
What has changed about job interviews?
Twenty years ago, you might have received a letter or maybe even an email from HR or the Hiring Manager, inviting you to an interview. You would have travelled to an office, met one or two people across a desk and answered questions about your experience and perhaps you would have shared a little of your background and aspirations for the future.
Today however, you might receive a generic, unsigned, automated invitation to complete an online assessment, record video answers to questions posed by an algorithm, attend a virtual interview with a panel of four or five individuals, be asked to deliver a detailed presentation that you’ll have to research and then have another interview to meet with the global team! All while never actually setting foot in an office!
Maybe that’s a little exaggerated but not entirely unrealistic! I recently worked with a client that had six different touchpoints during the interview process including two presentations before finally being offered a very junior role.
But don’t worry, all these changes are manageable. At the end of the day, it’s important to remember that a prospective employer still wants to know who you are and what you can offer.
Job interview tips for competency-based interviews
Interviews have morphed from the traditional, conversational, free-flowing format to something much more structured. Many employers now use competency-based interviews, where candidates are asked questions designed to assess specific skills and behaviours relevant to the role. These competencies will usually be quite clear from the job description.
Competencies might include communication, planning and organising, decision making, delivery of results, customer service, innovation, managing people, stakeholder management and problem solving. According to the World Economic Forum, Future of Jobs Report 2025, analytical thinking, curiosity and creative thinking are in the top 10 core skills that employers seek.
Employers are looking for well thought-out examples of how you can demonstrate these competencies. It’s no longer enough to simply tell an interviewer that you’re a good communicator or that you’re good at managing projects. You need to provide evidence through sharing your experiences.
If you’ve got 20 or more years of career experience, then you will have plenty of examples that you can use. The challenge can be remembering what you’ve done over the past 20 years and being able to explain what you actually did and achieved.
Take time now to reflect and sort through your achievements and ask yourself, what competencies did I use in those situations? Build a bank of examples and practice using the STAR framework. You can find more information on this framework in Henrietta Nagy’s article.
I would recommend focusing on the Action section. Employers want to understand your contribution not just the result achieved.
Job interview tips for interview preparation
The amount you need to prepare for an interview has also changed over the past few decades. Interviewers expect you to do more than just read the front page of the organisational website.
You need to understand the business, its product or services, its culture, its competitors and ideally its current challenges.
LinkedIn is a great resource for finding out information about the company and for finding connections that work there or have worked there in the past. Try to find someone within the organisation that you can talk to about the company and perhaps gain some inside information about the interviewing process and its culture.
Remember, preparation isn’t just about having answers learned off, it’s about being able to have an informed conversation and being able to rise to the challenge for the questions you haven’t practiced.
Job interview tips for video interviews
Zoom and Teams interviews have become an established feature of the recruitment process for many employers. According to the CIPD, Resourcing & Talent Planning Report 2024, 39% of UK organisations used video interviews. This figure however was down from 54% in 2021. Face-to-face interviews remain an important part of the recruitment process.
Some candidates prefer online interviewing and might be more comfortable participating in an interview from their own comfortable surroundings.
However, it can be a struggle to develop rapport with the interviewers online and you may find yourself more nervous than you would if it was face-to-face.
I always encourage clients to prepare for a video interview as if they were attending a face-to-face interview.
- Dress appropriately, have a glass of water to hand, ensure head and shoulders are visible in the camera and don’t have too many notes scattered around the desk. Ensure that your housemates or the Amazon delivery doesn’t disturb you mid answer! You don’t want any distractions.
- Address your answers to the person who asked the question, look at the camera and engage the interviewers with clear and distinct answers.
- When we’re nervous, we can sometimes come across as being stern or distracted, so remind yourself to breathe, lower your shoulders and pay attention to the tone of your voice.
A more unusual development is the one-way video interview. There may be no interviewer present at all. Questions may appear on screen and you will be asked to record your answers.
Some employers also use AI agents to ask the questions. Don’t be daunted. Again, look at the camera, speak clearly, know your CV and have it to hand, prepare as you would for any interview.
Remember your personality and communication skills still matter.
Other recruitment assessments you may encounter
Depending on the employer and the role, you might also be asked to complete a psychometric or personality test, a technical assessment or to give a presentation.
Remember, no matter what the method or assessment, it is your skills, strengths, experience and attitude that are being assessed.
Length of the Interview Process
Most jobs I interviewed for in the 90s and noughties usually consisted of one, maybe two, interviews. Nowadays, the process can be considerably longer. The important thing to remember is to ask the recruiter at the very beginning: what does the process look like? And how will they communicate with you during the process?
Don’t get disillusioned if you don’t hear back straight away from the recruiter. Keep the lines of communication open, whether that be by email, text or phone. If you’re waiting to hear from one role, keep looking for other opportunities.
One of the best job interview Tips: Be yourself
With advances in technology and the widespread use of AI, you would be forgiven for thinking that employers would prefer robots rather than people. But that is not the case. At the heart of every organisation, are people.
Your experience, skills and qualifications are what you want to discuss and demonstrate during an interview. Don’t underestimate the importance of personality, communication and the ability to build relationships.
If you’ve been made redundant, remember you haven’t suddenly lost your professional value. Learn and get comfortable with articulating that value to a new audience. Never apologise for redundancy – it is not a reflection of your worth or ability. A prospective employer wants to see that you can transfer the skills you have to a new organisation and that you have the capability to learn and adapt.
The interview process may have changed, but your ability to connect with another human being, tell your story and demonstrate your value is still your greatest asset.
It’s up to you to tell and show the employer that you have the skills and abilities to do the job, that you have the motivation to get the job done and that you are a perfect fit for the team.
Frequently Asked Questions
How are job interviews different today compared with 20 years ago?
They are more structured and usually competency-based; prepare, practice and use the STAR Framework. They are also more likely to be conducted remotely or to utilise technology.
What are the most important job interview tips for experienced professionals?
Articulate your experience, skills and strengths in relation to your achievements. Be confident.
How do I explain redundancy in an interview?
Don’t! Never apologise for being made redundant. Redundancy is a business decision.
Are video interviews replacing face-to-face interviews?
They are very prevalent but not necessarily replacing face-to-face.
Can older candidates compete successfully in today’s job market?
Yes and No. Unfortunately, ageism can be a problem; however, there is a definite movement towards harnessing the wisdom, experience and knowledge of older employees. Value your worth and demonstrate your willingness to continue to learn and upskill.
Good Luck!
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