Cheat sheet: How to ace any job interview, and tackle tough questions

If there are interests and hobbies that define you, talk about them. Don’t portray yourself as a very serious person,” Thirunavukkarasu says. “If you are interviewing at startups, dynamism is key. Demonstrate that you have speed and agility.”

One important detail candidates tend to overlook is that an interview is not just a verbal test but also an observational one, says Vidaya. Breathe before you start speaking. Be clear and audible. Don’t ramble when you can be specific. Display enthusiasm over your responses and the company’s questions.

Raphael breaks it down as Situation-Task-Action-Result. Use it as a guide to address questions. What was the situation posed in the question? What had to be done? What steps were implemented? What was the final outcome?

Request a recruiter to please rephrase their question if you have not understood it or rephrase it yourself and ask if that’s what they meant before proceeding, rather than going with guesswork,” says Vidaya.

Especially if there are multiple rounds of interviews in the same organisation, says Mathew. “If your answers start to contradict themselves, your chances of getting hired dip.” And crucially, never lose hope. Some people get hired right after the first interview; others may face several rejections before they land a great gig. “Always stay optimistic and prepared.”