How To Prepare For Your Interview
20 April 2020
How To Prepare For Your Interview

Preparing for your interview will be the key to its success. This article aims to help you understand how best to prepare, what to expect on the day, how you should conduct yourself throughout your interview and hints on what to avoid. 


INTERVIEW PREPARATION - THE BASICS

  • Research the company fully using the internet, business press and people who may have worked there previously
  • Arrive on time and allow plenty of time in case of heavy traffic, train delays etc.
  • Take copies of written references with you if you have them and bring along any supporting documentation with you feel might be helpful


  • Answer questions honestly and straight-forward
  • Be positive about your experience. Focus on the strengths and de-emphasise any weaknesses
  • Have several final questions prepared for the interviewers to demonstrate that you are interested in the role
  • Be confident, cheerful and enthusiastic, but take care not to be perceived as overbearing, over-confident or arrogant
  • Let your personality shine through
  • Don’t be afraid to ask questions
  • Dress smartly in business attire. It’s always better to make an effort and create a good first impression
  • Think of specific examples as supporting evidence for your experience and think about how your experience relates to the specific role
  • You need to feel prepared to be at your best, so find out whether you will need to sit any tests or make a presentation
  • Re-read the job brief before the interview to remind yourself of the key skills and experience required and how these areas relate to your CV


What are the interviewers looking for?


  • Interviewers are looking for relevant experience (usually gleaned by asking you for examples of workplace related situations); relevant personal characteristics for example team working, motivation, ability to work under pressure and employment consistency (looking for any gaps.)


Getting into ‘Interview mode’


  • Be wary of ‘being yourself’. This does not mean you have to undergo a complete personality transformation and pretend to be someone that you’re not
  • The interview is an opportunity for you to sell yourself to a potential employer to fulfil your objective of getting that job
  • Interviewers will generally spend just 20 – 30% of the time doing the talking – you will be expected to do the rest
  • Gauge the tone of the interview and adopt it yourself. Be very careful of over-using jokes – gentle humour is about the most you should consider
  • Employers are looking for confident, positive people to work for them and this should be obvious from the way you answer their questions
  • If you have rehearsed your answers beforehand it will be much easier to handle the interview in an enthusiastic and confident manner
  • Much is said about body language and what you should and should not do. The best advice is to ensure you project energy and enthusiasm at the interview
  • If you are asked a hypothetical question, always turn it into a ‘real life’ situation and give an actual example
  • By all means ask for clarification to a question if its meaning is unclear, but at this stage do not ask any other questions


Before the Interview


  • Find out everything you can about the company from their website, annual reports and brochures etc.
  • Find out which entrance you need to report to and who you need to ask for
  • Review your CV and think through specific questions you may be asked about it
  • Practice answers to common interview questions
  • Prepare your own questions about the company and job
  • Prepare your clothes the night before and make sure that you look presentable
  • Relax and get an early night so that you feel well rested for the big day
  • Consider making a ‘dummy run’ to the company so that you know how much journey time to allow


On the day


  • Take the company name, address and contact details with you, together with a location map.
  • Take a copy of your CV with you
  • Dress smartly, arrive early and be polite to everyone you meet at company
  • Have a notebook, pen and your questions to hand


REMEMBER: You are there to convince the interviewer that you can do the job, prove that you are motivated to do the job well and show them that you will fit in with the company


Throughout the interview


  • In the first 5 minutes, greet the Interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake - make a good first impression. Studies show that the first few minutes of an interview count for a lot
  • Always answer questions in a positive way 
  • Avoid criticising your previous job, employer or manager
  • Avoid ‘negative’ motivations such as a desire for more money or shorter working hours
  • Look attentive by leaning forward slightly in your seat - don’t slouch
  • Listen keenly, nod and orally acknowledge what you are told
  • Be prepared to support your answers with evidence, facts and figures
  • Maintain some eye contact with everyone present


At the end of the interview


  • The interviewer should ask if you have any further questions, check your list of questions and if there are any are outstanding ask them now. Remember to tell the Interviewer that you are interested in the job and leave the interview with firm handshakes to everyone present


Questions to avoid


  • What does your company do?
  • What will my salary be?
  • Will I be work long hours?
  • How soon can I take a vacation?
  • Will I have an expense account?
  • How quickly could I be considered for a promotion?
  • What happens if I don't get along with my boss or co-workers?
  • What are benefits like?
  • When will I be eligible for a raise?
  • Are you married?/Do you have kids?/etc.
  • Do you check social media accounts?
  • Do you do background checks?
  • Do you monitor emails or internet usage?
  • Will I have my own office?
  • I heard this rumour about the CEO - is it true?
  • What are grounds for termination?
  • Can I make personal calls during the day?
  • How did I do?
  • Did I get the job?


Factors that can cost you the job


  • Being unprepared
  • Being late
  • Poor manners
  • Complaining about previous employers
  • Poor communication
  • Being aggressive or superior
  • Making excuses
  • Looking scruffy
  • Lacking enthusiasm
  • Being evasive or vague
30 June 2025
Hiring the right person is one of the most important decisions a company can make. Whether you’re filling a technical role for the first time or expanding an established team, the process can take time, effort and resources. It’s not always easy to know the best route to take either. Should you manage recruitment in-house or bring in a specialist recruiter? The answer depends on a few key factors, from how niche the role is to how quickly you need someone in place. Here, we’ll break down the pros and cons of each approach to help you make the right call. Hiring Directly: When It Makes Sense If you’ve got the time, tools and talent internally to manage recruitment, hiring directly can work well, particularly for more general roles or when you’re not in a rush. When to consider hiring directly: You have a strong internal HR or talent acquisition team They’re already experienced in managing recruitment campaigns and have a process in place. The role is easy to fill or not time-sensitive If it’s a commonly advertised position and there’s a large candidate pool, managing the process yourself could save on recruitment fees. You have access to a strong talent pipeline Perhaps you’ve had success with referrals or you’re drawing from a well-established internal database. That said, even with the best in-house team, recruitment can be time-consuming. Screening CVs, arranging interviews and negotiating offers all take focus, which can be difficult to manage alongside day-to-day responsibilities. When It’s Time to Bring in a Specialist Recruiter For more technical or hard-to-fill roles, working with a specialist recruiter can make a real difference. With in-depth industry knowledge and access to a network of qualified candidates, recruiters can help streamline the process and improve your chances of securing the right hire. Here’s when working with a specialist makes sense: The role is highly technical or niche Whether you’re hiring a CAD Designer, a Safety Consultant or a Field Service Engineer, a specialist recruiter understands the market and knows what ‘good’ looks like. You need to fill the role quickly Recruiters have access to active and passive candidates you might not reach through job boards. That can save weeks, even months, of sourcing time. You’ve already tried to hire and struggled If a previous campaign didn’t attract the right candidates, a recruiter can help reassess the brief, adjust the messaging and find new avenues to source talent. You need help with market insight or salary benchmarking A good recruiter doesn’t just send CVs. They offer advice on what candidates are looking for, what competitors are offering and how to make your vacancy stand out. The Best of Both Worlds It doesn’t have to be one or the other. Some companies choose to manage more general roles internally and bring in a recruitment partner for more specialist or senior hires. Others work with recruiters on an ongoing basis to keep their pipeline full and reduce pressure on internal teams. Final Thoughts There’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to recruitment. But knowing when to bring in a specialist can save time, reduce stress and ultimately lead to better hires. At Professional Technical, we’ve supported hundreds of companies across engineering, design and manufacturing. If you’re unsure whether now’s the time to bring in extra support, we’re happy to offer advice. No pressure, just honest guidance. Looking for help with a technical hire? Get in touch with our team today to see how we can support your recruitment goals.
30 May 2025
Interviews used to be all about ironing your shirt, rehearsing your CV like a Shakespeare monologue and trying not to sweat through your suit. But things have changed. In 2025, interview prep isn’t just about looking sharp and having the right answers—it’s about showing you’ve got the skills, the mindset and the adaptability to hit the ground running. Employers want real-world capability. So, if you’ve got an interview coming up (or want to be ready when one does), here’s what you need to do to stand out in today’s ultra-competitive, skills-driven job market. 1. Know the company like you’ve already worked there We’re not saying you need to stalk their CEO’s dog on Instagram. But you do need to get clued up on: What the company does Where they’re heading Their values, culture and recent projects Why? Because interviews aren’t just about answering questions—they’re about connecting. You can’t do that if you don’t speak their language. Pro tip : Check out their LinkedIn, press releases, Glassdoor reviews and anything they’ve posted recently. 2. Don’t just understand the role—deconstruct it Look at the job description and break it down like an engineer with a schematic: What core skills are they looking for? What tools or platforms do they use? What results are they hoping this hire will deliver? Then, figure out where your experience directly maps to their needs—and where it adds value they didn’t even know they needed. 3. Be ready to talk about your skills (not just your experience) Forget just walking through your CV like it’s storytime. Instead, be ready to show how your skills have delivered impact: “I used AutoCAD to shave 12 hours off a key design process.” “I integrated a new AI tool into the workflow that sped up early-stage prototyping.” This is what employers want to hear: clear, skills-based stories with tangible outcomes. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to keep it tight and relevant. 4. Prep for the format (because not every interview is the same) Some interviews are fully virtual, others are face-to-face, and some are a hybrid mix of “Zoom fatigue meets awkward handshake.” Prepare accordingly: For virtual interviews: Test your tech—twice. Choose a clean, quiet, well-lit space. Dress like you’re meeting in person (yes, from the waist down too… just in case). For in-person interviews: Plan your route. Give yourself extra time. Bring printed copies of your CV, a notepad, and any portfolio pieces if relevant. 5. Questions are your secret weapon You know the bit at the end when they ask, “Do you have any questions for us?” This is not a polite formality. This is your chance to flip the script. Ask thoughtful, forward-thinking questions like: “What does success look like in this role after 6 months?” “How does the team integrate new technologies like AI or automation into your process?” “What are the biggest challenges you're hoping the person in this role can solve?”  The Bottom Line Today’s interviews are less about pedigree and more about practicality. Employers want to see: That you’ve done your research That you understand the job That you can apply your skills to deliver results—today, not someday So don’t just prepare to “get through” the interview. Prepare to own it. Got questions or want help getting interview-ready? Reach out. We’ll help you sharpen your story, showcase your strengths, and land the role you’ve been aiming for.
30 April 2025
For Engineers Working on Lifts, Forklifts & Automatic Doors - Ever turned up to a nightmare job? You’ve barely finished your brew and the phone’s already buzzing. You’re needed on-site—a shutter’s stuck halfway, or a lift’s playing dead again, or someone’s forklift won’t charge, and production is grinding to a halt. You roll in, toolbox in hand, only to find: No one’s expecting you. Access is “somewhere round the back.” The last guy left it “sorted” (it isn’t). Welcome to the glamorous world of field service engineering. Still, first impressions count. Whether you're fixing a faulty door sensor or resetting a lift control panel at 6AM, how you show up matters. Not just for the job—but for your next one. So here’s how to make a cracking first impression, even when the job itself is a bit of a horror show. 1. Turn Up Looking Like You Know What You’re Doing You don’t need a polished van with LED lighting and a custom wrap (though if you have one, fair play). But your gear should be tidy, your uniform clean-ish and you should look like you came to fix something. Why it matters: People judge on sight. A pro-looking engineer earns trust faster, and that trust makes problem-solving 10x easier. 2. Take Control (Politely) You’re not there for a chat—you’re there to sort the problem. But before you get stuck in, make sure you: Introduce yourself Confirm the job details Ask the right questions (especially about access, recent faults or dodgy workarounds) It puts the customer at ease and gives you a clear picture of what you’re walking into. “Morning, I’m here for the lift fault on level 2. Has it been down long? Any noises or error codes showing?” You sound sharp. You look sharp. You’re already halfway there. 3. Act Like It’s Not Your First Rodeo (Even If It’s a Mess) We know the jobs that go sideways before you even pop the panel: Power’s dodgy Doors are covered in grime Forklift diagnostics read like the Rosetta Stone But panicking or complaining helps no one. The best engineers are the ones who crack on, stay calm and solve problems step by step—even if the job was “looked at” last week by someone with a YouTube certificate. Remember: Calm = competence. Even if you're seething inside. 4. Document Everything – Cover Your Back, Protect Your Pay Take photos. Note down serials. Log faults. If it’s broken beyond what’s on the call-out, flag it. Not just for the customer—but for the office, so they can back you up if the client gets awkward or tries to rebook something that’s definitely not warranty work. Pro move: Save the before-and-after shots. It proves you did the work and shows the state of play. Gold dust for agencies, supervisors or anyone who thinks engineers just “poke stuff and hope.” 5. Leave the Place Better Than You Found It No mess. No tools left behind. No wires hanging out like a spaghetti monster. Once the job’s done: Explain what was wrong (in plain English) Tell them what you fixed Flag what might need attention next time Why bother? Because they remember the engineer who sorted it and explained it clearly. That’s how you get repeat work, better contracts and sites that actually welcome you back. Final Word: Respect Gets You Further Than Just Being “Good with Tools” Being a skilled engineer is half the battle. Being one who turns up right, handles themselves well and leaves a job neat? That’s how you stand out. These days, word travels. Clients tell each other who’s reliable. And when the good gigs come in—clean jobs, decent day rates, less chaos—guess who gets the call? You. Want More Work That Respects Your Skills? If you’re a solid engineer working on lifts, doors or materials handling kit—and you’re tired of chasing poor leads or sites that treat you like an afterthought—we’ve got your back. Get in touch with our team. We work with companies who appreciate what you do, pay fair and don’t send you to sites that look like crime scenes.