Candidate Guide
Walk In Prepared. Walk Out Confident.
Walk In Prepared. Walk Out Confident.
Walk In Prepared. Walk Out Confident.
Most people don't lose an interview because they can't do the job. They lose it because they couldn't show it in 45 minutes. This is how to fix that.
Most people don't lose an interview because they can't do the job. They lose it because they couldn't show it in 45 minutes. This is how to fix that.
PREPARATION
Do the Homework Most Candidates Skip.
Do the Homework Most Candidates Skip.
You don't need to memorise anything. You need to know five things.
You don't need to memorise anything. You need to know five things.
THE COMPANY
THE COMPANY
What they do, who their customers are, and what's been in the news lately. Ten minutes on their website and LinkedIn is enough.
What they do, who their customers are, and what's been in the news lately. Ten minutes on their website and LinkedIn is enough.
THE TECH
THE TECH
Know their stack and where yours overlaps. If there's a gap, work out how you'd close it.
Know their stack and where yours overlaps. If there's a gap, work out how you'd close it.
THE ROLE
THE ROLE
Re-read the brief. Pick the three things they care about most and be ready with an example for each.
Re-read the brief. Pick the three things they care about most and be ready with an example for each.
YOUR OWN STORIES
YOUR OWN STORIES
Pick four or five projects you can talk about in detail: what went well, what went wrong, and what you'd do differently.
Pick four or five projects you can talk about in detail: what went well, what went wrong, and what you'd do differently.
THE PEOPLE
THE PEOPLE
Look up your interviewers. Knowing their background gives you something real to talk about.
Look up your interviewers. Knowing their background gives you something real to talk about.
THE BASICS
THE BASICS
If you're going through us, ask. We'll tell you what the client really cares about and who'll be in the room.
If you're going through us, ask. We'll tell you what the client really cares about and who'll be in the room.
THE INTERVIEW STAGES
Every Company Runs It Differently. These Are the Usual Suspects.
Every Company Runs It Differently. These Are the Usual Suspects.
Recruiter or phone screen
Recruiter or phone screen
A short chat to check your background, expectations, and availability. Be clear on your salary range and notice period.
A short chat to check your background, expectations, and availability. Be clear on your salary range and notice period.
Technical interview
Technical interview
Questions or a live problem in your area. They're watching how you think as much as whether you get it right. Talk through your reasoning out loud.
Questions or a live problem in your area. They're watching how you think as much as whether you get it right. Talk through your reasoning out loud.
Take-home or practical task
Take-home or practical task
Ask how long they expect it to take, and stick to that. Neat and finished beats clever and half done.
Ask how long they expect it to take, and stick to that. Neat and finished beats clever and half done.
Behavioural or panel
How you work with people, handle pressure, and deal with things going sideways. This is where your stories earn their keep.
How you work with people, handle pressure, and deal with things going sideways. This is where your stories earn their keep.
Final or culture chat
Final or culture chat
Usually with a senior leader. Less about skills, more about whether you'd be someone they'd want on the team.
Usually with a senior leader. Less about skills, more about whether you'd be someone they'd want on the team.
THE QUESTIONS
Six Questions You'll Almost Definitely Be Asked.
Six Questions You’ll Almost Definitely Be Asked.
For each one, here's what they're really asking and how to answer it.
For each one, here's what they're really asking and how to answer it.
"Tell me about yourself."
"Tell me about yourself."
They want a 60-second pitch, not your life story. Present, past, future: what you do now, how you got here, and why this role is the next step.
They want a 60-second pitch, not your life story. Present, past, future: what you do now, how you got here, and why this role is the next step.
"Walk me through a project you're proud of."
"Walk me through a project you're proud of."
They're checking the depth of your experience. Cover the problem, your role, the tech, and the result. Say "I" for what you did and "we" for what the team did.
They're checking the depth of your experience. Cover the problem, your role, the tech, and the result. Say "I" for what you did and "we" for what the team did.
"Tell me about a time something went wrong."
"Tell me about a time something went wrong."
They're checking the depth of your experience. Cover the problem, your role, the tech, and the result. Say "I" for what you did and "we" for what the team did.
They're checking the depth of your experience. Cover the problem, your role, the tech, and the result. Say "I" for what you did and "we" for what the team did.
"Why are you leaving?"
"Why are you leaving?"
Keep it forward-looking. Talk about what you're moving towards, not what you're running from. Never criticise your current employer.
Keep it forward-looking. Talk about what you're moving towards, not what you're running from. Never criticise your current employer.
"Why us?"
"Why us?"
This is where your homework pays off. Mention something specific about their work, their tech or their team.
This is where your homework pays off. Mention something specific about their work, their tech or their team.
"Where do you want to be in three years?"
"Where do you want to be in three years?"
They want to know whether the role fits your direction. A straight answer beats a polished one.
They want to know whether the role fits your direction. A straight answer beats a polished one.
Structure for any story: the STAR method
Structure for any story: the STAR method
Situation:
Situation:
Set the scene in a sentence.
Set the scene in a sentence.
Task:
Task:
What needed to happen.
What needed to happen.
Action:
Action:
What you did, specifically.
What you did, specifically.
Result:
Result:
What changed, with a number if you have one.
What changed, with a number if you have one.
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
TECHNICAL QUESTIONS
The Best Interviewees Interview Back.
The Best Interviewees Interview Back.
You're deciding on them too. Bring three or four of these:
You're deciding on them too. Bring three or four of these:
What does success look like in the first six months?
What's the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?
How does the team work day to day — hybrid, remote, in the office?
How do you handle professional development and training?
Why is this role open?
What are the next steps and when can I expect to hear back?
What does success look like in the first six months?
What's the biggest challenge the team is facing right now?
How does the team work day to day — hybrid, remote, in the office?
How do you handle professional development and training?
Why is this role open?
What are the next steps and when can I expect to hear back?
THE DAY, AND AFTER
THE DAY, AND AFTER
On the Day. And the Day After.
On the Day. And the Day After.
You're deciding on them too. Bring three or four of these:
You're deciding on them too. Bring three or four of these:
ON THE DAY
ON THE DAY
In person: leave early. Brisbane traffic and parking don't care about your start time. Arrive ten minutes ahead, not thirty.
Online: test your camera, audio and connection beforehand. Close everything else. Have your CV and a glass of water in front of you.
Dress one step up from what the team wears day to day. If you're not sure, ask your recruiter.
In person: leave early. Brisbane traffic and parking don't care about your start time. Arrive ten minutes ahead, not thirty.
Online: test your camera, audio and connection beforehand. Close everything else. Have your CV and a glass of water in front of you.
Dress one step up from what the team wears day to day. If you're not sure, ask your recruiter.
AFTERWARDS
AFTERWARDS
Send a short thank-you within 24 hours. Mention something specific you talked about.
Tell your recruiter how it went straight away. We'll pass on your feedback and get theirs.
Keep going with other opportunities until you have a signed offer.
Send a short thank-you within 24 hours. Mention something specific you talked about.
Tell your recruiter how it went straight away. We'll pass on your feedback and get theirs.
Keep going with other opportunities until you have a signed offer.
GOT AN INTERVIEW COMING UP?
GOT AN INTERVIEW COMING UP?
Don't Go In Blind.
Don’t Go In Blind.
If you're interviewing through GRIT, call your recruiter first. We'll tell you what the client cares about, who you're meeting, and what tripped up the last candidate. If you're not with us yet, register and let's talk.
If you're interviewing through GRIT, call your recruiter first. We'll tell you what the client cares about, who you're meeting, and what tripped up the last candidate. If you're not with us yet, register and let's talk.
Find your next great hire with GRIT.
Your questions, answered. Get clarity on our services, processes, and how we can help you succeed.
Find your next great hire with GRIT.
Your questions, answered. Get clarity on our services, processes, and how we can help you succeed.
Find your next great hire with GRIT.
Your questions, answered. Get clarity on our services, processes, and how we can help you succeed.