How to: Ace the interview

Kristina Gerdov • December 3, 2024

Nailing an interview requires more than just showing up and answering some questions. It’s about preparation, presenting yourself in a way that leaves a lasting impression and following up well. Here’s our top tips to help you ace your next interview!


Get the prep right

Before you even step into the interview (or join the video call), a bit of research can go a long way.


  • Know who you’re meeting: Take a moment to look up your interviewers on LinkedIn. Do they have any recent posts or accomplishments that can give you insights into their current projects or interests? You can also ask your recruiter for some background on their style and what to expect. It’s never nice anticipating a conversational style interview when in fact you could be meeting with a panel with behavioural style interview questions.
  • Research the company: You should know what the company does and have a sense of their service offering or products. If they have a storefront or physical presence, check it out if you can. Be sure to familiarise yourself with any recent achievements, such as awards, and consider why you’re excited about the opportunity.
  • Understand the role: Go over the job description thoroughly. Using the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result), prepare examples for each of the key skills the job requires. This will help you demonstrate that you’re a great fit for the role.
  • Develop your key point agenda – more on this to come!


During the Interview

It’s showtime!

Here’s how to make the best impression once you’re in the interview.

 

  • Sharing your experience: Interviewers want to hear about specific projects you’ve worked on. Choose 2-3 key projects to discuss in detail, again using the STAR approach to provide structure.
  • The STAR approach:

Situation: Briefly explain the background of the project or challenge you faced.

Task: Outline the task or objective you were given.

Action: Describe what actions you took personally, and what the team did overall.

Result: Wrap it up by highlighting the results or learnings from the experience.

  • Ask thoughtful questions: Not just about the role but also about the company and don’t save all your questions for the end or wait to be asked; asking them throughout the interview shows that you’re engaged.
  • Your key point agenda: What are the 3-5 things you want to make sure you communicate during the interview? These are likely to be the main reasons you think you’re an awesome fit for the role.
  • If you have the opportunity to proactively share this information, rather than waiting to be asked a question that relates, you’ll make sure you’re walking away knowing that you put your best foot forward.
  • The essentials: Arrive 5-10 minutes early, dress appropriately, and come with a notebook and pen. Have your key points and questions written down, so you’re ready to make the most of the opportunity.
  • For video interviews: If it’s a video interview, present yourself professionally. Choose a quiet, distraction-free environment, dress as you would for an in-person interview and maintain eye contact by looking into the camera. Keep your hands busy by taking notes—this helps you stay focused and  engaged.


Follow Up

The interview doesn’t end when you leave the room or close the video call. Following up can be just as important as the interview itself.

 

  • Send a brief thank-you note: Within 24 hours, send a personalised thank-you email. Not only does this show appreciation for their time, it’s also an opportunity to reinforce your interest in the role. Keep it polite and brief, however, if you felt you forgot to mention something or wanted to clarify a point further, this is your opportunity.
  • Check in with your recruiter: If you’re working with a recruiter, get in touch to share your feedback and they will be able to give you an understanding of when you’re likely to receive feedback from the organisation, along with next steps.
  • Ask about next steps and the hiring timeline.



By following these steps, you’ll be well-prepared, make a strong impact during the interview, and leave the kind of lasting impression that could land you the job.


Get in touch with your iknowho talent partner if you’d like more tailored advice, we’re here to help!


By Riza Karis March 26, 2025
I recently had the pleasure of attending the B&T 30 Under 30 awards and had the chance to meet some incredibly talented rising stars in the industry. One standout was Aoife Lehane, a candidate we’ve had the privilege of working with, who was nominated and shortlisted in the Account Management category. Honestly, I wasn’t surprised at all—anyone who meets Aoife can immediately see how ambitious, creatively driven, and sharp she is. Here’s a look at her B&T 30 Under 30 experience and a glimpse into her impressive career: From starting your career in Dublin, to moving to Sydney and landing a fantastic role through iknowho at one of Australia’s top agencies, you’ve had an amazing career to date. Can you tell us a little more about your background? I have learned from some extremely talented people throughout my career to date and count myself very lucky to have had been afforded some amazing opportunities. I started my career at a boutique indie agency in Ireland where I got invaluable hands-on experience running my own accounts and pitching for new business quite early on. From here, I made the move to Droga5 in Dublin working on some of the agency’s largest clients. Whilst at Droga5, I went through a career crossroads moment where I was debating becoming a planner and actually spent 6 months working in the strategy department which I absolutely loved. This stint in strategy taught me invaluable skills that I use in my role everyday. Ultimately, I decided to stay in account management (if you hadn’t guessed!) as I couldn’t shake the curiosity of seeing the whole process come to life and the ability to really influence the work in all phases, beyond just what I touched in strat. It sounds cliché but I’m also a real people person and I thrive off building relationships. In my opinion, account management are the real beating heart of an agency, and I thrive in that role and the exposure it gives you to all areas of the business. When I decided that I was moving to Sydney I reached out to Riza at iknowho whilst still in Ireland. Not knowing the Australian market was extremely daunting but her knowledge and experience put me completely at ease. She really understood me, my ambitions and the type of agency I wanted to work in for the next chapter in my career and I couldn’t be happier with how it worked out. The calibre of talent in the mix was extremely high this year. How did it feel to be a finalist at this years’ B&T 30 under 30? And what inspired you to participate? I feel so incredibly grateful to have been up there with some amazing individuals who have achieved so much in their careers already. Personally, it was such a lovely moment to be recognised amongst such a talented group of people who have come from different backgrounds and corners of the globe. Having diversity in career paths and experience is so important for our industry to bring fresh perspectives and thinking – it only benefits the work, the people who make it and the people who see it. It was actually this time last year, seeing the finalists and the stories from past winners that inspired me to enter - I turn 30 this year so I figured if not now, when! What did you learn throughout the process of applying and what advice would you give to others looking to participate next year? Also, how did your agency help to support you in the process? I really enjoyed the process of applying and the moment of reflection it gave me on my career to date. So often I’m looking ahead to the next thing and don’t take the time to reflect on what I have achieved already. As someone who can be very hard on themselves, it was a really eye-opening and rewarding process to take part in. The 3 pieces of advice I would give to others looking to participate next year would be: 1: Think about the narrative you want to land from the start and how you weave that narrative through your response to the questions and constantly re-enforcing your point. 2: For me, it helped to get everything down on paper and then treat it as a bit of a creative review to condense and tighten (my first draft was 9 minutes long!) 3: Lean on those around you for their advice and point of view, you can get stuck in your own head when it comes to the submission, so it’s good to have those around you to offer that fresh perspective. I work with some very talented people who were extremely generous with their time not only offering me their advice and feedback but also their videography and editing skills to give my submission that final polish – it takes a village! There is no doubt that being a finalist helps elevate your profile, what other benefits do you see from being shortlisted and are there any other awards in your sights for the future? Not being from here it can be a little bit harder to “break into the industry” and make a name for yourself, as an expat I have found it hugely beneficial in that respect. Even this opportunity from the team at iknowho to do this profile piece has been really valuable and a great privilege that I don’t take for granted. In terms of personal awards, there’s nothing specific that I have my sights set on in the immediate, but I am open to whatever opportunities come my way. Forbes 30U30 would be a good one but I would want to get busy! What’s next for you, where do you see yourself in five years? Anyone who knows me has heard me say I want to be on that stage in Cannes.. so hopefully that will have happened. With the world we’re living in right now and the constant conversation around the value of creativity (which I believe is not only monetary, but also the value it provides to society) I’m driven by the opportunity to create something that people really connect with and makes a lasting impression in the world.. whether that’s as simple as just making people smile or changing societal behaviour for good - the pursuit of that is what drives me. I’m energised by working with likeminded people who share my ambition but not always a similar point of view. I love the process of sharing those different points of views and different ways of thinking and what brings to fruition. That to me is what makes the industry we work in so interesting and one I love being a part of. Ultimately, I would love to be in a leadership role in an agency where I have the ability to make a real impact and influence the direction for the future of the industry. -- Thank you so much, Aoife, for sharing your journey, insights, and advice. Your passion and drive are truly inspiring, and we have no doubt you’ll continue to make waves in the industry. We can’t wait to see what’s next for you! If you're looking for your next role within the junior-mid levels across agency or the perfect candidate to add to your team get in touch with Riza today!
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