Job interview tips
An invitation to an interview means your CV worked. Now the employer wants to see whether you are the right person. A little preparation makes a big difference to how calm and clear you are on the day.
Updated 24 October 2026 · By Tumelo Vincent Tau
1. Before the day
- Read the advert again and your own CV: they will ask about both.
- Learn about the employer: what they do, where they are and what the job involves.
- Plan the trip: the address, the transport, how long it takes and money for the taxi. Aim to arrive 15 minutes early.
- Practise out loud with a friend or in front of a mirror, using the questions below.
2. What to bring
- Your ID
- A printed copy of your CV, and of your cover letter if you sent one
- Your certificates (matric, qualifications) and copies, especially if the invitation asks for them
- A pen, and the name and number of the person who invited you
3. Questions you will probably be asked
| Question | How to answer |
|---|---|
| Tell us about yourself. | One minute: your education, your experience and why you want this job. Not your life story. |
| Why do you want to work here? | Something real about the employer or the work, and how it fits what you want to learn. |
| What are your strengths? | Two strengths that matter for this job, each with a short example. |
| What is your weakness? | A real one that is not central to the job, and what you are doing to improve it. |
| Tell us about a time when… | Use the STAR method below. |
| Do you have any questions for us? | Always ask one or two, for example what a normal day looks like or when they will decide. |
4. The STAR method for "tell us about a time" questions
Many employers, and government panels in particular, ask for examples of what you did. Answer in four short steps:
- S - Situation: where you were and what was happening
- T - Task: what you had to do
- A - Action: what you did, in your own words ("I", not "we")
- R - Result: how it ended, and what you learnt
Example: "At the tuck shop a customer was angry because we had run out of bread (S). I had to keep him as a customer (T). I apologised, phoned the bakery and kept two loaves aside for him the next morning (A). He came back and still buys from us (R)."
5. On the day
- Dress neatly and a little more formally than the job, with clean, ironed clothes and shoes.
- Greet everyone politely, including the security guard and receptionist.
- Switch your phone to silent before you go in.
- Listen to the whole question, and ask them to repeat it if you did not understand. Take a breath before you answer.
- Be honest. If you do not know something, say so and say how you would find out.
- Some employers add a test or practical task. If the invitation mentions one, ask what it involves.
6. Afterwards
- Send a short thank-you message or email the same day, naming the post.
- If you have not heard anything by the date they gave, a polite follow-up call is fine.
- Write down the questions they asked: they help you prepare for the next interview.
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