Interview Skills: Seminar Highlights

We recently held our second Autumn Tutor Enrichment Seminar: Interview Skills. The session explored how understanding our strengths and how we present them can shape our success in interview situations. Our expert panellists drew on their expertise to share top tips for preparing for and succeeding in interviews. The seminar also included a Q&A session, during which they answered questions from attendees. 

Our expert panel included: 

Team Up’s CEO, Chris Deavin

  Before Chris joined Team Up he was head of a charity that runs education about the River Thames and the environment for children, delivered on boats. He also spent many years working in business development for financial firms and has chaired a not-for-profit trade association. 

Jenna Crittenden

Jen Crittenden is Teacher Advocacy Lead at the Chartered College of Teaching and a trustee of Team Up. She was a headteacher and deputy for 10 years and has worked in primary education for over 20 years. 

Andy Redfern 

20+ years Leading Sales campaigns and Client relationships in the world of technology – Andy built and managed strategic relationships with large global organisations. After a short career break, Andy is now training as a Financial Coach with Octopus Money.  

After introducing themselves and sharing their experience interviewing potential job candidates, the panellists shared their top tips for success at interview.  

Here are just some of the highlights shared during the event: 

1. Preparation is your superpower

Research the organisation thoroughly: its values, culture, challenges, and context. Tailor your application and interview answers to show why you want to be there. Whenever possible, go beyond the website: visit in person, explore the environment, or speak to people who work there. 

2. Be authentic and let your personality come through

Interviewers want to meet the real you. Don’t be afraid to show your personality, smile, and engage in genuine conversation. Authenticity helps you stand out more than trying to deliver ‘perfect’ rehearsed lines. 

3. Tell compelling, specific stories

Strong examples make strong interviews. Use detailed, well-prepared stories that clearly demonstrate your skills, even if your experience isn’t a perfect match. Use the STAR technique to structure your answers, and focus on what you learned, especially from mistakes. 

4. Control what you can: presentation and professionalism

Arrive early, be organised, and set yourself up professionally, including for pre-recorded or virtual interviews (no distractions, clear sound, tidy background). If you need to handle something sensitive (like not shaking hands) communicate it politely in advance or at the start. 

5. Ask thoughtful, well-researched questions

Great questions show motivation and preparation. Whether asking about team culture, current challenges, or what employees enjoy about working there, good questions turn the interview into a two-way conversation and demonstrate maturity and confidence. 

Team Up would like to thank our panel of expert speakers for sharing their experiences and top interview tips during the seminar. We hope attendees left feeling more confident, informed, and prepared for their upcoming interviews. We wish everyone the very best of luck as they take their next steps. 

We’d like to thank everyone who joined the seminar for contributing their thoughts, questions and reflections. We hope that our attendees left feeling inspired to apply these interview skills and strategies to their own preparation and performance. 

Keep an eye on our social media channels @teamuphub to hear about more upcoming seminars and workshops, which are exclusively available to our Volunteer Tutors and alumni. 

If you’re interested in joining Team Up and gaining access to seminars like this, contact us at tutor.applications@teamup.org.uk or apply now to start your Team Up journey.