Top Tips to Prepare for Your Interview With Me

Kate Keltie • June 13, 2018

If you haven’t worked with a recruiter before and don’t know what to expect from your initial interview, here are some important things to remember.

  1. If you’re not early, you’re late. Arrive 5-10 minutes early, no more no less. Arriving right on time is cutting it too fine. But, don’t be half an hour early either, it’s a long time to sit in the interview room before we meet with you and you can lose your momentum.

  2. Dress as you would for your dream job interview with a hiring manager. We need to know how you are going to present moving forward, especially with businesses that are more corporate. If you need to come in casual attire, please let your recruiter know. Otherwise, we may be fearful of you showing up to a hiring manager’s interview in jeans and sneakers etc.

  3. Relax, we want to see the real you. We are here to help, no need to be nervous.

  4. This may sound like a no brainer, but please no chewing gum or food. Yes, I have actually had a job seeker ask if they can eat a banana in an interview with me. I didn’t represent them.

  5. Be open and clear around your salary. A lot of people can “um and ah” around the subject, so think about it before you meet with your recruiter. They can then consult around what they are seeing in the market and what is realistic or not in relation to the roles you are looking to secure.

  6. After registering with us, please keep us informed as to where you are at with your job search. We will always keep in touch but please feel free to be proactive and pick up the phone as well.

  7. Have a list of businesses in mind that you have identified as being of interest to you and why.

Then ask if you can work with your recruiter exclusively for a period of time that you agree upon, and let them take you to market to those businesses. That way, you know exactly where you are being represented and it’s a more targeted approach with, hopefully, a higher success rate of securing a position. Because even if that hiring manager isn’t advertising for a role, we may already have an existing relationship with them, and they will be happy to hear from us about you as a stand out candidate.

  1. And finally, please make sure we have managed your expectations around the next steps of the process and you are clear on this process moving forward.

I hope these pointers are helpful in your next recruitment agency interview.

Find the job you love I Find the right talent
Get in touch with people2people

Australia   I   United Kingdom

In business since 2002 in Australia, NZ, and the United Kingdom, people2people is an award-winning recruitment agency with people at our heart. With over 12 offices, we specialise in accounting and finance, business support, education, executive, government, HR, legal, marketing and digital, property, sales, supply chain, and technology sectors. As the proud recipients of the 2024 Outstanding Large Agency and Excellence in Candidate Care Awards, we are dedicated to helping businesses achieve success through a people-first approach.



Share insights

Recent articles

By Leanne Lazarus August 28, 2025
Leanne Lazarus is joined by Adeline Rooney and Samantha McCall to explore how HR teams across Australia and New Zealand are embracing personalisation, AI, and employee-centred strategies. From microlearning to remote workforce tools, they unpack what’s redefining success in 2025.
By Nicole Consterdine August 26, 2025
Amid budget cuts and tech transitions, Nicole Consterdine leads a conversation with Chelsea Dale and Peter Crestani about the changing face of government hiring. They explore skill demands, AI’s role, and what the future looks like for public sector talent across Australia and New Zealand.
By Sharna Bryant August 21, 2025
Sharna Bryant is joined by Danny Merrigan and Sam Olorenshaw to discuss how the sales sector is growing smarter in 2025. From AI and personal branding to decentralised learning and soft skill mastery, this update reveals what’s defining standout employers and high-performing teams.
By Peta Seaman August 19, 2025
In this 2025 property market update, Peta Seaman is joined by Deanne Goodwin and Ella Mills to explore rising optimism across Australia and New Zealand. From AI adoption to renter-focused trends, they reveal what’s shaping the sector’s future.
By Liz Punshon August 13, 2025
With job ads down and applications rising, Australia’s employment market is in flux. In this update, Liz Punshon is joined by Brooke Lord and Guy Davy to explore the shifts in hiring strategy, workforce expectations, and why 2025 demands a more nuanced approach to talent attraction.

Latest Media Features


Get in touch

Find out more by contacting one of our specialisat recruitment consultants across Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Contact us