Interview Preparation

Having reached this stage of the selection process, you need to ensure that you do yourself justice – and preparation for your interview is the key to achieving success. Your interview is your chance to demonstrate to us that you have the right personality, qualifications, experience and relevant proven track record for the role.

It is essential that you prepare yourself as much as possible for your interview to make sure that you make the most of your opportunity. Preparation not only increases your chances of being successful; it will also help build your confidence. Although it’s a formal process, interviewers are regular people just like you, so keep this in mind and try to show that you’re calm but also have confidence in your own ability to be successful in the position.

  • Be punctual – the key is to plan ahead so that you know how you’re going to get to the interview and how much time to allow for the journey. If it helps, do a dummy run to the interview location to ensure everything runs smoothly. On the day, leave home or work early and give yourself plenty of time. If, due to unexpected circumstances, being late suddenly becomes unavoidable, call one of our Recruitment Executives so that they can inform your interviewer and explain the circumstances. We’ve all had to deal with car trouble or public transport issues at one point or another, the important thing is to maintain communication throughout the process.
  • Research our Company – view our website for information. You will need to have a good, solid understanding of the expansion plans, goals, values and history of Optical Express. Demonstrate to the interviewer that you have taken the time to study our website. This will enable you to ask informed questions at your interview and show you are genuinely interested in learning about Optical Express.
  • Know your CV – make sure you can clearly discuss your career history in 10 minutes, and be prepared to describe your roles, responsibilities and key achievements without waffling. Be clear and concise using specific examples.
  • Practice questions and answers – take some time ahead of your interview to think about the types of questions you may be asked and also, to prepare some questions you might want to ask about Optical Express and the position for which you are applying.

“Be yourself! I can’t emphasise this enough and have confidence in who you are and what you have to offer. I’m always looking for someone who has a can-do type of attitude, no-one has all the answers or skills but a positive attitude goes a long way”Tom, Recruitment Manager


Remember: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression.” Don’t underestimate the importance of making an impact in the first few minutes of meeting your interviewer. Remember that your first impression may also be to the receptionist or other staff – in fact, all the people you meet when going for the interview will be assessing how well you would fit in their company. So here are some general guidelines to help you make the right impression at the right time.

  • Make sure you know the correct name and title of the person interviewing you. If you are unsure about pronunciation, ask one of our Recruitment Executives for verification – and save yourself from an embarrassing mistake.
  • The smell of stale smoke can be off-putting, so if you are a smoker try not to smoke just before the interview – no matter how nervous you may feel.
  • Dress to impress and dress appropriately. Our general dress code is smart business attire. Ensure your clothes are clean and well ironed – and pay attention to your personal grooming too. Dirty nails and unkempt hair will be noticed by the interviewer, for example, as will any problem with personal freshness. And no matter how stressful the interview, you don’t want to get yourself noticed for the wrong reasons.
  • If you want to convey confidence, keep an eye on your body language throughout the interview. Start with a firm handshake, sit comfortably but avoid slouching, place your hands on your knees – and remember; it’s an interview, not an interrogation. Be sure to smile, and use your own unique personality to show that you’d be a great fit with the company culture.

Optometry Careers

If you’re an optometrist and interested in career opportunities with us, simply fill in the form below and we’ll be in touch with you to arrange an informal discussion.