You’ve crafted a winning application and your transferable skills shone through – congratulations, you’ve been shortlisted! Securing the interview is a huge step, but the preparation is critical. Local government interviews are primarily focused on evidence and outcomes.

Here’s your game plan for confidently walking into (or logging into!) your next interview.

1. Refresh your evidence: elevate your STAR stories

By now, you likely know that the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) is the gold standard for structuring evidence. While you’ve used this in your supporting statement, the interview is where you prove those skills through real-life dialogue.

To keep your interview performance sharp and focused on local government priorities:

• Drill your data: focus heavily on the ‘Result’. Councils need to see public value, so quantify your impact using metrics related to cost savings, increased efficiency, or improved citizen satisfaction.
• Focus on “I” not “We”: even if you worked in a team, the panel needs to hear your specific responsibilities and the individual actions you took.
• Add the “E” for Evaluation: to move from a “good” to a “great” candidate, use STAR-E. Briefly reflect on what you learned or how you would improve the process next time. This demonstrates you are a reflexive practitioner committed to continuous improvement. Always focus on how you could improve it next time, not on what went badly.

Top Tip: Re-read your CV and application before the day. Highlight the key experiences you mentioned, as the panel is highly likely to ask you to expand on these specific examples.

2. Research the role and the council

While your past experience is important, the interview panel will also be looking for a great fit for their organisation.

Where to find the “Inside Track”

To find out more about the council’s values and strategy and to show genuine interest, you will probably need to spend some time on their website. Have a look beyond the homepage and look into these specific resources:

• The Corporate Plan: this is the council’s “north star.” Search the council’s website for their Corporate Strategy or Borough Plan to understand their 4-year goals and political priorities.
• Committee Meetings and Minutes: local government is democratic. Search for the “Committees” section of their website. Reading recent minutes from the Cabinet or relevant sub-committees (for instance, Overview and Scrutiny, Strategy and Change, etc) will tell you more about the challenges they are currently debating.
• The Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS): this document outlines the council’s budget for the next few years. It will help you discuss “public value” and “cost savings” with actual context.
• Joint Strategic Needs Assessment (JSNA): this provides the data on the local population’s health, housing, and social needs which will give you further insight into the organisation’s key priority areas and challenges.

Tailor your approach

Once you have gathered your research, use these insights to bridge the gap between your previous experience and the council’s specific needs:

• Know the role inside out: make sure you are familiar with every aspect of the role and how your skills and experience relate to it.
• Practice questions before the interview: think about what kind of questions you might be asked to demonstrate how your skills and experience align with their requirements, and practice them to increase your confidence.
• Tailor your answers: show that you are genuinely interested in the specific role and organisation. Avoid generic statements that mention values more aligned with the private sector.
• Prepare questions for them: an interview is a two-way street. Prepare insightful questions about the council’s current initiatives, the team’s goals, or how the role contributes to the council’s wider objectives.

3. Practical preparation and logistics

Don’t let logistics derail your confidence on the day.

• Confirm the format and time: double-check whether the interview is in person or virtual, and ensure you have the correct time and link/location.
• Plan for adjustments: if you have a disability or health condition, you can let the organisation know when you apply and ask for reasonable adjustments to help you with your interview.
• Be ready for assessments: remember that in some cases, you might be asked to complete a test or other form of assessment before or as well as the formal interview. If this is the case, prepare for it!
• Post-offer steps: if you are appointed, be prepared to provide references, complete a medical form, and undergo checks for your right to work, along with proof of ID. Some roles may also require additional vetting, such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks.

Going into your interview with a bank of well-structured, impact-focused STAR examples and a clear understanding of the council’s mission will help you make a powerful impression.

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