This week we looked at interview skills.
A key takeaway was the idea of telling your brain that you’re excited rather than anxious. Approaching interviews with genuine curiosity and energy changes the way you come across. It’s easy to overthink nerves, but if you can show enthusiasm for the role and the company, that energy becomes infectious.
I’ve noticed in past interviews that my personality and energy often leave as strong an impression as my skills, so I plan to make this a conscious focus.
There were a few main points to focus on demonstrating in an interview:
Willing to Learn – showing adaptability and curiosity. Past mistakes or challenges are valuable examples here.
Pushing Boundaries – taking initiative, experimenting, and not being afraid to step outside comfort zones.
Team Player – collaboration is critical; design is rarely done in isolation.
Personality / Enthusiasm – letting your natural energy show.
User-Centred Approach – explaining how your process puts the user at the heart of your work.
I think it’s easy to forget that interviewers aren’t just hiring a skill set, they’re hiring a person who will fit with the team and the company culture.
Another area we focused on was motivations, what drives you to where you want to go. I found it helpful to think about: What inspires me in design. How this role fits into my longer term goals. The kind of problems I want to solve and the impact I want to make.
Being able to articulate these helps interviewers see your potential, not just your past experience.