In recruitment, it’s not uncommon to meet candidates with excellent experience, impressive portfolios and the right technical skills, only for them to miss out on a role because of how they interviewed.

Employers are assessing more than your ability to do the job. They’re trying to understand how you communicate, how prepared you are and whether you’d be a good fit for their team.

Here are a few of the most common interview red flags we see.

1. Not bringing your portfolio

For architects and designers, your portfolio is one of the most important parts of the interview.

Even if you’ve sent it through beforehand, have it with you. More importantly, know it well enough to talk through it confidently.

Be prepared to discuss:

– Your role on each project.

– The project stage you worked on.

– The reasoning behind key design decisions.

– Any challenges you faced and how you approached them.

2. Not researching the company

You don’t need to know every project they’ve ever completed, but you should have a good understanding of who they are.

Take some time to look at:

– Their recent work.

– The sectors they specialise in.

– Their values or design approach.

– The people you’ll be meeting.

– A little preparation goes a long way and shows you’re genuinely interested in the opportunity.

3. Attitude

Your experience might get you an interview, but your attitude often determines how it’s remembered.

Being engaged, respectful and open to feedback leaves a much stronger impression than trying to have all the answers. Interviewers aren’t expecting perfection, they’re looking for someone they’d enjoy working with.

4. Presentation

There is an expectation for candidates to present themselves professionally.

Looking well groomed, dressing appropriately and paying attention to the basics all contribute to a positive first impression!

Interview outcomes aren’t always decided by who has the strongest CV. We’ve seen candidates with slightly less experience secure a role because they were well prepared, asked thoughtful questions and presented themselves professionally.