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If you’re returning to work after raising children, stepping into a new industry, or simply looking for a fresh start, interviews can feel nerve-wracking, especially if it’s been a while since you last took up a new job. But the good news is, you can become a pro at handling any job interview with confidence with a few tips that help you make a strong impression and handle tricky questions.

Explain career gaps with confidence and honesty

Most people don’t follow a straight career path, and that’s more than okay. Many people take time off for parenting, study, health, or other personal reasons. If you’re asked about a break in your work history, keep your answer honest, simple, and positive.

For example:
‘I spent two years looking after my child full time, and I learnt so much about multitasking and organisation during that time. I’m now keen to put my skills to use in a new job.’

This type of answer reassures the interviewer that you’re ready for the role while valuing the experiences you’ve gained outside of paid work.

Highlight your strengths

Think about what you bring to the table: it could be adaptability, community work, or a recent training course. Or for parents, it might be resilience, multitasking, or empathy.  Before your job interview, write down a short list of strengths and link each one to a real-life example.

For instance: ‘I’m great at planning ahead: I coordinated a local sports club event involving 20 families.’ Concrete examples make your qualities stand out.

Think beyond paid job experience too: any work experience, volunteering, or community participation counts as experience too, and is a great way of showing initiative and a proactive attitude.

Tackling the tough interview question

You might face some tricky questions in your job interview. They could be about gaps in your resume, handling pressure, managing work-life balance, or asking you to provide practical examples of how you’d navigate a situation. Preparing answers ahead of time will help you stay calm.

Many workplaces use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) of questioning, and knowing your way around it is a great way to keep your responses clear.

An example of a STAR question and answer can look like this:

Question: Tell me about a time when you gained a new skill?

Answer:

Situation: I stepped away from formal work to focus on parenting.

Task: I wanted to keep my skills sharp.

Action: I completed online courses and volunteered in my community.

Result: I built new confidence and stayed connected while preparing to return to work.

This framework works for almost any tough interview question.

How to make a positive first impression

Whether you’re re-entering the workforce or attending your very first interview, you’ll want to make a friendly and genuine first impression with your interviewer and other staff. Arrive on time (5-10 minutes before), greet people warmly, and dress neatly in clothes you feel comfortable in.

Your body language matters too. Sit upright, keep your hands relaxed, and make steady but natural eye contact. Listen actively when the interviewer is speaking, and remember to take breaths in between your answers. 

Preparing for common interview situations

Most employers will ask at least a few common interview questions — and these ones you can practise beforehand with a friend or a family member. They might include questions like:

• Tell me about yourself.
• Tell us about your recent job experience.
• Why are you interested in this role?
• What are your strengths?
• Describe a challenge you’ve faced.

Having a few short points ready helps you answer clearly. Keep it simple: your answers don’t need to be perfect, just honest and focused.

Connecting with your interviewer

Remember that interviews aren’t just about them assessing you, but also an important opportunity for you to figure out if the place is the right fit for you. Listen carefully, and treat the conversation like a two-way exchange. This builds rapport and helps you feel more comfortable.

At the end, you’ll usually be given a chance to ask questions. This is your opportunity to show interest and find out what matters to you. Prepare a couple questions beforehand on what you’re curious to know. Some examples are:

• What does a typical day in this job look like?
• How do you support team members with families?
• What opportunities are there for learning?
• What’s one important value in your organisation?

Thoughtful questions make you memorable and show that you’re serious about the role.

Follow up afterwards

A polite follow-up note can show your initiative and interest in the job. Keep it short and friendly, for example:

‘Thank you for meeting with me today. I enjoyed learning more about the role and your team. If there’s anything else you’d like to discuss, please give me a call.’

If you haven’t heard back for a week or so, it’s okay to do a polite check-in on how your application is processing. 

Quick interview-prep checklist

Here’s your quick checklist on how to prepare for a job interview: 

• Be open but positive about any career gaps.
• Highlight your strengths with real examples.
• Structure answers to tricky questions with STAR.
• Pay attention to first impressions, posture, and body language.
• Practise answering common interview questions.
• Listen, connect, and engage with your interviewer.
• Finish by asking questions that matter to you.
• Send a short thank-you afterwards.

Do you need help finding jobs and preparing for interviews? 

Job interviews can be stressful, especially if you haven’t done one for a while. But with a good amount of rehearsing and preparation, they can also be an exciting step toward the future you want.

If you’re returning to work and would like extra guidance or practice, Parent Pathways mentors can help you prepare and feel more confident, at your own pace. Check your eligibility here and fill out the contact form to get started.