Sheridan Maine knows that hiring managers rarely appreciate candidates being “prepared” by recruiters for their interviews. However, we are transparent about how we work: we ask candidates to relay their answers based on prior experiences. The beauty of this approach is that the answers are unique to the individual you are dealing with, bringing their CV or résumé to life and allowing employers to understand how a candidate’s skills and achievements translate into real-world results. It gives hiring managers the opportunity to “try them on for size” and assess fit in a practical and meaningful way.

Focusing on candidates’ personal experiences provides an authentic and reliable view of their capabilities. While some employers may worry about rehearsed answers, our approach ensures fairness: all candidates receive the same guidance, encouraging them to draw on their genuine career experiences. As a result, every interview delivers unique insights and examples that reflect the individual’s personal journey and strengths.

Encouraging candidates to discuss tangible experiences also highlights important behavioural traits, problem-solving skills, and decision-making abilities that may not be evident from a CV or résumé alone. By explaining how they have handled challenges and contributed to results in previous roles, candidates give hiring managers a richer understanding of their potential within the organisation.

Ultimately, this approach benefits the recruitment process for everyone. Structured preparation ensures interviews are more productive, reduces bias by providing all candidates with the same framework, and enables hiring managers to make evidence-based decisions rather than relying solely on written documents or first impressions.