The Job Hunt Toolkit: Session 2

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This was the second episode in our Job Hunt toolkit focusing on “HOW TO ASK AND ANSWER THE QUESTIONS THAT MATTER” with Rosie Allan and Joyce Wu from The Sophie Macpherson team

Many first round interviews are done over teams or zoom and it can be harder to demonstrate your professionalism suitability and interest. Its even more important to prepare and practice to make a good first impression.

Members get exclusive access to the event recording and our full list of takeaways:

Research:

• It’s important to know the company’s mission, who they are and what they do. Look at their website, social media, press coverage, and also LinkedIn to see who is interviewing with to give you a good basis and help manage any nerves.

• For an auction house role - look at their recent sale and upcoming sale highlights.

• For a gallery - look at current and recent exhibitions, artist programme, and art fairs they do.

Common questions to prepare:

• Tell us about yourself - instead of talking in a monologue for 10 minutes straight, prepare a short overview of career history and leave room for them to follow up

• Why are you interested in this role? Be specific on why it is a good fit for you, why you are a good fit for them and where you see yourself long term in the role. Make it as easy as possible for them to envision you in the role by repeating the language in their job spec.

• What are your strengths? Give 2 or 3 examples

How to figure out if its the right fit

• Think about your priorities and ask thoughtful questions that show genuine interest in your role and the company

  • If applying for a gallery manager role to build towards a gallery liaison position, ask questions like...

    • Who will I be working closely with?

    • What are the next steps for this position?

  • If you want broader exposure, show your curiosity about the team dynamics by asking questions like...

    • How many people are on the team? (Smaller teams often provide more exposure to different parts of the business.)

    • What are the day-to-day responsibilities?

  • If you want to show genuine interest in the role and the company, ask questions like...

    • What are the immediate priorities for this position?

    • What does success look like in this role within the first year?

    • What qualities do you value most in someone performing this role?

General tips

• In-Person Interviews

  •  Aim to arrive 5–10 minutes before your scheduled time. Factor in extra time for things like signing in at reception or navigating a new location (e.g., an auction house)

  • Smart casual is a good rule of thumb unless otherwise specified.

  • A confident handshake, good posture, and consistent eye contact help show engagement and active listening.

  • Even if you don’t use it, bringing a notebook shows preparation and professionalism - and might come in handy for jotting down notes.

• Online Interviews

  • Dress as if you were attending in person.

  • Try to look at the camera when speaking rather than reading directly from notes.

  • Choose a quiet, professional-looking setting. Avoid taking the interview from your car or a public space.

• Communication & Demeanor

  • Avoid speaking negatively about previous employers or workplaces

  • Don’t be too honest - for example, an interviewer asked about weaknesses and someone said “I am just quite lazy sometimes“ which did not go down well 

  • The more you prepare, the more confidently you’ll come across.