Preparing you for real-world job opportunities, mock interviews are a fantastic way to build confidence and refine interview skills in a safe, supportive, and low-pressure environment. As someone preparing for their first ever interview, I was looking forward to participating in those integrated into our course schedule, particularly since representatives from local animation studios and NI Screen would be taking part. However, unfortunately, due to illness, I was unable to participate or benefit from the valuable feedback on offer.

However, as in preparation, we had been tasked with selecting a role within a company of our choosing, having already researched the studio and position for my cover email, I was hoping to be interviewed for the Trainee Junior Designer post at Flickerpix.

Due to my ASD, I find impromptu speaking more challenging than some. Therefore, covering key topics such as skills, experience, the role, ambitions, and personality, I had thoroughly prepared in advance by drafting and practising responses to all 20 sample questions provided in our guidance materials.

With a recommendation to also structure our interview answers using the ‘STAR’ method, before preparing my responses, I had researched this method further, finding the following information on the MIT Career Services website:

Source: MIT, 2022

 

Useful advice, too, found on the National Career Service website was to use examples from either university or home that work for you, to keep examples short and to the point, and to be prepared to answer follow-up questions regarding the examples you have given (National Career Service, 2024).

One of my mock interview responses to the question, ‘Summarise the position in your own words,’ can be seen below:

 

 

Having mentioned missing the opportunity to be interviewed to my ASD Mentor, providing food for thought, we brainstormed other potential questions together, including:

  • Outline 3 benefits of working in Animation
  • What are the current challenges faced by Animators/the Animation industry?
  • What tips would you give someone starting off in Animation?
  • How does animation differ from other multimedia?
  • What details would you include on an animation storyboard?
  • Discuss 3 important Animation industry trends
  • Discuss an animation or games project completed to a strict deadline
  • Name 4 animation projects this studio has produced

 

One of the most valuable takeaways from our lecture materials was the in-depth guidance on the interview process and potential interview formats, alongside helpful dos, and don’ts, such as completing a test run to the interview location – an easy but often overlooked step that helps reduce stress and avoid last-minute surprises. Recommendation to both have interviewee questions prepared, which relay enthusiasm, reinforce knowledge of the studio and its culture, and illustrate a growth mindset, and when available, to always seek post-interview feedback, will also prove beneficial in the future. As too, will following up after an interview with a short and polite email thanking the recruiter for taking the time to talk to you, and leaving the conversation open.

Having been unable to attend my mock interview, my Placements Tutor also kindly offered me the following one-to-one advice:

 

General:

If offered an interview, it usually means the studio already likes your work, and their aim is to get a feel for you as a person. You will want to come across as professional, capable, and passionate. They will likely ask you questions about your process for creating a design, so mention gathering references, design variations, feedback, colour, and the final design. It is also good to have an example to mind, and to use as much technical terminology as possible, such as colour theory, shape language, anatomy, silhouettes, etc.
They will also likely ask you questions about your favourite movies, artists, and games. If you can give examples and tie them back into detailed artistic reasoning for why, that would be great – for example, ‘I love Spider-verse because of how they handled colour… etc.’
To appear professional and passionate, have examples in your head for questions relating to your design process, problem-solving, time management, and ability to work in a pipeline. Mention being good at receiving and applying feedback and working in teams to achieve an outcome in an established art style, within a set deadline. Again, remember to use the correct terminology.

 

Pipeline:

Knowing where you fit into the pipeline is important. As a designer, your direction will likely come from your Art Director and the Script Team, then you will hand off to the Animators and Riggers. You have basic experience of this from the course, so talk about being able to work as a team member in a creative pipeline, to produce work within a deadline, and to an existing art style.

 

Teamwork/Organisation:

Talk about communicating and collaborating with your classmates, making production plans, time management, file management (with proper naming conventions), and having quotas.

 

Feedback:

Mention being able to apply feedback to designs from both teammates and lecturers, as this is important in the role. Talk about constantly assessing your own work, too.

 

Work Examples:

This is not necessary, but it can help you stand out from the crowd. If you can, bring an example of your work with you, either on an iPad or a laptop. Ideally, it should show the process of your work:
References > Initial Sketches/Thumbnails > Variations > Colour > Final Outcome

 

Optional:

You could also bring a few sketches of a design in the style of their show, to prove you can replicate it, but only if you’ve the time beforehand.
To combat nerves before the interview, do power poses in the bathroom. Hands on hips like Superman, with back straight, or arms and legs wide like a starfish. When we are nervous, our body begins to curl up, and we try to make ourselves as small as possible. Fighting this body posture tricks our brain into feeling more confident. Ultimately, any interview aims to get a sense of who you are, so be relaxed and have fun!

 

Having all this detailed information to hand has certainly helped to allay any concerns I had about the interview process. When the time comes, knowing what to expect and exactly how to prepare will make such a difference. However, for me, although I will ensure I have researched the company and role thoroughly, and be well-prepared, I feel my biggest challenge will be to come across in a conversational way so as not to appear too rehearsed.

In the meantime, to enable my work to reach as many people as possible, I aim is to increase my online visibility – particularly on sites such as LinkedIn – to ensure, as best possible, job and interview opportunities do not pass me by.

 

References:

MIT (2022). Using the STAR method for your next behavioural interview. [online] Career Advising & Professional Development | MIT. [Accessed: 5 May 2025].

Available at: https://capd.mit.edu/resources/the-star-method-for-behavioral-interviews/

 

National Career Service (2024). The Star Method. [online] nationalcareers.service.gov.uk. [Accessed: 4 May 2025].

Available at: https://nationalcareers.service.gov.uk/careers-advice/interview-advice/the-star-method

 

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