Preparing for interviews

When you have successfully passed the Defence Aptitude Assessment (DAA), you’ll be at the interview stage. This is where we ascertain your suitability for your role and for life in the Royal Navy.

The interview is scheduled to last for about 45 mins and will be conducted as directed by your Careers Adviser. This is our opportunity to meet you, so you can expect your interviewer, who will be a member of the Naval Careers Service or a Liaison Officer, to ask you about the information you put on your recruiting application form. This includes talking about your education, family and work experience.

Crucially, you will also be asked about your understanding of the role the Naval Service plays and why you want to join.

Depending on the amount of work experience you have gained as a civilian, you may not have had a lot of practice in a formal interview environment. It is important to engage with your Career Advisor early on in the process to understand how the interview process will work.

We will invite you to a video interview to assess your suitability for a career in the Royal Navy, and specifically the role you have chosen. A link to interview will be sent to you via the candidate portal and it will take you to the Royal Navy virtual interview portal.

We will talk to you about the following during the interview:

• Your home life and family
• Education including school, college and university
• Work experience
• What you do in your spare time; sports, clubs, fitness and socialising
• What motivates you to join the Royal Navy and in particular your chosen branch. This includes training, the role of your branch, understanding where you might serve, your Terms & Conditions of Service etc.
• What motivates you to join the Royal Navy and in particular your chosen branch. This includes training, the role of your branch, understanding where you might serve, your Terms & Conditions of Service etc.

Practice the important points you wish to get across and try to be clear and concise.

You should also prepare to ask further questions about the Royal Navy from your own perspective, for example:

• What does a typical day in the life of someone serving in the Royal Navy look like?
• How can I expect my career in the Royal Navy to develop?
• What can I expect from basic training and further career training?
• When will my first deployment be?
• What can I do further to prepare myself to join the Royal Navy?
• Can you explain to me what happens next in the recruitment process?

To maintain the recruitment process into the Royal Navy, interviewing will now be conducted virtually. The interview will be conducted using the Royal Navy interview video portal. Career Advisors will liaise with you to schedule a convenient time to conduct the interview.

This is part of a formal application process, so you should dress and behave accordingly. That means dressing smartly and making sure you arrive on time.

It is important to make sure that your technology is working well before your interview. Check your internet connection and make sure that your camera and microphone are working. On the day of the interview, test your equipment and internet again. The portal is supported by the following web browsers – Internet Explorer 11, Microsoft Edge, FireFox, Chrome, Safari 9+ and Opera and is compatible with both Android and iOS smart devices.

Make sure that you are conducting the interview in a well lit, quiet space where you won't be interrupted.

Find a room with good lighting, preferably near a window, or a blank wall to guarantee that you are the focal point of the interview.

Turn off or silence any electrical items and close any nearby windows or doors to keep outside noise down.

As this is a virtual interview, we can’t conduct a handshake or as easily exude enthusiasm via video. But you can make a positive impact with your body language. The main way to communicate confidence is to sit up straight and try to keep the camera at eye level.