Interview prep isn’t just for candidates

I spend a lot of time speaking with businesses in print, packaging and signage about finding good people. We all know the competition for talent is real. The market is busy, skilled candidates have choices, and the best ones will not stick around if the experience feels off.

Yet in many interviews, the expectation is still that the candidate is the only one who needs to prepare. It does not work like that anymore. Interviews in our industry are genuinely a two-way street.

Interviewers should have a few butterflies too

I actually think a little bit of nervous energy is a good thing for interviewers. Not in a stressful way, but in the sense that you recognise the person you are meeting could make a huge difference to your print room, your packaging team or your signage projects.

Those tiny butterflies mean you care about getting it right.

A real example from the industry

Not long ago, I supported a brilliant candidate for a role in print. They arrived for their final in person meeting with a member of the senior management team. This meeting was positioned as a culture fit discussion. The candidate came prepared, enthusiastic and genuinely excited about the opportunity.

The interviewer was vaping during the meeting. They had no idea about the candidate’s background. They had not looked at the CV. There had been no briefing and there was no structure.

We lost the candidate on the spot. They did not feel respected, and it completely changed their view of the business.

Employers have homework too

Candidates do their research. They look at your work, your equipment, the type of clients you support and the quality you produce. It is only fair that employers do the same level of preparation.

If you are interviewing a packaging designer, understand their portfolio. If it is a large format operator, know the machinery they have used. If it is a signage project manager, look at the types of installations they have handled.

Preparation is not a bonus. It is the bare minimum.

Make sure your team knows how to interview

Interviewing is a skill in its own right. Someone might be exceptional at running a press, managing artwork or leading a production shift, but that does not automatically make them a strong interviewer.

A bit of training makes a real difference. Good interviewers make people feel at ease. They ask thoughtful questions. They understand the role they are hiring for. They represent your business in the way you would want it to be seen.

Give candidates the experience you would expect yourself

In print, packaging and signage, attention to detail is part of everyday life. Colour matching, accuracy, finishing, deadlines, quality control, all of it matters.

That same level of care should be visible in your hiring process. A well-structured, considerate interview says far more about your culture than any glossy job advert ever could.

Candidates notice. They talk. The good ones quietly walk away from poor experiences.

Final thought

If you are meeting someone about a role in print, packaging or signage, treat the interview with the same professionalism you would expect from them. Prepare properly. Be interested. Give them a genuine picture of your business.

Candidates are putting in the effort for you. Make sure you are doing the same for them.