One of the most important steps to landing a job is being prepared for the interview. By doing some preparation, you’ll feel more in control and will appear cool, calm, and collected as a result – qualities that are always looked for in the perfect candidate.Review Your ApplicationIt can be hard to keep track when you’re applying for various jobs, so make sure that your Recruitment Consultant has provided you with all of the relevant information. This should include information about the job that you have applied for including a job description where possible, and information about the organisation that you have applied for including a link to their website where possible.Re-read everything to make sure that you’re confident in what is expected of you. This is also a great place to start formulating any questions that you might have regarding the job.Plan Your JourneyIt sounds simple but being late is one of the worst interview sins. Make sure that you know where you’re going, how to get there and then leave plenty of time to make the journey. Aim to get there at least 30-minutes early so you have time to gather your thoughts.Practice Interview QuestionsPreparing for all different types of questions is the best way to prevent being caught off guard on the day. Confidence is key with this one, so try practicing either by yourself (in the mirror is a good idea as you’ll get a sense of your body language) or get a friend to quiz you.Prepare Your Own QuestionsIt’s the end of the interview, you have answered all of the difficult interview questions, chatted happily to the interviewer and you’re feeling on top of the world. Then they ask: “Do you have any questions?”.Saying no to this could be a sour note at the end of a great interview and make you look uninterested. Prepare a few questions in advance and avoid this awkward moment.Don’t ask questions about the salary and perks. These are all things that your Recruitment Consultant will negotiate when an offer of employment has been made. Instead, the best candidates pull out a pad with a few questions listed and then ask two or three.Examples of good questions to ask include:“What do you particularly enjoy about working for the company?”“Where do you think the company is headed in the next 5-years?”“Are there opportunities for training and progression within the company?”Dress To ImpressWhile you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, most interviewers will judge you by your appearance.If you’re wearing a wrinkled shirt and scuffed shoes, while sporting an impressive case of bed hair, you can forget about being hired. It’s important to look professional and feel confident. Wear something that you’re comfortable in as well, if you’re distracted by shoes that pinch or a jacket that’s a little too tight, you won’t be able to focus on what’s truly important – your answers.What To Take With YouA copy of your CV. Although some interviewers will bring a copy with them, having your own to hand out on request will show you’re prepared and provide them with the information they need if they forgot to bring one. Not only is it helpful for the interviewer, having your CV nearby could also remind you of any key dates or facts if you draw a blank.A notepad and pen. Bringing your own notepad and pen is a great way to show an employer that you’ve thought ahead. After all, there are a variety of things that might need to be noted throughout the interview. Taking the time and effort to jot these details down will demonstrate that you’re invested in the job and you’re paying attention. What’s more, having these items to hand can often improve your body language – by keeping excessive gesticulation, crossed arms, or hand-to-face-touching at bay.Your Own Questions. Every interviewer will give you the opportunity to ask questions at the end of an interview, and the worst thing you can do is say nothing. So, in case you draw a blank when the time comes, it’s vital to prepare a few in advance and take them with you.

One of the most important steps to landing a job is being prepared for the interview. By doing some preparation, you’ll feel more in control and will appear cool, calm, and collected as a result – qualities that are always looked for in the perfect candidate.Preparing for all different types of interview questions is the best way to prevent being caught off guard on the day. Confidence is key with this one, so try practicing either by yourself (in the mirror is a good idea as you’ll get a sense of your body language) or get a friend to quiz you.Classic Interview QuestionsClassic interview questions form the basis of almost every other interview question. Whilst they come in all shapes and sizes, they’re generally asked in order to put the ball in your court. In other words, the interviewer is saying they want you to do the talking. So, one-word answers won’t cut it here.Answering a classic interview question well comes down to your ability to talk about how your skills, experience, and personality match up with what the employer is looking for. Many also require you to talk about certain aspects of your CV in more detail – so take this as the perfect opportunity to prove you’re a good fit.Career Goal QuestionsCareer goal questions are asked to let employers know where you are in your professional life, and what your future plans are. Your answers will tell them whether you’re a good fit long-term. Preparation is key. Aside from creating a clear picture of your professional outlook, you also need to make sure that your future aligns with theirs. This means doing your company research – not only to understand what they’re looking for right now, but also what they’ll need to have further down the line.Character QuestionsCharacter questions are a reliable indicator of what we’re capable of achieving. After all, even the most intelligent person on earth won’t get anywhere without a solid character to match. Your answers will reveal everything an employer needs to know about your morals, integrity, values, and generally speaking – who you really are.Focus on demonstrating your appreciation of values (both your own and the company’s), positive work ethic, ability to work well with others and handle tough situations. Show you can do the job and fit in, and you’ll be on the right track.Competency QuestionsCompetency questions focus on finding evidence of your ability to do the job, requiring you to provide real examples of ‘times you’ve demonstrated [XYZ]’ or ‘how you’d react in [hypothetical situation]'. Their purpose? To weed out the candidates who are all talk and shortlist the ones who can actually back up their claims.Prepare your examples. Interviews can cause the best of us to draw a blank and relying on thinking last is unlikely to yield the best results. So, before the interview, highlight the key skills in the job description. Secondly, think of an example that proves you have each attribute. Finally, use the STAR technique to give context to your answer.STAR TechniqueThe STAR technique is a simple, structured technique to help you answer interview questions. It stands for Situation, Task, Approach, and Results. To use STAR effectively, all elements of your answer need to work. Here’s a breakdown of how to approach each letter:S – SituationThink of this section as ‘setting the scene’. Provide the interviewer with a bit of background about the question and give them some context. Try and be specific and include names and dates wherever appropriate to help add credibility.T – TaskBuild on the background you’ve given and outline the task at hand. Specifically, how did the situation relate to you? And what were the major tasks you needed to undertake to resolve it? Include how important or difficult the situation was to overcome, as well as any constraints you came up against.A – ApproachTranslation: what did you actually do to resolve the situation? Outline the steps you took to ensure a successful outcome, without being tempted to take all the credit. The key to effectively incorporating the ‘approach’ part of your answer is to identify what skills the interviewer really wants to see and reinforce them throughout.R – ResultFinally, it’s time for the pay-off. What was the outcome of the situation? Remember, everyone loves a happy ending, and interviewers are no different. Make your happy ending quantifiable, and you’ll really have nailed your answer.

​So, you’ve arrived at an interview filled with nerves; your palms are sweaty, knees weak, arms are heavy – you may also have been listening to Eminem on the way, but we digress – to put it simply, interviews are a scary ordeal.Relax, Breathe and Take Your TimePay attention to your body language, ensuring you’re maintaining eye contact, are sitting up straight, and resisting the urge to fidget, slow your speech down, and take the time to think through your answers before you say them. Pausing for thought is always a good idea.It’s also important to focus on the positives in order to help you relax. You’ve been invited to an interview for a reason. You’ve obviously done something right, and the good news is, they already like you, so awkward interview moments aside, what could go wrong?Think of the Interview as a Conversation, Not an InterrogationInterviews are often just as much about finding out whether you’re a good fit for the company as they are about skills and experience. And despite all the difficult interview questions that might come up, never underestimate the importance of compatibility.With this in mind, try to act naturally whilst maintaining a good level of professionalism. After all, it’s a two-way conversation – not an episode of Question Time. Also, nobody wants to interview a robot and/or the internet.Remember That Your Interviewers Are HumanForget about the formalities and remember that the interviewers are human. So, chances are, they might be nervous too. Imagining them as infallible bastions of professional perfection is often the root of a large share of interview jitters, and can be avoided.They are able to feel human emotions and are often understandably aware of interviewees being slightly anxious on the day. They also understand that people sometimes make mistakes and won’t judge you if you slip up once or twice as a result of nerves.

Your CV is your own personal marketing document​ that helps you get your foot in the door when applying for jobs. It’s the first thing an employer will see of you, so you want to make a good impression.How Long Should a CV Be?A CV should be no longer than two sides of A4. That being said, one size doesn't fit all. For example, a school leaver or a recent graduate with minimal experience may only need to use one side of A4. Conversely, a three-page CV might be needed for those in high-level roles or for people who have gained a lot of experience.To save space, only include the main points of your experience and education. If you're struggling to edit your CV, ask yourself if certain information sells you – if it doesn't, cut it out. If it's not relevant to the job you're applying for, delete it. And if it's old detail from many years ago, summarise it.What To Include in a CV​Contact details. Include your full name, home address, telephone number, and email address. Your date of birth is irrelevant.Personal profile. A personal profile is a concise statement that highlights your key attributes and helps you to stand out from the crowd. A good personal profile picks out a few relevant achievements and skills, while expressing your career aims. Keep it short and snappy – 100 words is the perfect length.Experience. List your work experience in reverse date order, ensuring that anything you mention is relevant to the job that you're applying for. Include your job title, the name of the organisation, how long you were with the organisation, and key responsibilities.Education. List and date all previous education, including professional qualifications. Place the most recent first. Include qualification type/grades, and the dates.Hobbies and interests. Relevant hobbies or interests can provide a more complete picture of who you are, as well as giving you something to talk about at interview. Leave this section out if you don't have any relevant hobbies or interests.Tips for Writing a Good CVTailor your CV. Look at the organisations website and social media accounts – look to see if they've recently been mentioned in the local press and use the job advert to make sure your CV is targeted to the role and organisation.Avoid generic, over-used phrases such as 'team player', 'hardworking', and 'multitasker'. Instead, provide real-life examples that demonstrate all of these skills.Use active verbs when possible. For example, include words like 'created', 'analysed', and 'devised' to present yourself as a person who shows initiative.Make sure your email address sounds professional. If your personal address is inappropriate create a new account for professional use.A good CV doesn't have any spelling or grammar mistakes. Use a spell checker and enlist a second pair of eyes to check over the document.