Preparation is all. The people you meet will take into account that you probably haven’t had an interview for years, but will still want to see that you are credible, professional, personable, and could become a strong asset to their team.

Preparation should include:

• Know exactly what’s on your CV — basic but invaluable. Interviewers will use your CV as a starting point for questions, and you need to speak confidently on the experiences you’ve set down.

• Think of extra examples not your CV, and back up any answers with tangible examples.

• Be on time, smart and comfortable. Smile and have a strong handshake.  The interviewer will start to form an opinion from the moment they meet with you and so you must ensure that everyone you meet feels positive towards you.

• Don’t just research the firm on their website, look for other sources too. Your recruiter will provide a job spec if there is one.

• Have questions ready questions to ask at the end of the meeting.  You will come across as more interested in the firm and the position.

Please see our ‘How to approach an interview’ section for more information.

After your interview, you should call your consultant as soon as possible to feedback while the interview is still fresh in your mind. This allows the consultant to report back to the firm efficiently, keeping the process smooth and demonstrating an interest in the job.