In these days of a highly competitive job market it is challenging enough to secure an interview but if you are lucky enough to get one it is important not to waste the opportunity. Here are ten tips from my years of experience as an interviewer and an interviewee to help you achieve your ambitions.

1. Make sure you know exactly the location where the interview is going to be held. If it is close to where you live, go and visit it beforehand and make sure you identify the closest car park or public transport stops.
2. Never be late for an interview. Whilst the interviewer may be late, you should have announced yourself to reception between 5 & 10 minutes before the arranged time.
3. Make sure you know the name of the person who is going to be interviewing you and get their name right when you address them. I am David Richards but very often people mistakenly call me Richard which I find very annoying.
4. On arrival make sure you go to the bathroom, check your hair & teeth (no food in teeth) & wash your hands (they may be sweaty if you are a nervous person).
5. Whilst having a cigarette beforehand may help you relax, you will stink and this is likely to put off the interviewer. If you are a smoker, have a last one before you get changed into your interview clothes, and then brush your teeth and use a mouth-wash.
6. Dress appropriately for the interview - if you are being interviewed for a managerial position then it is likely to be a suit and a tie but if it for a position as a waiter then it would not be.
7. When you meet your interviewer for the first time, make sure you give a clean and firm handshake. One of my most off-putting traits is a damp limp handshake but don't try & squeeze too hard!
8. If you are asked whether you would like a drink, I would recommend water. Coffee/Tea is a pain to make and if you are nervous you could spill onto your clean shirt/blouse!
9. I cannot advise you on job specific questions and answers but there are obviously generic questions which are normally asked. Make sure you have thought of appropriate answers before you attend.
1. What are your strengths and weaknesses?
2. Why are your leaving your current job (if you are)?
3. What has been your biggest success & failure in your career?
4. Why do you want to join my company?
5. What difference will you bring to my organization if I employ you?
10. Make sure you do the research on the job & the company properly. With the Internet there is no excuse not to find out as much as you can about the organization before you attend. Once again this depends on the position you are being interviewed for but if this is a Senior Manager position then you should know the names of the Board Directors and whether they have made any significant public statements recently.

At the end of the interview, thank the interviewer, shake hands firmly again. The following day write back via the communication media that you have been corresponding in, thank the interviewer again for their time, say how interesting you found the position and how keen you are to get the role.