Once you've got your interview lined up it is important that you are prepared for it. You must think what it is that the potential employer is looking for. You must prepare and organise yourself.

We have listed below some key areas for preparation.

Key Areas

Using the above it is a good idea to put together a short presentation detailing your career history, what you have achieved, areas you are proud of, an analysis of your strengths and what you want to achieve. When talking about you goals and objectives it is important to talk about personal goals as well as business ones, as this will demonstrate a balanced view on life and how you see your career fitting in with other parts of your life.

Such a presentation will give you control of the interview situation, because you will be able to lead and not be led. You should look to prove to the interviewer that you possess the following.

Interview Styles

You will also find that different companies adopt different interview styles, with some companies adopting multi level interviews, each level designed to test for a different set of skills. It is therefore important to find out what the interview structure will consist of, as this will help you do the correct level of preparation for each interview stage.

The main interview can be demanding. Take time to weigh up what approach the person interviewing you is taking.

This is not an exhaustive list, but you do need to be aware of why the interviewer is taking the approach you are being subject to. Understanding the interviewer's motivation is the key to successful interviewing!

Qualities Required

There are many qualities that employers look for in successful applicants, but here is a quick reference list of the most common :