minutes early to give yourself a chance to look around and to relax. Think carefully about what to wear - the importance of first impressions cannot be overstated. Make sure that you look smart and professional. Think about what it is you want to achieve from the job interview. Remember it is as much for you to find out about them as the other way round. Try rehearsing with a friend giving you the opportunity to go over key points. Make a note of any questions to ask on the day or any points you would like to cover at the interview. Handling difficult questions Employers often ask questions designed to discover how you would deal with certain situations and how you would behave. For instance 'describe a situation where you have shown yourself to be flexible' or 'describe how you dealt with an unexpected situation' are both ways of trying to find out more about the way you operate as a person. Producing answers isn't as difficult as it may first appear, particularly if you have given some thought to these type of questions coming up. You can draw on your past experience and you don't necessarily have to contain yourself to the workplace. Even being able to successfully share a flat demonstrates that you are a team player with the ability to negotiate! Telephone interviews Some companies use telephone interviews to draw up their shortlist so it is worth giving some thought to how you would cope with