If you want to make a good impression, make sure that you are prepared in advance for every interview – even if you don’t think you’d take the job.

The first thing to do is your homework on the company. In most interviews, you will be asked what you know about the company, and if your answer is ‘Um… not much, to be honest’ they are going to be pretty unimpressed. Look on their website, visit the shop, ask around. Find out their ethos, what they do, who they are, what other companies think of them.

Have your suit ironed and ready the day before. You don’t want to be rooting around in the washing basket trying to find a non-smelly shirt an hour before your interview, and putting on your lipstick at a red light on your way there. Arrive ten to fifteen minutes early, and make sure you know who it is you should ask for when you get there.

Even if you don’t get chance to tell them about all the wonderful things you’ve prepared and researched, it’ll mean you have a much better idea of the company and – let’s face it – you don’t want to accept a contract until you actually really know who you’re working for.