Cover LetterIn your cover letter you need to explain to the employer why you are the ideal candidate for the job. The most important thing is to keep this upbeat, relevant and brief. A cover letter of 250 – 300 words is ideal. Again: recruiters are busy people, so if you have a five-page essay it’s likely you’ll wind up on the rejection pile for giving them too much work.Make sure you demonstrate how you measure up to the job specification or advert to make a concise and relevant application. For example, if the job spec says ‘must be proficient in Microsoft Office’ you could say ‘in my previous role at Maisy Bloggs Ltd I used Microsoft Office daily.’

Make sure, as on your CV, that you make it specific enough to demonstrate where you’ve excelled and give examples. For instance ‘a team player’ is a fairly stock phrase, but saying ‘I used my negotiating and networking skills to help pull the team together to clinch a deal with a blue-chip client’ demonstrates an outcome (the deal) as well as the skill.

Be clear about your strengths, but avoid coming across as arrogant. For example, you could say you ‘consistently deliver high-quality work and meet multiple deadlines on time’ – which would come across better than saying you are the hardest worker in your office.

When writing covering emails you need to be that bit briefer than you would be in text. It’s less comfortable to read long paragraphs on the screen and most people scan emails rather than reading every word.

Email is generally a less formal method of communication but remember that you’re still applying for a job, so remain as polite and respectful as possible. If you have a recruiter or company contact’s name, make sure to address the email to them specifically. The subject line should be descriptive, such as ‘Application for the Web Editor Role’ and use short paragraphs and bullet points if appropriate.

InterviewInterviews can be one of the most nerve-wracking experiences of job-hunting but if you cover the basics, you can be sure you show the best side of yourself.You should prepare thoroughly so you can stroll into a question-and-answer situation knowing full well the ins and outs of the company you want to work for . Memorising some statistics in regards to its operations is bound to go down well.

Most interviewers will have a printed out your CV, but just in case you should always bring along a copy. Also, where appropriate, you should bring along examples of your work to demonstrate your skills.

Do your researchThough you should always do this when applying for the job in the first place, it’s almost impossible to do too much research on an organisation when you have an interview. See what you can find out from their website, any news articles and a Wikipedia page if there is one. Find out what skills and methods the organisation uses. Finding out who their clients are can be a huge help too. Find out when they

were founded, what their goals and measures of success are, what their turnover is and figure out (as best you can) where your role will fit into all of this.

The research not only means you can demonstrate that you know about the company and are enthusiastic to work for them – it also means you can tailor your answers and responses to questions into areas you already know they are interested in.

Dress to impressThis doesn’t mean you should necessarily be power-dressing for every interview – if it’s a job in a daycare centre then turning up in a three-piece suit would probably not be appropriate to the role.

What you should do is make sure you always look neat and presentable. It’s often a good idea to cover any tattoos you can, don’t have many piercings on show and don’t wear excessive amounts of jewellery. However, if you’re going for a job at a tattoo parlour: the opposite may be advisable.

What’s important is that you do your research on the company and dress appropriately for it. A new IT startup company will have a very different attitude to presentation to an investment bank. If you’re going through a recruiter it would be a good idea to ask them if there is a dress code and what they recommend.

Arrive on time, or earlyArriving late doesn’t make a good impression on a prospective employer. Plan your journey and aim to arrive ten minutes early so that you have a buffer zone if something unexpected comes up. If you are delayed and know you are going to be late, be sure you call ahead to apologise and let them know.

Make a note of the name and position of the person you will be meeting and always be polite and friendly to everyone you meet. Greet people with a firm handshake and a smile. If you have more than one interviewer be sure to speak to all of them equally.

The interview itselfSome organisations will include a proficiency test of some sort as part of the interview process. If this is the case they should have let you know beforehand so you could prepare.

Most interviews will start by covering your CV and will ask you to talk them through your experience. Make sure to play up specific skills, abilities and sectors which you know they will be the most interested in.

Be prepared to account for any oddities in your CV. If you have had a career switch or have any gaps explain why and be careful to put a positive spin on it. Remember that your interviewers are people too, so if you left a job quite quickly because, for example, you became a carer, or you moved house to a different city, most employers will respect this. If you changed industries, explain why – if, for example, you realised your interests lay elsewhere, or you’d climbed as high as you wanted

to, then say so and explain that you are now pursuing what you’re truly passionate about.

Body-languagePositive body language is also vital, especially when trying to convey that you’re eager, confident and really want the position. Paying attention to how you’re coming across can be difficult when you’re nervous already, so perhaps try a practice run with a friend and ask them for feedback.

In the meantime, here are some pointers:

Do: Talk with your hands – this conveys confidence and stops you from seeming

too much like a ‘rabbit in the headlights’ Use open-palmed gestures – these come across as friendly and

accommodating Mirror the body language of your interviewers – this is something people do

subconsciously when they get along with each other, so mirror their body language a little to demonstrate, subconsciously, that you’re already friends

Lean forward a little in your chair – this demonstrates enthusiasmDon’t: Fiddle – this can convey nervousness, or even boredom Cross your arms – this can be viewed as aggressive, or that you’re trying to

block the other person out Put your hands in your pockets – this hunches the shoulders and can make

people look sulky or shifty.