You’ve submitted an impressive job application, aced your phone interview and now you’re booked in for a face-to-face interview. Congratulations! You’re through to the final stage and that dream job is one step closer. To help you excel in your interview, we’ve pulled together a handy list of interview do’s and don’ts. Some of them may seem totally obvious, however if you’re only just embarking on your first job hunt, or it’s been years since you’ve sat across the table from an interviewer it’s important to bear these in mind.

DO your research

Taking the time to carry out thorough research of the company you’re applying for a job with sets the foundations of your interview preparation. Develop a good understanding of what it is the company does, the industry they operate in, who their competitors are and what their values and workplace culture is like. Explore the company website in detail, check out their social profiles and search through a variety of news sources for any relevant PR. Use all of this information to work out why you want to work for the company.

DO use your recruiter

Your recruiter is your best pal at this stage. They are a wealth of knowledge and your ideal resource for finding information about the company, their culture and the role specifically. Don’t be afraid to pick up the phone and ask any questions you may have whether it be how to actually get to your interview or how to answer curveball interview questions.

DO ask questions

Your interview is a two-way street. Your interviewer will expect you to come prepared with questions. Also, it’s a great opportunity for you to expand on how wonderful you are by mentioning skills and work experience that you may not have had the chance to promote throughout the interview. Make sure you come up with at least 10 questions with a plan to ask 3-4 as it’s likely that some of them may be covered throughout your interview. There’s loads of great online inspiration to help you get your list started.

DON’T be late

This may sound like an absolute no brainer; however, it really is an essential aspect of interview success. Plan your journey in advance. Allow enough time for the worst case scenarios; traffic jams, ticket inspector inquisitions and getting lost – just to name a few! You don’t want to be arriving to your interview flustered, frazzled and with your nicely styled hair-do now looking rather birdnesty (subtle hint: a good appearance is key; make yourself neat, tidy and presentable!). That being said; don’t arrive too early as this may put people on edge.  Try to arrive 15-20 minutes ahead of the interview. If you do find yourself arriving too early find a local coffee, relax and go over your final prep.