• Relax, ensure you get plenty of rest before your interview
• Dress to impress, be smart
• Research details of the company in advance
• Familiarise yourself with the content
• Be punctual - plan your travel arrangements beforehand - ensure you have the company address, phone number and the relevant contact name(s) before you set out
• Make sure you are familiar with the job description, person specification and requirements of the job
• Switch off your mobile phone (if you have one) during the interview
• Have your questions prepared and anticipate questions you may be asked
• Communicate assertively, use positive dialogue
• Use confident body language
• Remember to smile
• Be polite
• Think positively about yourself after the interview whatever the outcome

Copyright: ©Who’s Recruiting Direct 2009

• Over do it and avoid the necessary rest needed before an interview
• Dress inappropriately or scruffily. First impressions really do count
• Believe you 'know it all' and avoid researching key company information
• Leave it until the last minute to plan your journey
• Forget any necessary paperwork
• Have a list of too many exhausting questions
• Be excessively shy or over-confident
• Use inappropriate or foul language
• Use aggressive or passive body language
• Be impolite or rude
• Leave your mobile phone switched on during the interview
• Worry, or stress yourself over the interview. Remember, whatever will be... will be

• Include "Private and Confidential" in the header of your CV
• Be concise, clear and to the point when listing what you specifically do. Avoid too much lengthy detail
• Keep to a maximum of three A4 pages
• Use a readable and professional font/typeface (10 or 12 point size - Times New Roman is a professional font)
• Avoid incorporating too many colours or pictures
• Follow the A.B.C of writing - Accuracy, Brevity and Clarity
• Remember to include a covering letter with a short paragraph about yourself stating your salary requirement
• Make use of the spell/grammar checking facility for typographical errors, if you can, get someone else to double check content for you
• Include your contact address, email address and a phone number where you can be contacted
• If you commission an external company to write it for you, do search around for a quality provider with a fair price
• Keep a log of who you send your CV to. Remember it contains your personal information

Copyright: ©Who’s Recruiting Direct 2009

• Forget to mark your details as "Private" and "Confidential"
• Write too many pages. More than three is too many
• Use illegible fonts/typefaces with a point size that is too large or too small
• Use too many colours and pictures
• Forget to include a short covering letter that details your salary
• Commission a company to write your CV for you and pay over the odds
• Include information that is no longer relevant or outdated
• Forget to use the spell and grammar check
• To ask someone to check your CV for you
• Send out as a mass mailshot to anyone and everyone. You are sending out all your personal details
• Use abusive language, text language, jargon or acronyms
• Forget to keep a log of who you submitted your CV to

• Dress smartly ensure you are well groomed
• Be on time, punctual for your interview
• Motivate yourself to do your best by showing willingness and keenness to get the job done
• Treat others with respect and dignity
• Act professionally, show good customer service at all times
• Respect privacy and confidentiality
• If using a computer, respect computer and email etiquette
• Respect company property
• Have an open mind and be willing to learn and develop
• Have due regard for organisational Health and Safety and remember you have a duty of care
• Ask questions if you are unsure
• Be positive, aim to be a 'good' ambassador for the company

Copyright: ©Who’s Recruiting Direct 2009

• Dress scruffily
• Be late for work
• Be unhelpful and unwilling to get the job done
• Be disrespectful by treating others unfairly
• Be rude to customers whatever the circumstance
• Become a gossip
• Disregard issues regarding confidentiality or privacy
• Be abusive or confrontational or use foul inappropriate language
• Ignore health and safety issues and dismiss your 'duty of care'
• Abuse use of computers or use of emails
• Have little regard for company property
• Be afraid to ask questions if you are unsure
• Be negative or destructive about your employer

• Set yourself realistic work targets and review them regularly
• Recognise symptoms of stress and tackle it head on
• Take entitled time away as necessary such as holidays, breaks from your visual display unit (VDU)
• Speak to someone you trust and with authority in the company if you feel overloaded by the work
• Find out if there is a policy or guidance notes that addresses stress or workplace issues around stress
• Don't take on so much work that you are unable to cope
• Aim to develop positive working relationships
• Stay calm and focused in all situations
• Ensure you get plenty of rest
• Think positively and ensure you use honest, open assertive communication
• Take time out to look after yourself
• Aim to enjoy work

Copyright: ©Who’s Recruiting Direct 2009

• Set yourself difficult work targets
• Keep feelings of stress to yourself, talk to someone you feel confident to talk to
• Fester over things at work that are causing you stress overload
• Avoid talking to anyone
• Stretch yourself too thin by taking on additional work that you are unable to cope with
• Lose control
• Wait until the last minute, hoping it will go away to address the situation
• Avoid taking time out to the extent that you stop taking care of yourself
• Avoid thinking through options you have before you for getting back on track
• Be unhappy about work