Job hunting can be a frustrating process; after all the hard work of chasing up opportunities, carefully drafting a CV and meticulously preparing a cover letter and the anxious wait to hear back comes the most daunting stage of them all, the interview process.

Even an applicant with an outstanding track record can fail to make the right impression at interview; sometimes it’s simply down to a lack of compatibility with the individual asking the process.

However, there are numerous things you can do to improve your presentation skills on the day of the interview. Read on to discover more about excelling in this pressurised environment.

How to Improve Interview Technique: A Guide for Job Hunters

As soon as the opportunity to interview arises, start carrying out some research about your potential employer, as a significant proportion of the conversation is likely to scrutinise your knowledge of the employer’s core interests and strategies. Many job hunters only opt to take a fleeting glimpse at a company’s mission statement without exploring their activities in depth. If the questions head into any detail, without prior knowledge, you could become badly unstuck.

Be prepared for the classic posers that tend to feature in any job interview, covering topics such as your past work experience, how your skills can be transferred to the employer, and the perennially tricky strengths/weaknesses query. Whilst it’s a good idea to plan certain responses, try not to sound rehearsed on the day itself, as it’s essential to come across as natural rather than robotic.

Timing can be everything with an interview; arrive late, and regardless of the strength of your application, an employer will find it hard to shrug off this negative first action.

However, it’s also wise to avoid arriving too early, as this may disrupt the interviewer from carrying out routine work. Generally, 10 minutes prior to the scheduled interview is a safe bet. When the time comes to enter the interview room, offer a firm (but not crushing) handshake and plenty of eye contact, as this will be an indicator of confidence. Nerves are only to be expected, so even if you fluff a question, try and push any frustrations to the back of your mind.

Finally, after an interview, don’t rest on your laurels, as it may take some time for an organisation to offer some feedback. Keep your eyes peeled on job websites such as Simply Office Jobs and apply for positions of interest, as it may take several attempts at interview before you gain a positive response.