Writing a CV is only part of the job hunting process. Howard Dowding has written an excellent guide covering all aspects of finding a new job. Some of this great advice appears here with his kind permission.

Confirming your acceptance
When you are offered an interview, write back immediately, thanking the person and confirming the date, time and place. Arrive at least ten minutes before your appointment. If you are going to be late, telephone and apologise. Be courteous to the gatekeeper and receptionist, as they may be asked for their opinion of you.

Researching the facts
Get as much information as possible about your prospective employer. Telephone and ask for any brochures or literature and collect them if necessary. On the evening before the interview re-read this information. Write down at least four points about the organisation and its products or services and memorize them. This knowledge will greatly increase your self-confidence at interview.

The interviewer's assessment of you
Professional interviewers will try to obtain an objective assessment of candidates, by considering the following points:

• Past experience and achievements.
• Special abilities and aptitudes.
• Interests and leisure activities.
• Disposition and personal characteristics.
• Physical appearance and bearing.
• General intelligence.

Five key points for the interview
Select five points from your background, education or experience, which are relevant, or which show initiative. Write these down, memorize them and make sure you talk about them at interview. An example could be:

• Fluency in a foreign language.
• Experience of part-time jobs.
• A relevant research project.
• Collection of money for charity.
• Membership of a local club.

Tricky questions
You maybe asked about your major personal strengths. Select something, which is relevant, such as: getting on well with other people, always completing a job properly, etc. If asked about your weak points, choose one that still shows you in a positive light, e.g. 'I take on too much work'. Just before the interview, you may be asked to take a series of tests. Prepare yourself by working through a book of these tests now. If you take a personality test, give honest answers, not ones that you think will improve your score. In any test, work quickly but without rushing - quality is more important than quantity!

Giving value for money
You have to convince an employer that you are worth employing and that you have the capacity for hard work and a readiness for accepting change or further training. Your general attitude to life is one of the most important aspects on which your future employer will assess you.