Telephone interviews might seem less nerve-wracking than a face to face interview, but the visual element is a very important part of communication

Your appearance isn't the only thing that creates an impression at your job interview. Some other things to bear in mind on the day.

A quick, light-hearted rundown of the most important things you should (and shouldn't) do at that all-important job interview

Careers in IT are about specialism, so when you write your CV, if you have had many roles, you need to focus on one core area as your job function. Trying to say that you do everything can mean you are relevant for everything but suitable for nothing. So think about which of these to focus on:

•Project Management

Worst CV mistakes

• Using PDF instead of Word
• Not putting your phone number, address or email details and, these days, your LinkedIn address
• Not listing your technical skills by name (which ERP Product? Which CRM product?)
• Expecting “fast learner” to be unique……..
• Not spell checking? Surely everyone has that technology at their fingertips
• A thoughtless email address – fairydonkeys@, lazysod@ etc etc
• Not mentioning what business area each of your employers were involved in
• Using the job title your company gives you rather than an appropriate job title for your actual role

Before you start looking for a new job think about whether you can change what you do where you work now.

Shine the light on what skills you have gained since your last pay review, how hard you have worked, extra hours you have put in and what you have accomplished and try to avoid threatening your employer with leaving.

The right and wrong questions at the end of an interview

At the end of an interview you will be more often than not be asked if you have any questions.

Job Board Tip

I was thinking about what experience people need on their CV’s to make them more employable and I have broken it into 3 areas:

Implementation Consultant CV’s

Application Support CV’s

Sales CV’s

You have probably never thought about it, but it will probably cost your employer about one third of your annual salary to replace you, because they will have to pay:

• Current 'market rates' to their new hire
• A recruitment fee
• A contractor to cover you in the interim period
• Training for your replacement
• The cost of disruption will be significant

So, if you are thinking of changing jobs because you are unhappy about your role or your salary, you are at your most valuable to your current employer.

Think about your reasons for leaving and what is making you unhappy (and sometimes they are things that cannot be changed).

But it is much better to have a frank discussion with your manager about your career prospects or your package than threaten to resign. You do not need another job offer in your hand to ask for a pay rise or a promotion.

However, if after that discussion they cannot put firm plans in place and you cannot fulfil your potential where you are, then it is a good time to look at other job options, knowing you are certain it is the right thing to do.

Try to tone down the use of bullet points on your CV, this is my thinking:

Every bullet point means you can write less on each line.

Bullet points are meant to highlight specific points, not the entire CV. Use plain bullet points, you don’t want a multi-coloured bullet point being the highlight, you want your words to be the highlight.

Bullet points are so over used it is amazing. I have seen CV's with bullet points within bullet points within bullet points.

For me highlighting a word here or there on a CV is a much better choice.

Before you go to your interview think about the small things that can make a really big difference to the imprssion that you will make with the interviewers.

Think about your body language; make eye contact, smile, give a strong handshake, don’t slouch, look interested and show enthusiasm and energy

• Take a pen and a smart notebook
• Take your glasses in case there is a test or something to read
• Take examples of your work, but only get them out if appropriate
• Take your pay slips if you are working in sales, to prove your success
• Take a copy of your CV - just in case you need it
• Leave your phone switched off
• Leave your laptop switched off
• Do not chew gum when waiting in reception, or during your interview!