There is no such thing as too much preparation. "The key mistake most candidates make is to attend an interview without preparing," says Joe McDermott, CEO of Interviewgold.com, the UK's leading online interview skills training website. "There is an assumption that a good CV will be sufficient to win the job and this rarely works. The ability to communicate effectively, to sell yourself, to convince the interviewer you have what they need is vital and the only way to do this successfully is to prepare thoroughly."

So research the company and position and ensure you have at least a couple of questions prepared (and not just about the salary) otherwise you'll look like a dummy. Even get a friend to video tape a mock interview with you and watch it back to learn how you can improve your technique.

Not to be underestimated, so don't leave it till the morning to figure it out. As Joe McDermott says, "First impressions can have a huge impact on the final recruitment decision and an applicant who presents well and who looks as though they have made an effort will stand a much better chance of walking away with the job offer."

Of course this doesn't always necessarily mean a suit - for more creative industries you could opt for something more casual or fashion-forward. But the fact is that for the majority of office-based jobs you're looking at a black, dark grey or dark navy suit with muted tie (leave the Homer Simpson one at home) and dark, black or brown (slightly more edgy) leather lace-ups.

That everything's pristine clean and polished should go without saying and think about taking your watch off and putting it in your pocket beforehand to avoid annoyingly glancing at it through the interview. Carry a leather portfolio or briefcase for your documents (and root out any tattered folders before you turn up) and don't go overboard on the cologne.

Okay, once again it goes without saying, but you should be conscious of your body language during the interview - maintain eye contact with all the interviewers, don't invade personal space, don't crush bones when shaking hands and all that - without tipping over to overly self-conscious.

But the most important thing in the interview is of course answering questions with confidence and ease. "Contrary to belief, it is possible to predict the interview questions," says Joe McDermott. "The key is to analyse in detail the job description, the person specification and the organisation as this gives an excellent indication of the questions that will arise."

Bend the truth. "Lying in an interview is never advisable," warns Joe McDermott. "Not only do you have to contend with the worry of being caught out, but should you actually get the job you risk being found out by the employer and facing dismissal or worse, legal action."

Everyone's told a little white lie here and there, but never make the error of blatant lying about qualifications or employment history on your CV. After all, it's pretty easy for someone to find out you're not actually an ex-fighter pilot fluent in Mandarin Chinese.