CONFESSIONS OF A SERIAL INTERVIEWEE: Follow this interview advice, and you WILL get a job on the buyside

The advice below is a distillation of the wisdom gathered from the many occasions when I've been either interviewer or interviewee. Needless to say, not all of my interviews have worked out, but that doesn't mean I'm not an expert. After all, I'm working - on the buyside - in Mayfair.

The non-verbals

1) Seriousness about the job

PASS: Sharp dressing, arrive early, good handshake (not a kiss). Phone is on silent.

FAIL: Taking calls, checking your Crackberry. Dressing inappropriately. Arriving late, get your 4 from TFL if your train was delayed, don't make it my problem.

Bottom line: If you can't even pretend for the duration of the interview, are you willing to give it 150% all week long? Do not underestimate the first impression. One intern interviewee may as well have worn a bikini; instant FAIL.

2) Engagement with the interviewer?

PASS: Do you ask questions and want to know more about the company? Can you handle the mandatory British "How was your journey from....? / My, what interesting weather we are having!" as well as the more technical questions?

FAIL: Short, sharp answers. This is not a spelling bee... If all I was looking for was answers, I'd Google them. And no pre-rehearsed current affairs commentaries that you deem relevant. This isn't Radio 4.

Bottom line: Can you communicate within our team? Are you safe to unleash on clients?

3) Focus and body language

PASS: Use your body language to mirror mine. Lean forward; maintain eye contact; don't cross your arms and legs. Focus on ME.

FAIL: Avoiding eye contact, getting distracted by other things. The same can be said for candidates who waffle and lose their own train of thought.

Bottom line: I always look at body language. I will also deliberately interview in a busy shared lounge at our offices to see the focus of the candidates. I even made the more senior candidates take a three hour modelling test on a laptop while a conference went on around them. In case you have forgotten, this is SPARTA...

The verbals

They may not be structured this simply, but these are the questions you will always get asked. If you don't know how to answer them you might as well become an accountant.

4) Tell me about yourself

PASS: Let the interviewer structure this, put it back to them. Don't assume they want a blow by blow chronological account about your life from the moment you learned to walk.

FAIL: A blow by blow chronological account about your life from the moment you learned to walk. Failing that, a linear regurgitation of your CV.

Bottom line: Build rapport, try to find some common ground. "A pity I hate football...."

5) What would you do if faced with.... An impossible question?

PASS: I want to see how you think. So, explain your thought process and all the unknowns, until you arrive at the answer. Be prepared to defend it. If I tell you that's wrong, think it through and reconsider. Get the interviewer involved, don't be afraid to ask questions.

FAIL: Giving the answer without talking through the process - I was never looking for an: a, b, c (all of the above) answer. Switching off when told that you are wrong. Do not pass Go, do not collect 200, go straight back to the Job board.

Bottom line: I will always have given this thought myself. I am impressed when candidates come up with things I've missed. But the most important thing is if they aren't thrown by being told they're wrong / stopped mid-sentence. No sulking please! There will be situations where opinions vary and someone will pull rank. Show that you can handle it.

6) What do you know about the company/role?

PASS: Be able to make intelligent comment. Or ideally have some focussed questions.

FAIL: If you don't even know the little that is on the website...

Bottom line: Are you resourceful? There are seldom "cut and paste" solutions to daily problems.