Unless you're incredibly lucky, a job interview is something you'll have to face at some point during your career. Most of us will attend numerous interviews throughout our working lives and they can be some of the most nerve-racking but potentially rewarding experiences we ever undertake. 

Sadly, there's no secret formula for job interview success, but there are some essential things to get right, which will give you a much better chance of landing your dream job. 

Know your stuff
The single most important factor for interview success is to learn as much as you can about the job and company you have applied for. Unless you're an amazing blagger, it will be very hard to get far without this information.

You don't need to memorise the company's most recent financial results off by heart, but it's standard practice to at least know the basics about your potential employer. After all, would you hire someone who couldn't be bothered to do their research?

Learning as much as you can about the role itself is incredibly useful. Know the job description inside out and it will be much easier to explain what makes you the right person for the position.

Practice makes perfect
Undertaking a few practice sessions before your interview can be the difference between success and rejection. Try and imagine some of the questions you're likely to be asked and practice your answers. Responding in the interview will be much easier if you've already got an answer in mind.

Of course, you can't know for sure what the interviewer is going to ask you, but there are some common questions that tend to crop up. For example, what are your strengths and weaknesses, why do you want this position and where do you see yourself in the future all tend to be asked fairly regularly. 

Not all the questions you're asked will be as straightforward as this however, and it's always worthwhile to expect the unexpected. Be ready to think on your feet and there's less chance you'll be caught out by a surprise question.

An important part of the interview process is asking questions yourself, as you'll find out some useful information and demonstrate your interest in the role. Make sure you always go in with a few potential questions of your own in mind.

Plan for perfection
First impressions count and nothing gets an interview off to a worse start than turning up late. Avoid this happening to you by planning your journey to the interview meticulously. Make sure you know exactly where to go and how to get there. If you're relying on public transport, factor in plenty of time in case of delays and aim to arrive ten to 15 minutes early.

Little details such as remembering the name of who will be interviewing you can make a difference and ensure you have a contact number so you can let them know just in case something does still manage to go wrong and you're going to be late.

Look the part
In an ideal world, appearance wouldn't matter in a job interview, but, alas, it does. As mentioned earlier, first impressions count and looking the part will instantly get you off to a good start. Prepare your outfit the night before and make sure everything is clean, ironed and in good condition.

Turning up looking scruffy will give the impression that you don't care too much about the position and couldn't be bothered to make the effort. However, you don't want to go overboard, as wearing a revealing outfit or an overpowering perfume/aftershave won't do your chances much good either.

Think positive and sell yourself
It's important to always remember that an interview is essentially an opportunity to sell yourself and showcase why you're the right person for the job. Positivity is key to this and while blowing your own trumpet may not come naturally, it's what needs to be done to impress interviewers.

Don't be embarrassed to talk about your skills, achievements and all the other things that make you great. There's nothing worse than coming out of an interview feeling like you've undersold yourself, so if there's anything that you think strengthens your application and makes you stand out from other candidates, make sure to mention it!

Follow the advice above and you'll be on a solid footing for any job interview and stand a better chance of landing the position you're after. Here at Unity it's our priority to help you find the job of your dreams and we'll be uploading regular interview guides over the coming months, so make sure you stay tuned.