One thing which most recent graduates are almost entirely unfamiliar with is interviews. First of all, if this is what you are, you should prepare yourself for failure, as it is a near certainty that you won’t always succeed in an interview. Some of the time, this will be because you’ve not got the right qualifications for the job. Other times, it may be because you’ve represented yourself, your abilities and your experience poorly, which is perhaps more disapointing.
Often times, people who have little experience with interviews will go into it feeling very nervous, which can result in a poorly conducted interview on their part. To avoid this, you should always try to centre yourself before you enter the interview, and then try to maintain that composure throughout it. This can be tricky, but if you learn to do this well it will benefit you in numerous areas in your life.
During the interview, it is important that you demonstrate aptitude in the subject of the job you’re applying for. Sometimes this means doing additional research into the business you’re applying at, which will allow you to engage your interviewer, and show that engaged and interested in the job in return. Other times, it means presenting your accomplishments in the field, even if they’re still only academic.
Beyond these points, there are (hopefully obvious) other requirements, such as dressing smartly, demonstrating good hygiene, and covering any tattoos. Any of these points could have a significant impact on the interviewers first impression of you.