If I could give one piece of advice to job seekers and graduates alike it would be to PREPARE before any interview or meeting with a prospective employer.

Having just completed our graduate program I was amazed by the amount of very talented graduates who had no understanding or knowledge of what we do and had not even look at our website. 

In any recruitment situation, be it a graduate program or a senior appointment the key things employers will look for are;

1.Experience - this is less important for graduates and more important for other appointments in the company.  However in saying that regardless of how limited your experience may be, it is key to link it back to the role you are interviewing for.  Understand what the company stands for, what they do and how they operate. Then you can talk about what you would bring to the role.

2.Cultural fit - Every company has a unique culture.  You can generally get a sense of this from going onto their webpage and looking at their social media presence.  These will set the tone for the company.  Referencing Awards or various other key events will show that you have done some research.  Understanding the culture will also help you to decide if this is the type of company you want to work in and be part of.

3.Qualifications - this is less important for senior appointments and more so for the graduate level.

The market is awash with very talented and inspiring candidates, so it is more important than ever for you to make a lasting impression and stand out from the crowd.  You can do this very simply by doing your research and having a point of view which shows a passion and excitement for the company and industry as well demonstrates the importance you have placed on this opportunity.