Health and personal development

Few people lose a job interview for lack of qualifications. They lose it through poor preparation and a handful of avoidable mistakes. Here are the dos and don'ts that decide the outcome: how to prepare, how to answer with specifics, what to ask, and what an employer may not ask you.

Your first job interview is stressful mostly because you do not know what is coming. For teen and part-time jobs, though, the questions repeat, and you can prepare for all of them. Here are the ones you will almost certainly be asked, sample answers, and a few things to sort out before you say yes.

The first day back is usually the hardest day of January. Here is a simple three-day plan: what to do the evening before, how to start your first morning, and why it is fine not to be running at full speed straight away.

A group interview isn't a contest over who talks the most. Companies use it to see how you work with others, listen and handle mild pressure. Here's how to prepare and stand out without coming across as arrogant.

Work ethic isn't a line on your CV. It's what decides whether clients and colleagues want to work with you again. It rests on a few core values, and the good news is you can build every one of them.

The first day back from holiday can be overwhelming — a full inbox, deadlines looming, and your mind still at the beach. You'll handle returning to work after summer better if you plan the first days as a gentle start-up rather than diving in headfirst.

Working from home gives you freedom, but also plenty of temptations that pull you out of your flow. Here is how to set up your space and your daily routine so you can focus, get work done faster and free up more time for yourself.