Make your application and interview standout with these tips from two of our graduate apprentices

Do online research. I researched Robertson as a company including ambitions and targets for the next few years. It made me feel confident that Robertson was somewhere I'd want to work and was eager to get the job.

Tailor your application to the job role. Show  you understand the role and have the skills to do it. I took a year out after school and worked in a factory so had some job experience to reflect on. But to show understanding of the site manager role I used a garden renovation project during lockdown where I'd worked out the process, cost of materials and fluctuating prices.

Don't miss anything out. Refer to the job profile repeatedly.

Take your time. There's a lot of competition for early careers roles. Ask a friend to read your application. If something catches their eye – positive or negative – there's a good chance an employer will notice it too.

First impressions count. It sounds cliche but I knew I'd be coming into a professional environment so dressed for the role and arrived 10 minutes before the interview time.

Make sure the interviewer knows you want the job. Ask questions and give examples that really reflect your capabilities. For instance a site manager needs leadership skills, so I spoke about a sports leadership activity I did at school which involved preparing and presenting PE lessons to local primary schools.

Try not to get worked up. Speak clearly, be confident and be yourself – go for it.

It's a commitment, so be sure it's what you want. A lot of my friends were going on to full-time uni so I had to really think about what was right for me. I did apply for one job that I knew wasn't right for me and, when it came to the interview, I couldn't effectively explain why I wanted to do it which was a disheartening experience. Even if it takes longer, make sure it's something you want to do.

Be concise. Get your points and skills across, why you would be good for the job. But do it concisely, it's a skill you're going to need for work and university so you may as well start here.

Find the connections. I'd been waitering part-time while at school so asked myself what skills I had as a waiter that a quantity surveyor needs:

• I researched what a QS does day-to-day and the skills needed.
• Noted down my waiter tasks and skills.
• Compared both lists for matches and focused on those in my application – for example planning and organisation. As a waiter I’d constantly set up rooms for  large events, but also had to think about other customers who’d be there at the same time.

This also helped me identify example scenarios to speak about at interview.

Approach it like it's your first ever interview. I can’t stress this enough – be ready to answer any question on every skill you’ve listed in your application and talk in detail about the scenarios that reflect your experience. Remember that the interviewer hasn't seen you at work so needs to feel that you definitely have those skills.

Spend time researching common interview questions and how to answer them. It's a good way to help you prepare. Plus I thought I'd be able to explain my CV no bother but once I did some research online (I found YouTube particularly helpful) I realised there's specific ways to answer questions so that you cover the points the interviewer wants to hear. 

Come into the interview with good body language and speak confidently. Again, the more prepared you are, the interview will seem less like a test and more like a conversation.

After an interview, process it while it's still fresh in your mind. I had a few interviews so got into the habit of making notes on what went well, where I didn't feel confident, any questions that threw me off or things I didn't explain well. It definitely helped me improve each time.