20 years ago I spectacularly screwed up a golden opportunity to work at the BBC World Service.

I hadn't understood the essential principles of giving an outstanding interview.

Here are 3 ways I failed so you can avoid doing the same.

"I just don't understand why you didn't prepare".

The words of the hiring manager rang in my ears as he told me I hadn't been successful. I felt utterly disappointed. It was only much later I realised exactly what had gone wrong.

Fail #1 I didn't engage at all with my university careers service.

I had no idea how to prepare for a professional interview. The only interviews I'd had up until then were about how well I could speak English and whether I was actually British (for an Irish bar and a language school in Germany). And there was one journalism course interview whose only real deep dive was to find out if I could bear to live in a grim little Northern town for the duration.

Seeking out my careers service at uni could have given me all the tools I needed.

If there'd been no university in my life, the services of a professional coach would have got me there too.

Fail #2 I wasn't sure if I wanted the role.

The job involved a move to London and I'd just settled back in Liverpool. So I went with a 'let's see what happens' attitude. Turns out I really wanted it once I got there.

If you go for interview, treat every opportunity with delight and enthusiasm.

That way you'll prepare like you want it and you'll convince other people of the same. Then decide at offer stage whether you take it or not.

Fail #3 I didn't really think I was good enough.

I didn't realise that it was what I'd put on paper that got me in front of them. They thought I was good enough to interview so why didn't I? I know now that, proportionally, very few people make the cut for an interview. I know now that the hiring manager really liked me but he couldn't score me enough points.

I didn't get the job at the World Service. I was given a casual contract instead, which got me some exciting times on the Latin American desk. Importantly, it led to other opportunities and interviews where I was able to redeem myself.