Can I reschedule a proposed interview date? Should I ask for an alternative date or suggest one myself?

Of course, you can reschedule the proposed appointment if you have a valid reason. It’s also a good idea to suggest a few alternative dates straight away; this makes you seem more proactive than if you were simply waiting for alternative dates to be suggested.

Should I mention my part-time student job in my cover letter?

In every role, you learn or apply skills. It is always important that you can establish a link to the advertised position. You should therefore consider, for each piece of work experience, how it can help you perform well in the job you are applying for. Once you have identified any such links, it is worth mentioning them.

Can I ask about possible promotions and pay rises during the interview?

These are topics you should only bring up once you’ve been with the company for a while and can demonstrate your achievements. At a job interview, however, behaving in this way comes across as rather arrogant.