2. Take what you may need: If the company/organization has asked for specific items make sure you have them prepared well in advance e.g. drivers license, certificates of accomplishment, copies of diplomas/degrees, your work portfolio, extra resume copies, writing pad and pen etc.

3. How will to dress: If you do a dry run try to see how others in the company are dressed. If you are going to just punt it (which I don’t recommend) opt to dress a little up rather than down. Clean your shoes well and iron your shirt.

4. Personal grooming: Be clean and tidy at all times whilst looking for work. Having a haircut or trimming your beard the morning before an interview is not a good idea. Its not so much the time it may take, its just that the fresh cut look makes you look at best, a bit too anxious and eager to impress and a phony “I only look like this for interviews” at worst. Trim your fingernail and make sure they’re clean.

5. Mobile Phones: The best way to destroy any chance you have of getting through an interview with a positive impression is to have your mobile phone ring, you must turn it off.

When you get through the list perhaps you could take a look at the Sample Resume Template | Resume Form with Examples if you are still writing your resume.

To continue the list…

6. Email Address: If you have a non commercial email address e.g. spunky1234, lilabner5678, cutie_xyz, godzilla.thegreat or any other similar get a new one that is just your name or as close to it as you can get.

7.  Prepare Some Questions to Ask: Research the company you are being interviewed by and figure out some sensible questions to ask about how the company operates.

Some good examples: How are promotions decided on seniority or performance? Who will I report to and how long have they been here? How many others work in the department I will be employed in? What are the prospects for growth and advancement? What do you think is the best thing about working here? Beware… Do not ask questions such as: “What does the company do?” You should know a lot about the company from your pre-interview research.

8. Practice Answers to Likely Questions: The internet (including my site orglearn) is full of lists of typical questions asked by interviewers. Get a list, practice some answers and have someone sensible, whom you trust, to do a dummy interview and review your answers. The more times you can do this the better.

9. Referees: Obviously ask referees for permission to use them and give the heads up on what qualities the hiring company is looking for so they mention it when asked about you. If the employers ad says “reliable” they should use the word reliable when giving you a reference. Update them before each interview.

10. The first meeting with the interviewer: Have clean dry hands, offer a firm one handed handshake, nothing too limp or too hard, look the interviewer in the eye and smile. One important trick, be standing when the interviewer arrives, do not sit down, a good idea is to read anything on the office wall, vision statement, mission statement or companies values etc. If offered coffee don’t take it, you may spill it in your attempt to greet interviewer. Don’t smoke before the interview and brush you teeth about twenty to thirty minutes before. Check your hair and the state of your dress. If you are comfortable in doing so pay a sincere compliment when greeting the interviewer… nice office, impressive factory or perhaps I like the company vision statement, particularly if it is on the wall.

1.   Saying something like “wow it took me two and a half hours to get here.”
2.   “I had a problem finding your business premises.”
3.   “Of course I’ll take the job.  How much does it pay?”
4.   Answering a cell phone during an interview.
5.   Placing your hands behind your head during an interview.
6.   Folding your arms during an interview.
7.   Turning up in dirty shoes or an un-ironed shirt.
8.   Getting too “familiar” during the interview is a no no.
9.   Getting carried away with detailing every magnificent moment in your previous work.
10. Not rehearsing how to explain a personal area of weakness and being able to sell what you are doing about it.

According to BNET hiring managers say the most common and detrimental mistakes candidates have made during an interview are:

51 percent; dressing inappropriately
49 percent; speaking negatively about a current or previous employer
48 percent; appearing disinterested ranked
44 percent; appearing arrogant
30 percent; not providing specific answers
29 percent; not asking good questions

Having interviewed many individuals I would like to add, deferring interview appointments, being late, smelling badly of body odor and a wet or limp handshake. When you are going for and interview leave time to have a quick freshen up in the company’s bathroom so you can look fresh and ready. It is also best if your stand while you wait rather than lounging in reception. A polite smile when you are greeted can’t hurt either. Oh yes… please… no perfume or aftershave.

**Link for direct page viewers return to main career success blog to check out other posts!

While you’re here take a look at the free blank resume form!

Finally… a resume may get you the interview however many times I have said and will say it again here… you must research the company you are applying to and at least have a rudimentary knowledge about what they do when you get to the job interview otherwise it is likely you will mess it up.