Make a good first impression

Appearance is perhaps the most critical element of building a positive first impression. Employers assume that what they see is what theyll get if they hire your candidate, so make sure that what they see is a consummate professional. Understand that dressing professionally is one of the rules of the business game. Dont expect to win the game if your break that rule.

Pay attention to details

Interviewers notice the little things. Sloppy manicures, missing buttons, scuffed shoes, stained lapels or snagged stocking are interpreted as signs that the candidate isnt detail-oriented. So make sure your entire outfit is impeccably clean and neat. For women, makeup is often a downfall. Keep it subtle.

No cologne or perfume

Nearly all of the interviewers I surveyed mentioned cologne-overkill as one of the biggest gaffes made by both male and female job candidates. In fact, many interviewers rated this as their number-one gripe! Its nearly impossible to tell how strong an odour your own perfume or cologne is emitting. What seems like a pleasant whiff of scent to you may overpower someone else. Dont risk it. Another smell-related note: If youre a smoker, avoid smoking in the hours before your interview. At the very least, dont smoke in your interview outfit. Employers generally regard smoking as an undesirable habit, and cigarette odours cling to clothes for hours.

Watch your body language

As theyre forming an impression of you, interviewers also observe your body language for clues about your personality, credibility and confidence. Heres a rundown of the most common body-language signals and what they mean to interviewers.

Look them in the eye

In North American culture, the ability to look someone in the eye is interpreted as a sign of honesty. For that reason, interviewers react negatively to job candidates who cant maintain a reasonable amount of eye contact.

Greet the interviewer with a firm handshake

Again, because of cultural stereotypes, someone who has a firm handshake is regarded as confident and authoritative. Even though a handshake may seem like a small element on which to base a decision about someones character, interviewers really do read a lot into it.

Dont Fidget

Be careful that your body language doesnt betray your nervousness during your interviews. Avoid these mannerisms that interviewers perceive as signs of nervousness:

Leg kicking.

Touching your hair repeatedly.

Placing your hand near your mouth or around your face as you talk.

Clearing your throat continually.

Tapping your fingers or (worse) cracking your knuckles.

Playing with your jewellery or frequently adjusting your glasses. If you feel your body getting out of control, try focusing on your breathing:

Taking steady, deep breaths will help you relax. Its also good to take a short walk before your interview to burn off some of that nervous energy.

Sit forward in your chair

Interviewers take note of how candidates sit during the interview. Candidates who slump in their chairs or appear too relaxed are perceived as either unconfident or unmotivated or both. Candidates who sit up straight and lean a bit forward in their chairs are perceived as attentive and interested in the job. But also dont lean on or throw yourself across the interviewers desk.

Respect the rules of interview etiquette

Just as there are rules of etiquette for social interactions, there are rules of etiquette for the interaction we call the job interview. Although they may seem unimportant to you, these rules are very important to interviewers. Employers assume that if you dont know anything about interview etiquette, you may not understand the rules of everyday-business etiquette, either.

Be on time

One of the basic laws of interview etiquette and one thats broken with surprisingly regularity is to arrive on time. Allow plenty of extra time to get to your interview; you never know when a traffic jam or other transportation catastrophe is going to occur. If you rum late because of some unavoidable problem, call ahead to let the interviewer know. Apologise profusely and ask whether the interviewer would prefer to reschedule.

Remember that youre the guest

Interview etiquette also says that you are the guest and the interviewer is the host. So dont sit down until the interviewer invites you to do so. Dont plop your briefcase down on the interviewers desk, and dont start fingering any office knickknacks, even if its one of those inviting little stress-relief gizmos. If you spy family pictures on the interviewers desk, resist the urge to comment, even though you might naturally do so if you were visiting that persons home. Raising the issue of families and children is something you want to avoid in an interview.

Dont chew gum or eat

Dont have anything in your mouth during the interview. That includes mints or gum. If the interviewer offers you a cup of coffee or other beverage, say that you will join them if they are having refrain if they are not.

Dont dismiss anyone

Be friendly, polite and respectful toward everyone you meet, from the receptionist at the front door to the interviewers secretary. Theres a good chance that all of these people will be asked to offer an opinion about you. So treat every encounter as a silent interview.

Be enthusiastic

Nearly all of the hiring managers who have shared their insights with me said that one of the first things they notice is the amount of enthusiasm a job candidate displays. Many said it was the most important element in whether they left the interview with a positive impression of the candidate. Sell yourself with confidence After you create that first impression, you must reinforce it with a strong sales presentation. You must show the interviewer that you not only can look and act the part, but that you also have the skills and experience to solve the companys problems.