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Remember the p’s when thinking of interviewing: preparation, practice, personable, pleasant, professional, positive, and appearance. (yes, there are 2 p’s inside that word!) Think of each interview opportunity as practice. Don’t make it a live or die scenario. Very few people get the job on their first interview, so look at each one as practice, an opportunity to improve your interviewing skills. Be prepared and be professionally pleasant and positively personable.

There are several varieties of interview, but no matter what type of interview you find yourself in, there are five important facets of interviewing: first impressions, answering questions, asking questions, closing and follow-up.

An interviewee’s physical appearance can never be stressed enough. There is no question that jobs can be lost in only a few seconds. How you wear what you wear, however, can be just as important as what you wear. First, whatever you wear—think conservative! Moderation in appearance is simply the best rule—no unusual jewelry or large amounts of jewelry, no bright colors, no strong colognes or perfumes, no unusual clothing styles, etc. Always dress nicer than you think the job requires, but don’t wear Sunday dresses, only business attire such as sport coats or business suits (male or female) with low heels. Do try to dress as comfortably as you can at the same time. Women, wear only light makeup and, men, avoid beards or unusual moustaches. Cleanliness is of utmost importance; not only will impeccable grooming look good, but it can also be a great morale and confidence booster.

Be on time—arriving a few minutes early is always good. Then introduce yourself to the interviewer (use the interviewer’s name if you are sure of it). For example, "Good morning, Mrs. Smith, I am John Doe and I am here to interview for the clerk position." Remember that interviewers may be talking to several people about several jobs—identify yourself! Then offer to shake his/her hand. This appearance of a smiling, confident job seeker strikes the right note immediately. Don’t forget how important this can be! The first moments of a job interview can actually determine whether or not you get the job. Maintain eye contact, lean forward as if you are really interested in the conversation and place your hands in your lap. Remain slightly relaxed and normal but with an edge.

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