Attire   Consider the corporate culture carefully and dress to make a positive, professional impression.  This usually means a coat and tie or casual suit. However some casual employers request you dress according to their work environment, thus check with your recruiter or the Human Resources Department prior to the interview to determine the proper interview attire. Most important, make a neat appearance.   Arrival   Arrive right on time.  A late or early arrival can inconvenience a hiring manager.  Keep coats, bags and belongings you must carry to a minimum.  If you bring copies of your resume, references or samples of work, enclose them in a briefcase or an attractive notebook.  Juggling multiple items may make you appear clumsy and awkward, especially when you are reaching for that firm handshake.   Sell Yourself   This interview will probably be your first and only chance to prove to the employer or hiring manager that you are the person for the position.  Tout your accomplishments without coming off as arrogant.  Hiring managers tend to ask general and vague questions, however you need to be confident, thorough and detailed in your responses.  Never attempt to answer a question that you do not know the answer to.  Simply reply that you have not had the opportunity to work with that, but you are willing to do the necessary research and are confident in your ability to learn.   Be Positive and Energetic   Emphasize the positive impact you have made at your current and previous employers. Avoid mentioning any negative experiences, as a hiring manager may associate the negativity with you. Be enthusiastic and zealous during the interview, as everyone likes to work with an exciting person.   Prepare   Again, the interview is your one and only chance to prove yourself.  Review the job description thoroughly and then your resume.  Prepare a summarized list of your strengths, accomplishments, and examples of your work.  From this list, you will be able to answer most questions asked by hiring managers.  This list will serve as a starting point for responses to questions, and then remember to elaborate, in detail, about your strengths or accomplishments.    Some say that past performance predicts future performance.  Thus, your answers or responses are more credible and convincing when they are supported by your actions.  Don’t lead an answer with “my greatest strength is …” or “I am very good at …”  This is a great start, but you should validate that statement with your previous actions or accomplishments that support the statement.   Be proactive about relating your skill set or strengths with those of the position requirements.  If a hiring manager mentions a job requirement or position responsibility, be sure to bring your past experiences to the attention of the hiring manager that meets those requirements.   Body Language   Maintain eye contact, good posture and lean forward to indicate interest.  And, of course, give a firm hand shake.   Closing   Ask the hiring manager if there is anything else that he or she would like you to clarify or elaborate.  Bring a list of prepared questions to ask.  Some good questions are: ·         What are the most important responsibilities or qualifications for this position? Ask only if they have not already been discussed. ·         What do you see as the greatest challenge of this position? ·         What would be the next logical position after I successfully complete this assignment? ·         What do you like most about working for this department or company? ·         And if you feel confident, ask the hiring manager if there is any reason why you would not be offered the position?  At this point, address any concerns that he or she may have.   Thank You Note   It is always a good idea to send a hand-written “Thank You” note or email after an interview. Ask for a business card from everyone whom you interview and create them all a short note.  Besides politeness, this sends another positive message to the hiring manager about you.