Before meeting with the interviewer, you should ask the receptionist for directions to the rest room. We recommend that you enter the rest room, and take one last moment in front of the mirror just to check your personal grooming, making sure that your clothing is neatly arranged and that you are presentable. A lot counts on that first impression, no matter how well qualified you might be.

How you carry yourself physically has a major effect on how you are assessed. From the moment you stand to meet the interviewer, posture is highly important. Always stand and sit-up straight: you will be surprised at how much more energy this will give you as well. Projecting energy will not only make you more interesting to those present at meeting, but will help your mental alertness as well.

When responding to interview questions, always answer with certainty. Never appear tentative or equivocate. Avoid phrases like, "I believe ..." or "I think...", which indicate that you are not sure of your answer, and you might not want to take responsibility for it in a real job situation. Give your answer straight and directly as possible. Like, "Roses are red."

Do not negotiate salary or compensation directly with hiring manager. If you are working with a placement agency, you should let your agency negotiate the compensation for you, as their commission is determined by the annual compensation contained in the final job offer that you accept, should you succeed in getting the job. Answering questions about current income and salary expectations are O.K., however let your agency handle any actual negotiation. If you are working directly with the hiring company, you should discuss this subject with human resource department.

At the end of your interview, usually the hiring manager will pose a question along the lines of, "Do you have any questions for me?". Don't ever ask the hiring manager something like: "How many vacation (or sick days) do I get?", or "Is there a dental plan?". You should ask those questions either of your agency or the company's human resource department. Discussing career growth potential is allowed, however, you should not dwell upon it; instead, focus discussion on how you can fit successfully into the job role for which you are being interviewed. Use the hiring manager's parting question as an opportunity for you to ask questions such as "Would you please tell me about the more about the job functions?", or something else related to the position itself.

Do not discuss personal concerns with hiring managers such as, "If I relocate to this area, my spouse may not be able to find a job here." All such personal matters should be considered with your spouse or with your agency before the interview. If you want to pursue this particular job opportunity, then just concentrate on succeeding in the interview to impress your interviewers with your knowledge, abilities, and interpersonal skills.

If your interview is by phone and your native language is not English, try speaking slowly and clearly, to make it easier for listener to understand your conversation. Otherwise he or she might just let interview proceed until the end without being able to understand you adequately, and later decide not to consider you for the job any further. We suggest that you take a piece of paper, and on it write down two words in large print, “SLOWLY” and “CLEARLY”. Place the paper in front of you as a constant reminder during the entire phone interview.