1. Dress appropriately, and make sure you don't have anything stick between your teeth, and steers away from garlic for at least 24 hours before the interview

2. Arrive a few minutes earlier. Being late for one or other reason is not acceptable for any meeting. People hat arrange meeting always run on schedules.

3. Practice your presentation. Remember the old saying, “You never have a second chance to make a first impression”? Try to match your wardrobe to the personal style of the organization, information you probably would have been able to glean from talking to someone who works there or while visiting the site. If you don’t know what their style is, err on the side of conservative. Pay attention to your handshake. You should strive for something firm and assertive without being aggressive.

4. Know the interviewer’s title, name and correct pronunciation. (Don’t ask Nonkgubela if she has an easier name. Calling her Nonki or Bella is not an option either)

5. Make eye contact, looking at the door / out the window / at the tea tray is unacceptable.

6. Read up on the company beforehand. Learn relevant facts such as the company objective.

7. Practice answering the tough questions.

By this time, you probably know there are always tough questions on an interview. But by practicing and thinking about your answers before you walk through their doors, you can eliminate some anxiety. Some of the standard hard questions that have found their ways into interviews include:

• What is your biggest weakness?
• What was the most disappointing project you worked on professionally and why?
• What was your most difficult work experience?
• What was your greatest challenge in your last job?
• How do you handle criticism?

The key in answering all of these is to be honest with yourself. Everyone has weaknesses, but make sure that when you answer the question that you show how you’re using that to turn it into a positive situation for yourself and the employer. Remember that one person’s description of being compulsive can also be seen as being a perfectionist and someone who pays attention to detail.

8. Know your value and market yourself well. Be truthful but don’t say too much. ‘I have a habit of: calling in sick after payday/taking home office stationary/sleeping in the ladies are not appropriate answers to tell, be yourself”

9. Be prepared to answer how much you expect to earn, but don’t be bullied into revealing how much your present job pays you. Make your career goals clear. Make it easy for the interviewer to see how your strengths can enhance their company and what you will bring to the table. If you have experience that isn’t specifically relevant to the job at hand, create a tapestry to show how the multitude of experience you have is an asset you are bringing to the company.

10. Don’t insult your present employer. Calling them slave-drivers might imply that you are lazy.

11. Speak less and listen more if the interviewer steers the conversation towards issues. Insisting that the world is round while she believes it’s flat could jeopardize your chances.

12. Ask intelligent and insightful questions.” How long are the lunch brake / do I get a 13^th Cheque / how many leave days am I entitled to? It could cost you the job. (Once they’ve offered you the job, you can negotiate and bargain. If they can’t meet the salary you want, suggest more leave / one afternoon off per week / paid parking).

13. Keep it positive and peppy. The tone of the interview is one of the most important communication tools you have. No matter what past professional experiences or co-workers and bosses may have been like, always express each situation in a positive light and explain what you learned from it. Nothing erodes confidence faster than negativity. Be aware of your words, your tone of voice, and your body language. Being energetic, not lethargic, shows you’ll bring enthusiasm and confidence to the job.

14. Follow up with a thank you. You’ve had a great interview, but don’t forget one of the most crucial steps: following up. Send a hand written thank you letter to everyone you meet whether you want the job or not. It’s a small world and you never know when you may meet that person again. Ask for business cards and make sure to spell the person’s name correctly.

15. Ask the interviewer what type of timetable they’re working on. That will give you a good idea as to what the next step is.