Making a first impression could very well be your last impression to your prospective employer. They say within the first 10 seconds, the prospective employer has made their decision to hire or not to hire you. I know that may be a very short time to some people, but the best possible way to overcome this is to first ALWAYS dress appropriately in business attire, regardless of the environment and day, such as casual Fridays, unless otherwise specified by the prospective employer. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Secondly, be on-time, no more than 10 minutes before a meeting. Also, make sure you are well groomed, well rested and well prepared by having done your research of the company ahead of time. When you meet the interviewer, you should be relaxed, offer a smile and a firm handshake to your interviewer and look them straight in the eyes.

Lastly, answer the interview questions by being brief and concise. Do not go off topic in your conversation. If you follow these guidelines, you are halfway towards your new position.