1. Prepare, prepare, prepare.

Thoroughly research each employer you pursue. It is not enough just to show up for interviews and hope for best.

Take time to research and understand company and person who is giving interview. Students should approach their answers from perspective of person who is doing hiring. What would that person be looking for if roles were reversed? Job seekers need to plan their responses so they cover key information about what they can bring to job, and then rehearse out loud until they feel confident.

2. Attitude makes a difference.

The key element to successful interviewing is not your experience, your grades, what classes you took, your extracurricular activities, or any of other basic necessities. Those skills are what got you interview. The key element to successful interviewing can be summed up in one word: attitude. If you want to rise above others with better experience, better grades, or better anything, you will need to work on developing a highly positive work attitude.

Your attitude determines whether you will "make cut" or be discarded. Remember, there are plenty of competitors with ability to do almost any given job-- especially at entry level. The way most employers differentiate at entry level is by candidates' attitudes toward job.

You can teach a new employee many things, but attitude is not one of them. Many employers are willing to teach skills to new employees if they come through door with a positive, energetic "can do" attitude.

3. Ask right questions.

Ask about position, job responsibilities and company values.

4. Dress for success.

It's true to say that vast majority of interviewers are not trained and make many mistakes themselves, but that is not a reason to make them yourself.

Lets have a look at common mistakes so that you can avoid them.

- Arriving late. - Being dressed incorrectly. - Taking unnecessary hand luggage with you. - Poor greeting. - Poor body language/Nervous mannerisms

* Arriving Late You should aim to arrive 10 - 20 minutes early for your interview. Depending on size of building you may find that locating interview are is not a simple task and you should ensure that you have enough time in hand to avoid a late arrival.

If company is in a location that you are not familiar with you would take time to plan your route and allow for unexpected delays, so why should you act differently just because interview is somewhere you know?

Some of external events that may make you late are; late public transport, unable to locate parking space, no change for a pay and display car park, unable to locate building.

All of these are genuine reasons to be late, but at end of day, they are all avoidable.

Take time to find out about location of building and local parking, if company is a large phoning them will result in you getting switch board, these people know area, there is nothing wrong with asking them for advice about local parking.

If company is a one man band then use your initiative, check maps, local tourist information offices etc.

* Looking Good Most people are unsure how to dress for an interview. Lets face it, if you are going for an interview to be a garage mechanic then a suit probably isn't suitable, but how do you know what to wear?

As a rule of thumb, think about what you would wear if you were working there already, no smarten up a bit.

If you would normally wear trousers/skirt and a shirt/blouse then by adding a jacket and tie you have smartened up.

If you would normally wear jeans and a T-shirt or polo shirt then you should wear trousers and a shirt and tie, no need for a jacket.

Dressing down at interview is easier than going home to get changed. That is to say that if you get to interview and you are wearing a jacket but non of interviews is wearing one and you feel uncomfortable, then as you take a seat as if you can remove your jacket.

I'm sure you get idea.

* Luggage Taking unnecessary hand luggage with you. Some people take a brief case to interview.

Why?

It may be an idea to take a copy of your resume with you along with letter inviting you to interview.