If you aren’t sure where the company is located, get directions in advance. Plan your trip so you arrive at the interview approximately ten minutes early. Your interview starts the minute you arrive, even if you are waiting in the lobby for 20 minutes before the meeting.

During the interview

Selling yourself during the interview – as well as during your career – is an important skill that you need to master. Some people don’t feel comfortable ‘bragging’ about their accomplishments, but it isn’t bragging if you’re being honest. Besides, there’s a difference between openly bragging and simply describing your accomplishments with confidence to a hiring manager.

Always follow the lead of the interviewer

You could think of the interview as a slow dance where the interviewer sets the tone and the pace. If you suspect the interviewer is struggling, try to keep the conversation going without dominating him or her. Silence in an interview is okay. You don’t have to fill awkward conversational gaps unless there’s a logical reason to do so. Remember, it’s sometimes difficult being on the other side of the desk.

How to determine the next step

Don’t leave the interview without inquiring about the next step. You will only feel frustrated if you don’t know what to expect in the future. Ask the employer when a hiring decision will be made. If you feel you would be a perfect fit and you want the job, say so before you leave. This isn’t the time to let your shy inner-child dominate!

And finally, be honest! If you lie about something and get the job, it may very well catch up with you later. Let the client hire you for who you are!