Dress one or two levels up

"The rule of thumb is that you dress one or two levels higher than the job that you're going for.If you were going for a job as a mechanic, you wouldn't go in there in dirty overalls, even though that's how you would dress for that kind of work. You would still go in there and show respect. You would go in with an open-collar shirt, clean pants and maybe a jacket. By dressing a notch or two above what's standard apparel for the position you're interviewing for, "you're definitely showing that you care about this job, and that you know the game."

Caution is the better part of valor

When it's time to get dressed for the interview, remember: It's not so much that you're trying to get the job with what you wear; rather, it's more a matter of not taking yourself out of contention with your presentation. Interviewers can decide in 10 seconds that they don't want you. It will take them longer to decide they do want you

If you're struggling with how to dress for an interview, chances are good that by erring on the conservative side, you won't unintentionally disqualify yourself. But trying to demonstrate how hip you are with your exposed lower back tattoos or laid-back Juicy Couture outfit could backfire.

Use your judgment

Be sure to learn about an industry's fashion culture; some are obviously more casual than others. It's also usually fine to inquire about the dress code while setting up the interview. An Armani coat and tie or your nice Ann Taylor outfit may not be required if you discover the dress code is casual.

"But it's never fine to go in with a collarless shirt," 

You might not want to be too true to yourself

There are those who say it's pointless to dress for an interview in a way that you wouldn't once you're on the job. Why misrepresent yourself to a future employer or try to be someone you're not?

"If you want to have eight earrings and have your tongue pierced, that's fine "but you're showing you don't know how to play the game. If it's so important to you, go ahead and dress like you normally do, but realize that you may not get the job."

BE LIKABLE.

Obvious? And critical. Making a great first impression and establishing a real connection is everything. Smile, make eye contact, be enthusiastic, sit forward in your chair, and use the interviewer’s name…. Be yourself, but be the best version of yourself you possibly can. We all want to work with people we like and who like us.

ASK QUESTIONS ABOUT WHAT REALLY MATTERS TO YOU:

Focus on making sure the job is a good fit: Who you will work with, who you will report to, the scope of responsibilities, etc. Interviews should always be two-way, and interviewers respond positively to people as eager as they are to find the right fit. Plus there’s really no other way to know you want the job. And don’t be afraid to ask several questions. As long as you don’t take completely take over, the interviewer will enjoy and remember a nice change of pace.

DON’T CREATE NEGATIVE SOUND BITES:

Interviewers will only remember a few sound bites, especially negative ones. If you’ve never been in charge of training, don’t say, “I’ve never been in charge of training.” Say, “I did not fill that specific role, but I have trained dozens of new hires and created several training guides.” Basically, never say, “I can’t,” or “I haven’t,” or “I don’t.” Share applicable experience and find the positives in what you have done.

ASK FOR THE JOB BASED ON FACTS:

By the end of the interview you should have a good sense of whether you want the job. If you need more information, say so. Otherwise use your sales skills and ask for the job. Focus on specific aspects of the job: Explain you work best with teams, or thrive in unsupervised roles, or get energized by frequent travel…. Ask for the job and use facts to prove you want it — and deserve it.

KNOW WHAT YOU CAN OFFER IMMEDIATELY: 

Researching the company is a given; go a step farther and find a way you can hit the ground running or contribute to a critical area. If you have a specific technical skill, show how it can be leveraged immediately. But don’t say, for example, “I would love to be in charge of revamping your social media marketing.” One, that’s fairly presumptuous, and two, someone may already be in charge. Instead, share details regarding your skills and say you would love to work with that team. If there is no team, great — you may be put in charge. If there is a team you haven’t stepped on any toes or come across as pushy. Just think about what makes you special and show the benefits to the company.

PREPARE CREATIVE, INSIGHTFUL QUESTIONS AND CRAFT YOUR PERSONAL STORY:

Sure, some of the standard questions like, “Where do you see the company in five years?” can be useful in some cases, but make sure that the act of asking them doesn’t compromise your own credibility. Depending upon your potential role in the company, the person interviewing you likely doesn’t want to hear you asking about what the day-to-day activities will be–they want to hire an expert in your field, so act like one. Be sure to refresh your memory on your most relevant recent experience and craft an engaging story that effectively communicates your employment journey. Focus on how your experience will benefit your potential new employer.

DRESS CODE:

Got an Interview, What to Wear, What to Wear?! Make sure that you dress professionally. Casual is not good and gives the wrong impression. Of course, this will entirely depend on what type of job you are applying for, but for a professional career position, get it right and buy that killer suit.

SELL YOURSELF:

What are your unique selling points and how can you match your highlights to what they want? Make sure you use plenty of examples as proof of your abilities. Show the interviewer that you can find the positives in your past experiences—this is not a time to complain (and shoot yourself in the foot) about what you hated in your previous work situation(s). Focus on how this really is good/much more suitable to you.

• Remember those examples of your strengths that you wrote down earlier? This is exactly when they’ll come in handy.

• There’s a difference between being confident and bragging. Make sure you show what a capable, intelligent employee you are without singing your own praises.

LISTEN:

From the very beginning of the interview, your interviewer is giving you information, either directly or indirectly. If you are not hearing it, you are missing a major opportunity. Good communication skills include listening and letting the person know you heard what was said. Observe your interviewer, and match that style and pace.

BE ENTHUSIASTIC!

You’ve been invited for interview because they believe you can do the job. It’s just down to you on the day to show that you can do it better than anyone else they might be interviewing. Even if you don’t tick all the boxes for the job criteria, I’ll bet you have something just as good or even better to offer. The interview panel don’t know this yet, so you have to tell them. Don’t be negative about a past (or present) employer, working conditions etc., as this will give a really bad impression. Try to show that you are flexible and willing to take on responsibility.

VISUALIZE!

Early hours foster reflection. Enjoy the quiet and take some time to map out your day. Think through your goals and to-dos. Take whatever notes you need to ensure your day will be calmer and more efficient. Research has shown that even two minutes of visualization and positive thinking can improve your mood and clarity for the entire day ahead.

GET MOVING:

Morning workouts not only give you a boost of energy, they pump you up, ensuring your senses are up and running. You’ll feel ready to tackle any problem that comes your way. Studies have shown that people are less likely to come up with excuses early in the morning. So with fewer interruptions, you now have no excuse not to set your alarm 15 minutes early and sneak in a quick jog or a 5 minute workout.

HAVE A BALANCED LIFE:

Successful individuals do not have work on their agenda all of the time. They set apart time for their family and themselves. Consider it a way of recharging your batteries. If you are always buried in a pile of work, you are missing out on life. Personal time is critical because it’s the time you’re able to review your life and where it is headed; that is the time that you reflect and develop new strategies for your success journey.

SEE TIME AS FINITE/LIMITED:

It’ll motivate effectiveness and efficiency as it applies to time and allow you to achieve results. It’s best accomplished through delegation and leverage.

Like the path from white belt to black belt, success includes a journey that is taken one lesson at a time. Improved and refined, successful people move onward and forward in facing their next challenge and life lesson.

THEY SPEND 15 TO 30 MINUTES EACH DAY ON FOCUSED THINKING:

Many of the self-made millionaires Corley interviewed said they make time to process everything that’s going on in their lives. The rich tend to think in isolation, in the mornings and for at least 15 minutes every day. Often they’ll reflect on their career, their health and their personal relationships. Having quiet time to analyse your thoughts is associated with stress reduction. In fact, taking two minutes at work to focus on nothing but your breathe will help you relax, a Harvard-trained doctor tells CNBC.

COURAGE:

People will wait to see if a leader is courageous before they’re willing to follow his or her lead. People need courage in their leaders. They need someone who can make difficult decisions and watch over the good of the group. For the courageous leader adversity is a welcome test. Like a blacksmith’s moulding of a red-hot iron, adversity is a trial by fire that refines leaders and sharpens their game.

EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION:

“The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.” —Joseph Priestley.

Communication is the real work of leadership. It’s a fundamental element of how leaders accomplish their goals each and every day. You simply can’t become a great leader until you are a great communicator. Great communicators inspire people. They create a connection with their followers that is real, emotional, and personal regardless of any physical distance between them.

GENEROSITY:

Great leaders are generous. They share credit and offer enthusiastic praise. They’re as committed to their followers’ success as they are to their own. They want to inspire all of their employees to achieve their personal best – not just because it will make the team more successful, but because they care about each person as an individual.

SELF-AWARENESS:

Contrary to what Dilbert might have us believe, leaders’ gaps in self-awareness are rarely due to deceitful, Machiavellian motives, or severe character deficits. In most cases, leaders—like everyone else—view themselves in a more favourable light than other people do. Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence, a skill that 90% of top performing leaders possess in abundance. They know where they shine and where they’re weak, and they have effective strategies for compensating for those weaknesses.

PASSION:

 “If you just work on stuff that you like and are passionate about, you don’t have to have a master plan with how things will play out.” – Mark Zuckerberg

Passion and enthusiasm are contagious. So are boredom and apathy. No one wants to work for a boss that’s unexcited about his or her job, or even one who’s just going through the motions. Great leaders are passionate about what they do, and they strive to share that passion with everyone around them.

HUMILITY:

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.” — C.S. Lewis

Great leaders are humble. They don’t allow their position of authority to make them feel that they are better than anyone else. As such, they don’t hesitate to jump in and do the dirty work when needed and they won’t ask their followers to do anything they wouldn’t be willing to do themselves.

A SENSE OF PURPOSE:

“You don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case.” — Ken Kesey

Whereas vision is a clear idea of where you’re going, a sense of purpose refers to an understanding of why you’re going there. People like to feel like they’re part of something bigger than themselves. Great leaders give people that feeling.