Everyone wants to make the best impression on their interviewer and leave the interview feeling like they rocked it. However, there are definitely some things that candidates do in their interviews that may seem harmless, but that actually annoy the recruiter to no end and can make the difference between you getting the position and looking for work elsewhere. Here are five things you will want to avoid in your next interview to make sure you make the best first impression.

 You Arrive Too Early for Your Interview

Arriving early for an interview is not a bad thing… but arriving TOO early definitely is. We all know arriving late for an interview is big a No-No, but so is arriving more than 5-10 minutes early. Doing this puts pressure on your interviewer to drop what they’re doing and see you immediately. In many cases, being 20 minutes early is more annoying for a recruiter than being 5 minutes late. You want to arrive for your interview with just enough time to check in and have 2-3 minutes to gather your thoughts before heading in.

You’re Over-Rehearsed

Being prepared to answer questions in your interview is a great idea, but rehearsing too much can provide its own problems. Having well thought out answers to interview questions shows you came prepared and are serious about the positions, but having scripted responses that you have rehearsed and plan to repeat word for word isn’t a good idea. You don’t want your interviewer feeling like they’re talking to a robot. Have a good idea of how you will answer any questions thrown your way, but then let your personality shine by answering in the moment. It gives the conversation a more natural flow. Interviews are stressful enough as it is, don’t make it worse by struggling to remember a script you tried to memorize the night before.

You Over Share

Small talk is great way to show a recruiter that you’re social and outgoing, and it can help ease those pre-interview jitters. Don’t be afraid to chat with your interviewer a little bit before and after the interview if there’s time, but be careful not to go into TMI territory. Nothing can make an interview more awkward than over-sharing about a wild vacation you took last summer or how sweaty and nervous you are right now. Stick to topics that are professional and appropriate for the situation. Its safe to say if what you’re about to say involves alcohol, partying, or anything that happened after 10pm, its best to keep it to yourself.

A “What’s In It for Me” Attitude

Arguably the fastest way to get on a recruiter’s bad side is to come into an interview only looking for information about what you will be getting from the position. While its important to make sure the job is right for you, remember that the interviewer is trying to decide if you would be right for their company. Its ok to discuss things like pay-rate, benefits, or vacation time; but don’t lead with these questions and don’t focus only on them. It makes you seem arrogant and self-centered. You don’t want to read off a list of demands when the interviewer is still deciding if you’re right for the position; because after hearing it, chances are they won’t be considering you anymore.

You Don’t Say Thank You

This is the easiest and simplest interview problem to avoid, but you wouldn’t believe how many people are guilty of it. A simple thank you goes a long way to show that you respect and value the time of your recruiter. They took a chunk of time out of their day to speak to you, the least you can do is express your gratitude with a simple thank you. The best candidates will not only say thanks in person, but will send a follow up email or thank you note. This leaves a good impression with the recruiter and makes you stand out from the crowd of all the other candidates.

One of the best resources available to job seekers are career fairs. These events offer eager job hunters the opportunity to meet with recruiters from many different companies across various industries, all under one roof. While it can be intimidating at first, once you get comfortable in the environment you can learn a lot about available positions at companies you’re interested in. While these events are more laid back than formal interviews, its important to remember that it is still a professional event; and you should be prepared to behave in a professional manner. Whether you’re an experienced job fair goer, or you’re attending your first one soon, we have a few tips to help you make the most of your experience.

Dress to Impress

When you go to a job fair, remember: your interview is happening right now! As such, you will want to make sure you’re dressed professionally and are well-groomed. Surprisingly, not many people follow this unspoken rule of career fairs (we’ve even some people wearing sweatpants in the past). Its not out of the ordinary to see people in jeans or a hoodie walking between the rows of companies, and its easy to understand why. Career fairs are noisy and crowded, and can appear a bit unofficial because of this. Regardless, you want to be sure you present yourself the best you can. Don’t wear anything you wouldn’t normally wear to an interview.

Come Prepared

Like we said before, you want to approach a job fair the same way you would an interview. This means coming prepared with all your interview essentials including: several copies of your resume, a notepad and pen, and business cards if you have any. Its also a good idea to bring a bottle of water and a snack or two. Career fairs often last several hours and you will most likely be visiting several booths during that time. That means back-to-back-to-back interviews, which can definitely leave you feeling a a bit hungry and thirsty. Bring along something light that you can quickly eat in the event you need a snack, and something to drink that won’t stain what you’re wearing in case you spill.

Don’t Just Ask Questions

Asking insightful questions at a job fair is definitely something you want to do to get as much information about each company as possible. However, you want to make sure you’re not only asking questions, but also adding comments about yourself as well. Think about it, career fairs are crowded and these recruiters are fielding thousands of questions from hundreds of different people. If all you do is ask questions, then you’re just another face in the crowd. Stand out by leading with your elevator pitch and then discussing your qualifications, experiences, and skills. You want to make yourself unforgettable, and going beyond the question phase is an easy way to stand out.  Be sure to check out our blog on building the perfect elevator pitch for more tips!

Be Seen and Heard

Career fairs are typically busy environments with many confident, eager job-seekers all vying for attention; so it can be easy to get lost in all the background noise. While you can’t control the volume of others, you can control how you adapt to it. Speak clearly and loudly enough to be heard above the noise of everyone else, but avoid shouting at the recruiter. You want to make sure they can hear and understand every word you’re saying without having to ask you to repeat yourself. Also, maintain good eye contact. If your eyes start to drift across the room, the recruiter will likely shift their focus to another person who is actively paying attention to them.

Everyone gets nervous before an interview, its totally normal. But you don’t want those nerves to get in the way of doing well in your interview. Its easy to feel overwhelmed when you’re thinking about any questions you might be asked, the best way to answer, worrying about if you brought everything you need, etc. Sometimes we need a little help to keep our nerves in check to keep us focused. We have a few different options here for you to try out for your next interview.

Get Moving

Physical activity does the body AND mind good. Even something as simple as going for a walk has been shown to help reduce stress while also contributing to a healthier lifestyle. You don’t need to run a marathon or do some power-lifting before your interview (and its probably not a good idea to), but a light workout or simply taking the stairs or parking further from the building so you can get a few more steps in can help you work out some of those jitters.

Make a Cheat Sheet

One of the biggest causes of pre-interview nerves is the fear of not knowing how to answer a question or feeling unprepared. No one wants to look like a fool, especially during an interview. An easy fix is to have a little cheat sheet written up to help with the more difficult questions. You should always take a note pad and paper in to your interview to jot down notes, but also have a page in there that you can look at if you get stumped by a question. You don’t want to lean on your cheat sheet for the entire interview, and you definitely don’t want to just read off of it; but simply having that sheet available for reference can help boost your confidence heading in to an interview.

Smile

We’re not kidding! Studies show that smiling can help boost your confidence and actually creates a sense of happiness if held for long enough. In this case, the saying “fake it till you make” actually applies! Try keeping a smile before and during your interview. It will help you feel a bit more comfortable while also giving you a pleasant and eager appearance that will make the recruiter like you even more.

Listen to Music

Music is a powerful tool for motivation that few consider for interviews. Think about it, if you work out, chances are you have a playlist that fires you up and helps you get the best out of your routine. The same approach can be taken for interviews. Maybe you have a certain song that gets you pumped up, or one that relaxes you, or maybe you listen to a podcast that helps settle your mind. Whatever it is, consider spending some time in your car rocking out to get those jitters down and your confidence up. (plus it gives you some time to practice your air guitar skills!)

Phone A Friend

Sometimes the best thing to help deal with stressful situations is the caring voice of a friend. If you know they’re not busy, spend some time chatting with them on the phone just before you head in for your interview; or if they are available, spend the morning with them doing some enjoyable activities. A few words from a good friend is sometimes all you need to motivate yourself and rock that interview. Plus, you can always call them right after and talk about how it went.

Have Plans For Later

Not looking forward to your interview? Then have plans scheduled for afterwards that you’re looking forward to. It may help to ease your nerves if you know there’s a movie date, dinner, or other activity you enjoy at the other end of your interview. This will help not only with your jitters during the interview, but can help you unwind afterwards and keep you from worrying about if you said the right things or if your recruiter noticed that stain on your shirt.

Chances are you’ve heard of staffing companies, you might have even worked for one before. These agencies are valuable resources for job seekers, regardless of career level or industry. However, few people really understand how these companies work. Being sent out to work for a staffing agency can cause some confusion, typically regarding payment, fees, and work opportunities. Many people have questions before applying, but hopefully we can help answer a few of the most common ones here:

Who do I REALLY work for?

This tends to be one of the most common points of confusion for people who begin working through a staffing agency. If you do get hired on and sent out to work, you are an employee of the staffing agency not the company you are sent out to work for. Your payroll and all of your tax forms are handled by the agency, which means your paychecks will come directly from them. You are merely contracted out to work for different client locations. The staffing agency will also handle most if not all instances of performance concerns, tardiness, and incidents. In other words, if you need to call off work or have any issues with your current position, you will need to call the staffing agency you are employed with and not the company you have been sent out to work for.

How often should I call my recruiter for work?

A recruiter’s job can be very stressful. When a client calls in with a new job order, they rely on quick responses from their candidates to fill the positions. They also depend on candidates to update them on their availability and commute limits in order to save themselves time and avoid calling you for a position you won’t be able to work. Your ability to respond quickly to any new position updates as well as keeping your recruiter informed on when and where you can work will ensure that you are considered first for any employment opportunities. Try to update your recruiter at least once a week to let them know when you can work. Remember: communication is key!

Is there an application/sign-up fee?

Any reputable staffing company WILL NOT charge applicants for their services. Instead, they charge their clients a mark-up on the hourly rate of pay the candidates receive for working at any location. This mark-up covers the cost of any necessary testing or paperwork (i.e. drug tests, background checks, etc), as well as business expenses for the agency. While some workers may find it hard to understand why the staffing company is being paid more per hour than they are, what they don’t realize is that this business model makes it possible for them to use the staffing services free of charge. The only time a staffing agency should charge a candidate is if they provide any non-returnable protective equipment like safety glasses or helmets, and/or rent out equipment for a position that is not returned to them.

How do I get more work?

Chances are, once you’re hired on at a staffing company, if you continue to do quality work for their clients you will likely be sent out for more positions. A recruiter’s reputation is built on the quality of work that their candidates can perform, and if you remain one of the best performing workers they will consider you first for new positions. Don’t assume that just by showing up you will be in good graces with the agency. You will need to demonstrate your value to the client and the agency in order to find longer term positions.

Are there any long-term work opportunities?

Some temporary positions have the opportunity to become long-term or full time positions. These are often called Temp-to-Hire positions. In these types of positions, a client will have the option to hire on a temporary employee for a full-time position within their company. The best way to become eligible for these types of positions is to do consistently good work for any client you are sent out to work for. Recruiters will often let you know if the position they are sending you out for is Temp-to-Hire. If you are sent out to one, be on your best behavior and be sure to do your best quality work. This will maximize your chances of being hired on full-time.

Am I guaranteed to get sent out to work?

It is common for people to think that because they have applied with a temp agency, they are guaranteed to get work. This isn’t true. Staffing agencies work with a multitude of clients, all of which may have different requirements for their positions. Recruiters schedule interviews with applicants in order to assess their skills and career aspirations, and to judge if they would be a good fit for their clients. If you don’t meet the requirements of their clients, it is likely you won’t be sent out for work. Recruiters are not obligated to give you the first position that comes available, rather they have a responsibility that you not only get out to work, but that the client receives a candidate that can effectively complete the work they are assigned. New job orders are also typically filled on a “first come, first served” basis. Don’t expect a recruiter to hold a position for you. They are trying to fill positions for their clients as quickly as possible, so its best to respond to any new position update ASAP.

Sometimes all we have is a few moments to make an impression on a hiring manager for a company we’re interested in. Whether you bump into them in public, are attending a job fair, or happen to see them while waiting for an interview, you will always want to create a dialogue. This is the perfect time to break out your elevator pitch. These are quick and concise explanations of who you are as a professional, and they get their name by being delivered in the time it takes for an average elevator ride: about 30-45 seconds. Think of it as the cliff-notes version of your resume where speed and clarity is the name of the game. Follow these tips to make sure you make the most of those few precious moments and make the best impression you can.

Attention Grabbing Hook

First things first, you want to make sure that when you start your elevator pitch you grab the person’s attention. Have an interesting stat or piece of information at the ready, or maybe a funny quote, something to break the ice. This gives you something to be remembered by. You also want to make sure you introduce yourself as well during this step. The last thing you want is to absolutely nail your pitch and then realize you forgot to tell them your name.

Define Who You Are

This step is fairly simple. You want to create a one or two sentence explanation of who you are as a professional. This can be as easy as stating your current profession or any work you have done in the past. A good way to get a few ideas for this portion is to create a list of the ten most important pieces of information you want to share about yourself, and then hone that list down to three or four options to include in your pitch.

Describe What You Do

When giving your elevator pitch, one of the most crucial things to include is what you do. You can have all kinds of unique skills, have a great attention grabber, and be incredibly sociable, but none of that matters if you don’t also explain the type of work you use these skills for! It also leaves the person you’re talking to wondering if you would even be a good fit for their organization, and it can lead to some confusion if they want to schedule an interview. Say you list off skills that lead to you scheduling an interview! You’re excited and ready to absolutely knock it out of the park. You walk in the door, and after a few moments you realize your’re being interviewed for an accounting position… but you do advertising. While this is an extreme example, its still important to be upfront and direct when it comes to the type of work you do.

Explain What Makes You Unique

This is arguably the most important part of your elevator pitch: the part where you make yourself stand out from everyone else. You want to work in any unique experiences, skills, or qualifications that sets you apart from every other candidate that does what you do. Keep in mind that your elevator pitch is about speed; you’re giving the person a cliff-notes version of your skills. While you may want to try to list all the experience that separates you from the crowd, its better to spend your time explaining one or two things. That way you can give a more in-depth, detailed explanation with the time you have.

Describe Your Plans For The Future

This is a two part section. You not only want to express your career aspirations, but also a plan to meet with the person in the future for a formal interview. For your career aspirations, you want to be realistic and communicate the positions you are most interested in attaining. If all goes well and you end up setting up an interview with them, be considerate of their time and accommodate their schedule. This would also be the best time to present them with your business card if you have any with you.

We always want our interviews to go over smoothly, but sometimes things go wrong. The most important thing to do in these situations is remembering not to panic. Its not going to be the end of the world. Good preparation and keeping a clear head can help you get through most roadblocks that might pop up between you and your interview. Take a look at the tips below to get a few ideas about adapting to the most common mistakes people make when heading in to an interview.

Submitting Wrong Resume

This is a problem few may come across, as not many people have more than one resume (even though you should have different resumes for different positions). However, if you do ever submit the wrong resume in an application, look at the situation and respond accordingly. In some cases, the differences between the resume you wanted to submit and the one you actually submitted are so small you won’t need to take any action. However, for example, if you’re applying for a clerical position and submit a resume that only includes your general labor/industrial skills, then you will definitely want to get the correct resume in front of the recruiter. Send an email explaining the mistake and make sure the correct email is attached as a PDF.

Being Late

Being late to an interview isn’t always your fault, but it almost always makes a bad impression. Your car might not start, traffic might be bad, or maybe you forgot to set your alarm. Life can get in the way sometimes, but no matter your situation, if you find yourself running late to an interview you need to call your interviewer to let them know. Don’t waste time with excuses; instead, acknowledge the mistake and apologize. In some cases, especially if your interviewer has a busy schedule, they may ask that you reschedule. While this can be frustrating, its important to keep a positive demeanor over the phone to make a good impression. Rescheduling an interview is better than not getting an interview at all.

Mixing up Appointments

Chances are, if you’re looking for work, you’re applying to a lot of different places and scheduling interviews all over the place and that can lead to some appointment mix-ups. Mixing up where you need to be and when can lead to some pretty stressful situations. You don’t want your interviewer thinking you stood them up. If you ever find yourself in this situation, call as soon as you are aware of your mistake. Don’t give too lengthy of an apology, but let them know you had a scheduling mishap and would like to reschedule; and be sure to accommodate the hiring manager’s schedule. Being proactive and admitting your mistake are actually traits recruiters look for in candidates, so this very well might get you a second chance.

Your Phone Goes Off

As a general rule, its a good idea to make sure your phone is on silent and put away when you go into any kind of meeting; but especially for an interview. You want to give the interviewer your full attention and the interruption of your cell phone going off can bring the interview to a halt and is usually seen as unprofessional. If you ever find yourself in this position, DO NOT answer your phone. Instead, immediately silence it, apologize for the interruption, and continue with the interview. The less amount of time you spend on the issue, the better.

You Accidentally Swear

This one is more common than you might think. It can be easy to have a little slip up when you’re talking about something you’re passionate about, or when the interview has a very conversational tone. While some might think this is the end of the world, relax, it isn’t. If you do find yourself in this position, address it but don’t spend too much of your time apologizing about it. Instead, try to spin your slip up as a positive. Explain that you get so excited talking about (insert subject) that you can get a little carried away. This option acknowledges your mistake but also lets the recruiter know that you have passion for the work you do.

You’re Asked a Question You Don’t Know the Answer To

This is a road block that many people dread in an interview for fear of looking like they don’t know what they are talking about. In reality, your interviewer is not going to expect you to know EVERYTHING. If you are asked a question that you aren’t sure of, take your time in answering as it shows that you are thinking through the question to work out the best answer. This is typically why recruiters ask hard questions, they want to see your critical thinking and problem solving skills in action. If you genuinely don’t know the answer, don’t be afraid to admit it; but be sure to give a well educated guess because again, they’re not necessarily looking for the right answer so much as they are looking to see how you approach difficult problems.

You Suffer a Wardrobe Malfunction

You’re all set to go for your interview, got your most up to date resume, you’re on time, and right before you walk into the interviewer’s office you notice a stain on your shirt or hole in your pants. This can really bring your confidence, but its important to remember that your interviewer is judging you based on your skills, not entirely on your wardrobe. When you head in, try to make a quick little joke about the spot or hole and quickly move on; don’t make it into a bigger deal than it is. In the future, make sure to pack a stain stick and/or a small sewing kit with you so you can adapt to any wardrobe issue you may face before your interview.

The advent of social media has been the single greatest communication invention in our history. It makes it possible to communicate with anyone, anywhere, at any time. It has connected our world in ways that once seemed impossible. Though it may seem like all these sites are only good for looking at pictures of friends and family, they can also be used as effective job hunting tools. Below we have a few tips to get you started on putting your social media to work for you!

Don’t Sign Up For Every Platform

The first thing you might be thinking is “I need to sign-up for as many accounts as possible!” in order to maximize your exposure… but not so fast. While it might seem like a good idea to have a profile on many different sites, if you can’t keep up on posting and staying active on the site then there’s no point in creating the account. Its better to devote your effort into one or two accounts that you remain active and consistent on. By spreading yourself across many different platforms you risk appearing disorganized and struggling to keep up with frequent posts for each one. If you focus on only a couple, you can ensure that you’re getting the most out of each platform. Try to stick to the Big Three: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Stay Consistent

Once you’ve decided on the platforms you want to utilize, its important to keep up with posting on each one. Staying active on social media increases your chances of making connections and being noticed by hiring managers, especially if you’re keeping up with LinkedIn. You also want to make sure that the tone and presentation of your profiles remain constant across all of the different platforms you choose to use. This uniformity will give your entire online presence a polished and organized feel and make it easier to identify you across different sites.

Send Personalized Messages

Once you make a few connections online, send personalized messages to them in order to start building a dialogue. Its one thing to be friends with someone on one of these sites, and its another to actively engage with them. Sending a personalized message shows your interest in actively building a relationship with that individual. This is especially useful on LinkedIn, as everyone on this site uses it to network and build their contact base. Build a report with these individuals; its a great way to not only establish new contacts, but also to learn more about your industry and get advice from others in your position.

Join Groups

One of the best assets that social media has to offer are groups. These are typically organized by like-minded individuals to openly discuss and learn about specific topics. You can find a group for almost anything under the sun. Join groups that have to do with your industry and local goings on to stay informed about current events. Don’t be afraid to network in these groups either. One of the key reasons you should be on social media is to make new connections, and joining groups will put you in touch with people who share your interests.

Play It Cool

When you’re building up a dialogue within the online communities and groups you join, don’t come out of the gate too strong. You want to be responsive, but you do not want to the be the person who is spamming their contacts with 10-15 messages a day. Staying in regular contact is good, but too much over a short period of time can become annoying. We know… you’re eager to make a new connections, but make sure you aren’t SO eager that you begin messaging people too often. Keep your exchanges short, professional, and to the point. In this case, less really is more.

Follow The Companies You Love

One of the easiest ways to get up-to-the-minute updates from companies you’re interested in is to follow them on your social media platforms. Companies post everything from job listings, local events, or even outreach posts where they are looking for input from the community. Take advantage of these posts by attending events if you can and interact with them, either commenting on or liking them. Its a great way to start making connections and get name recognition in the companies you’re interested in. Little things like this, if kept up with, can pay off in the long run. Once you’ve built a good report with them online and in person, ask about any available positions within the company that align with your career aspirations.

Your resume is the greatest tool you have at your disposal when looking for a new job. It’s a reflection of your abilities, past experiences, and aspirations for the future. With it being such an an important factor in your job search, it’s important to make sure it is the best it can be. In today’s digital-centric world, it can be hard to figure out how to most effectively structure your resume. The following tips should help you build a resume that not only wows your interviewer, but will maximize your exposure in online applications.

Include Relevant Experience

Whether you’re putting your resume together for the first time, or you’re looking to spruce yours up for an upcoming interview, one of the most crucial things to make sure you do is include relevant experience for the position you’re applying for. If you’re applying for a position that requires good people skills or experience with certain machines or applications, make sure your resume highlights your experience and qualifications in these different job requirements. Your resume is the best tool you have for showing a recruiter why you are the best fit for a position, so it needs to clearly list your qualifications for the position.

Use Keywords

We live in a digital age, and as a result, its more than likely that your resume will pass through a companies candidate screening system; especially if you are applying online. These systems are designed to scan resumes for keywords relevant to the position and to separate resumes from the sea of applications and put them in front of the right recruiters. Recruiters themselves also review your resume for these keywords in order to find the candidates with the most relevant experience to bring in for interviews. Make sure, before you send in your resume with your application, that you read over the job description for the position and edit your resume to include any keywords that you see as requirements for the position, or any phrases or terms that are repeated throughout the job description.

Quality Over Quantity

Many people start creating a resume and often find it difficult to stop listing skills and experience, and as a result they end up writing out their entire professional lives over the span of several pages. While this may be a good starting point, you will want to whittle this down and hone in on those positions that really exemplify your skills or that are relevant to the position you are applying for. As a general rule, you only want to go back about 15 years at the most when it comes to listing previous positions, and you want to try to keep your resume as close to one page as you can. Across all industries, recruiters only spend about 6 seconds on average reviewing any one resume so you want to make sure they can see as much of your skills during that time.

Spell Check

Nothing can ruin a resume faster than spelling and grammatical errors! Your resume is a reflection of yourself, and is often the first interaction a recruiter will have with you. As such, you want to make sure that all the language within is professional, flows naturally, and is correctly spelled and grammatically sound. While some people may struggle with this aspect of resume building, there are programs and software that can scan through documents to check for multiple types of errors. Its a good idea to double and triple check your resume, and either have someone else look it over or run it through a spell check program, before submitting it for your interview.

Clearly Labeled

As stated earlier, recruiters only spend about 6 seconds on average reviewing a resume, so you want to make sure they can find all the information they need quickly and easily. The best way to do this is to clearly label and organize your resume. Include headings and bullet points that define and separate the different sections of your resume so that it the most of its 6 seconds. Make sure your headings are distinct and easily identifiable; the easiest way to ensure this is to either write them in bold text or larger font then the content of their section. Make sure you also have good line spacing to ensure that your resume is evenly and cleanly distributed throughout.

Spring is here and that means its time for Spring Cleaning; a couple of stressful days of nothing but dusting, vacuuming, and organizing everything you need and throwing out everything you don’t. But why stop there? If you’re already getting down and dirty to clean-up your house, you might as well pay as much attention to your interview essentials. Its the perfect time to dust off that old suit, make sure it still fits, update your resume, and reach out to your references. And don’t worry, we’ve got the perfect tool kit here to help you get started!

Suit/Dress

Making sure you have proper interview attire is crucial to making the best first impression. As such, its important to give your suit or dress some TLC. Take it out of the closet and make sure it still fits well and isn’t collecting dust or wrinkling. If your old go-to interview suit or dress isn’t fitting like it used to, visit a tailor to have it fitted or consider buying a new one. Once you have any necessary corrections made, or once you buy a new one, be sure to have it covered with a garment bag or protective plastic to keep it looking fresh for your next interview.

Bonus Tip:  If you do end up buying a new suit or dress, be sure to explore your color options to make your new interview attire uniquely yours. While dresses have a more widely accepted color pallet to choose from, business suits are typically found in shades of black or grey. If you’re in the market for a new suit consider picking up a nice Navy Blue one to add a splash of color and customize the look with more personal accessories like tie bars, cuff-links, or lapel pins. Remember though: less is more.

References

Everyone should have professional references before going into an interview, its a must. But just as important as having your references is making sure that their information is correct. People get married, move, change phone numbers, update their email addresses; life happens. Before you head in to your interview, get in contact with your references and make any necessary changes to their information. This may mean updating your resume as well if you have them listed there.

Resume

Speaking of resumes, another thing to consider in your interview Spring Cleaning is polishing your resume. Make sure all your recent and relevant experience is present along with a list of your skills. Even if your resume is picture perfect, update-to-date, and fresher than a bouquet of spring lilies, it would benefit you to try a new resume format or layout. Experiment with some different templates online and pick one that fits with your style and sets you apart from the crowd while also cleanly organizing your information.

Social Media

Many people may not even consider their social media before going into an interview, but in today’s digital era, interviewers are turning to sites like LinkedIn and Facebook to learn a bit more about their candidates. As such, you want to make sure your social media presence is a good reflection of yourself. Update your privacy settings and make sure any pictures of you having a bit too much fun on a night out aren’t the first thing an interviewer will see if they visit your page.

Bonus Tip:  If you haven’t yet set one up yet, get yourself a LinkedIn account ASAP! Get on it yesterday! LinkedIn, for those unfamiliar with it, is like Facebook for professionals. Its a way for people to network and connect with others in their industry and to explore new employment opportunities. Its a reflection of your professional life and anyone looking for a new job NEEDS to be on it; its the new norm. And the best part about it? Its completely free to use!

Work Samples/Portfolio

For some interviews, usually of the professional or Clerical variety, it is beneficial to provide samples or a portfolio of projects which you have completed in previous positions that exemplify your experience. These can also be helpful in more industrial interviews as providing a tangible example of your experience and successes can show your interviewer that you are a good fit for the position. When Spring Cleaning your interview approach, be sure to update any work samples you have so that they are the most recent examples of your professional expertise. You don’t want to show work you did ten years ago to try to convince your interviewer to hire you for a position that starts in one week. Make sure anything you decide to bring with you to your interview in your professional portfolio is up-to-date.

Industry Knowledge

Going into your interview with some knowledge of your industry is a good way to wow your interviewer and set you apart, but its important to also make sure that knowledge is up-to-date. You don’t want to be walking into your interview with industry info you picked up for your last interview. Do your homework and study up on current goings-on and trends for the future. This will set you apart from the crowd and make small talk with your interviewer a bit easier as well.