Interview Preparation and Job Offer Success
The most important thing to remember is to keep your interview preparation appointment with your recruiter. Your recruiter will set up a time the day before your interview for you to call them. They will then prepare you for your interview. This is an invaluable tool to you no matter how much work or interviewing experience you have. Because your recruiter is being paid to find their ideal candidate, the hiring company has shared valuable inside information about their company, the firm's interviewer, and the competition that you are up against! Your "preparatory" interview is the best supply of inside information to help your "actual" interview go smoothly!

The second most important thing to remember is that all client interaction should go through your recruiter. Do not contact the client directly. It is our job to serve as the liaison between you and the client. Even though speaking with them directly seems like the fastest method, it can often hurt you in the negotiation phase.

Before your interview, research the company! If we have a website address or printed materials available, your recruiter will happily provide them to you. Your research, coupled with your interview preparation, will dramatically increase your chances for a successful interview and job offer.

Next, contact your references to let them know where you are interviewing and what is involved in the position. This allows them to be prepared for reference checks and to gear their comments towards the specific position you are applying for.

At the same time, you should practice any interview questions you have had trouble with in the past. Also, be prepared to answer questions about your career track, your professional goals and salary history, and your strengths and weaknesses. Since everybody has weaknesses, no interviewer will believe you if you say you have none.

To properly prepare for your interview, you should have some specific questions ready for your interviewer. This lets them know that you are interested in them and their specific company. Be careful not to ask questions that have already been addressed by them. Here are a few to consider:
- What do they like most about the firm?
- What is the long term goal of this position?
- What is the training and orientation process?
- What are the long term goals of the company?
- What are the biggest challenges facing the firm?
- How long has the interviewer been with the organization?

At least one day before your interview, drive to your interview location and find at least one option for parking, besides street parking. This will save both time and money on your interview day and help you be more calm and relaxed when you arrive.

The Day of Your Interview
Make sure that regardless of company dress code that you are professionally dressed in a suit. Pay attention to small details, such as handbags, portfolios, cologne, hair and makeup. Conservative is the only way to go for an interview.

Take extra copies of both your resume and your list of references. Additionally, we strongly recommend you carry a portfolio, because briefcases can be cumbersome. Finally, be prepared to fill out all of their paperwork.

Your Interview
During your interview, pay close attention to your posture, speech patterns and gestures. Be relaxed and be yourself. However, please remember that no matter how well you "bond" with your interviewer, it is still an interview.

Before leaving, ask for your interviewer's business card. This will allow you to write a follow-up thank you note with the correct spelling of their name, their specific title, and the company name. Many jobs have been lost by not remembering your interviewer's correct name or title!

After Your Interview
Immediately after your interview, go to a private place and call your recruiter. This is critically important, because we must know what you are thinking and what occurred in your interview before we can follow-up with the client. Finally, congratulations on making such a great impression!