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Now, we all know that going to an interview is one of events in life that we all hate. Nobody queues up for the chance to sit down at a table with some people who are going to drill you with questions and try to make you slip up. To take your career to the next level, you need to meet the needs of the interview puzzle. There are three basic elements to a successful interview preparation strategy – Preparation, Presentation and Positive Thinking. Let’s start with the beginning: the introduction…

The interview introduction might be a slippy customer and one that can really easily get away from you. Once you get into that room of doom normally referred to as the interview room, youre on your own, never sure if youre articulating or executing the appropriate thing. The harder you endeavor to relax the more anxious you appear to feel. Just threading a lucid sentence together seems like a Hard effort. Of course the room is unbearably hot and your mouth is remarkably parched so your tongue puffs up, cutting off the air supply to your mind. Panic grips you. In The End, just as you are about to turn on your heels and make an pathetic dash for the nearest fire escape, the kind interviewer extends a friendly hand and welcomes you. Now what do you do?

Don’t worry. It really isn’t going to be that bad. You will survive! Try to stay cool and approach the task sensibly. Take your time as you realise that you have complete control over how you portray yourself to this group of individuals. You will be meeting them fresh and will not be hindered by any preconceptions generated through gossip or tittle tattle. Arrive on time. Ensure that you are clean and tidy in your appearance. Practice the delivery of your answers to standard interview questions in the quiet of your own room. Once you are confident at this, go on and ask a family member to conduct a mock interview to further boost your self esteem.

Having successfully navigated the interview introductions, your next big challenge is to deal with an offer of refreshments. Something as seemingly benign as a cup of tea or coffee can wreak havoc during an interview. Having to juggle hot liquids in flimsy plastic cups while convincing a stranger of your marketing expertise or business acumen should always be avoided. Accepting or declining refreshments is something of a judgement call, as you dont want to appear ill at ease, but remember the risks are high. Loud slurping or gulping wont endear you to the interviewer while spilling hot chocolate down the front of your cream and oatmeal business suit is a blunder few candidates can easily recover from. So, if you find fear and anxiety has made your mouth as dry as Death Valley on the hottest day of the year simply ask for a glass of water. Its probably your safest option.

It appears that after you have gone through the initial pleasantries, you have about 120 seconds to cement your initial impression in the minds of the interview panel. After they have formulated their initial view of you, they are unlikely to want to deter from the position of either wanting to hire or reject you. Stay calm. In your preparation, you will have determined what your key messages and sales points are. Stay targetted on delivering those messages confidently and clearly.

However doubtful you are, take it on trust that having your highly polished, recently manicured fingernails pulled out with rusty tweezers is far worse than your average job interview. Interviewers arent the monsters they might first appear. Theyre just ordinary people doing a difficult job. If the interviewer makes a poor decision then both you and your new employer will suffer the consequences. The best thing that you can probably do is place your trust in the interviewers experience while checking the chair youre offered for chains and thumbscrews. At the end of all this torment, after saying and doing everything right, you still might not get the job. Sometimes life is fickle. In such a case, try to get some positive feedback on your interview technique and move on.

If things appear to be going well, your rapport seems to be good and the questions appear to be the ones you prepared for – beware! Stay polite and professional to the end. Don’t try to crack a joke and create any banter with the panel. It is a business meeting and you should keep the tone in that light.

Maybe not the big finale you imagined or rehearsed, but safer by far to conclude your interview with a thank you, a smile and a gentle reminder of your contact details. Before you stand up to leave, especially if youre one of that daredevil breed who recklessly accepts liquid refreshments, make sure that everything spillable is out of harms way. Now, all that remains for you to do is get out of there. At this last delicate stage of the proceedings its advisable not to run. Hazards are everywhere and tripping over the wastebasket, upsetting the coffee table or ripping the telephone line out of its wall-socket will usually go against you. Whenever possible its best to leave your potential new employers office building, fixtures and fittings just as you found them. Play by the rules and youll walk out of there with a new job in the bag. Congratulations. Alternatively, tomorrows another day and another interview.