• Your first priority should be a neat and clean appearance. Your clothes should be washed, ironed and free from tears, stains, and missing buttons. Make sure they fit comfortably too.
• Always err on the side of formality. That you are being interviewed by a dot-com known for its casual dressing is not reason enough for you to wear your favourite t-shirt and denims!
• For men, a plain, or very mildly patterned shirt with a buttoned-down collar, and dark trousers is a safe bet. Wear dark socks to match the colour of your trousers. Your polished shoes should be the same colour as your belt.
• For women, non-fussy Indian attire always creates a good impression. Remove all extra jewellery, and go easy on your fragrance.
 

• Your clothes are neat, clean and stain free; your shoes are polished.
• You have several unsoiled copies of all relevant documents with you, in a briefcase or folder, not a plastic shopping bag.
• You have a fair amount of knowledge of the organization you are being interviewed by.
• You are not reeking of paan, or smoke; this is definitely not the time to top up on your fragrance either.
• You have gone to the loo one last time.

Finally, you have a few minutes in which to take a deep breath and calm yourself down.
 

• Shake hands, introduce yourself, and wait to be invited to sit down.
• Don’t put your nervousness on display by sitting on the edge of your chair, swinging your legs or fiddling with your clothes.
• Your pre-interview rehearsals will help you deal with the interviewers’ questions. Smile, and speak of your achievements with confidence. This is not the time or place for modesty!
• If you want to overcome with stage fright, look at just one interviewer, and pretend this is a one-on-one interview.
• Remember the interview is a dialogue. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. However, don’t dominate the conversation, or allow your questioning to turn into an interrogation.
• So—is it cool to smoke during your interview? The answer is…NO! Don’t smoke, speak ill of your previous employer, or tell obvious lies about your work experience, achievements, and salary.
• Finally, smile and thank the interviewers for their time, and express definite interest in the job.