1. Dress Appropriately - You only get one chance to make a first impression and most of that impression is based on your wardrobe before you even shake hands. Clean, pressed and conservative is always best. Dark suit, light shirt or blouse, polished shoes and minimal, simple jewelry; nothing over the top and nothing that promotes an entity or cause. Leave your cell phone in the car.

2. A Firm Handshake - In the corporate world, your handshake says a lot about you. Make sure you start your interview off right with a strong, firm handshake. If your handshake is limp and hesitant, it will tell the interviewer that you are unsure of yourself.

3. Eye Contact - While some people are uncomfortable making direct eye contact with others, not doing so can send the interviewer the signal that you are uninterested or lack confidence. Look your interviewer in the eye and listen to what he or she has to say. Some people who are uncomfortable with direct eye contact look instead at the other person's "third eye," the area just above and between the person's two eyes.

4. Answer the Question- Keep your answers focused and on topic. If possible, limit your responses to a couple of minutes. While you have many points you may need to make in an interview, don’t talk too much. The last thing you want is for your interviewer to lose interest in your responses.

5. Be involved in the conversation- As annoying as over-answering can be, you can also turn off an interviewer by not talking enough. An interview is a conversation, and you need to be able to keep the conversation going. Be able to elaborate and answer questions intelligently.

6. Be Patient - Nobody likes to be interrupted. Not only is interrupting annoying to an interviewer, it gives the impression that you do not respect the other person's point of view and what he or she has to say. Even if you have an important point to make, wait until there the other person stops talking before you jump in.

7. Accurate Resume - There are many jobseekers who have "padded" their resumes from time to time. However, this can mean big trouble for you in an interview. Don't claim to have experience or qualifications you do not actually have. Be able to back up your professional qualifications and experience with specific examples. Also, be able to back up personal claims you make about yourself. If you tell your interviewer you are a perfectionist, make sure you do not have typos or spelling errors in your resume. Demonstrate that you have enough credibility to get the job done.

8. Arrive Early - Nothing says "I’m eager to get this job" like showing up a few (3-5) minutes early. Make sure you know where the company is ahead of time, and give yourself extra time for parking and finding the right office. If you do run into trouble, such as unforeseen traffic backups, make sure you have your interviewer's phone number with you to alert them ahead of time.

9. Know the Company - Impress your interviewer by doing thorough research about the company prior to the interview. Have 3-5 written questions prepared. Bring a notepad and take notes during the interview.

10. Be Professional - Remember that a job interview is a professional situation, which means leaving slang phrases at the front door. Answer questions in full sentences with a minimum of fillers such as "like," "um," and "you know." Avoid street language and casual vernacular (such as "sucks,") which make you sound unprofessional.

11. Ask For the Job - If you are impressed with the company, the person you have met with and you want to be offered the job, you need to ask for it. The best way is to a) ask the interviewer if you possess the skills and traits they are looking for b) explain that the company is offering the professional opportunity and challenge you seek c) ask what the next steps will be d) ask to take that next step and tell them you want to be a part of the organization. If, at any point, the interviewer expresses concern about your background or skills, you must ask specifically about their concern and try to explain why the objection is not appropriate.

12. Smile - People want to hire someone who is positive and upbeat. Nothing says that more than simply smiling. Being too stern and serious will turn off an interviewer because they will fear that you could be a "killjoy" and wouldn't be fun to have as part of the team.

13. Write a thank you note– Get a business card from the interviewer and write a follow-up note thanking the interviewer for their time and affirming your interest in the position. If you want to make a lasting impression, write an e-mail thank you before the end of the same business day you interviewed, then send a handwritten thank you card and get it in the mail that day. The combination of an immediate thank you followed by the handwritten thank you will make a very positive impression.