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When it comes to interviews, a little thoughtful preparation can go a long way.

Here are our 9 essential interview tips:

1.  Dress appropriately

Different interviews call for different outfits:  If you’re going to an interview at a Big 5 consulting firm, you should wear a suit; if you’re going to an interview for a managerial position at a chain restaurant, khakis and a shirt are fine (and a fancy suit might be way too much).

There’s nothing wrong with asking about appropriate attire, either – a simple “What is your office environment like – formal or business casual?” either in an email or on the phone when you’re arranging your interview can save a lot of embarrassment later.

(And remember:  99% of the time, it’s better to arrive over-dressed than under-dressed, so if you’re not sure, go for a more formal look.  No one will mark you down for trying extra hard.)

2.  Dress appropriately for recruiters, too (no flip-flops!)

Some people think:  “Oh, I’m just meeting with a recruiter – it doesn’t matter what I wear.”

Wrong.

The recruiter is the person in the best position to ‘sell’ you into a potential employer, and will have a good idea of what that employer is looking for in terms of personal presentation.  If you show up in yoga pants and flip-flops, how will the recruiter know you look fantastic in a 3-piece suit?  It’s often fine to wear business casual to a meeting with a recruiter, but once again, it’s better to ask in advance than show up in the wrong outfit.

3.  Don’t show up too early (or too late, or not at all)

The best time to arrive for your interview is 5 minutes before the scheduled time.  Not 30 minutes early (which is not only inconvenient for the interviewer, but makes him/her wonder if you knew what time you were supposed to show up), not 10 minutes late (do I really have to tell you why being late is a bad idea?), and definitely don’t be a no-show unless you’ve fallen into a coma and don’t plan on working in any job for a while.

If you’re going to be unavoidably late or have to reschedule, call – ahead of time – and explain the situation.  It doesn’t have to be a disaster.

4.  Spend at least 30 minutes on research

You may be desperate for a job and not much care where you work, but employers want you to at least pretend that you’ve targeted them for your next career move.  So before your interview, spend a little time with Google to learn about the company you’re interviewing with:  Learn their mission/vision, an overview of their products and services, what they seem to be focusing on now, etc.

Then make reference to these in your interview:  “Well, I really wanted to work at Acme Inc. because I’m a big fan of your environmental/recycling program…”  and “I think what you’re doing with your recent YouTube campaign is interesting…” are good ways to demonstrate you’ve been paying attention and will make a good fit.

5.  Bring documentation

Whether you’re interviewing with a recruiting company or an employer, you should bring:

• A copy of your resume
• Names and contact info of your references (you’ll probably be asked to fill out a reference verification form)
• Recent grads may want to bring a copy of their diploma
• If you’re working in the country on a special visa, bring your passport and permission-to-work documentation

We also think it can be helpful to bring printed copies of any relevant articles or blog posts you’ve written recently.  (Hey, you never know when something like that might make the difference between you and another equally-qualified candidate.)

6.  Firm handshakes and eye contact

How you shake hands says a lot about you, but the bottom line is this:  Firm handshakes make good impressions; limp (or absent) handshakes make poor ones.  (And no, women don’t need you to spare their tender hands by giving them a limp handshake.)

Eye contact is equally important:  People who don’t make eye contact are perceived as deceptive and unfriendly; people who look at people to whom they’re speaking are engaged and engaging.

7.  Be friendly – and it’s okay to have a personality

The truth is that your resume and cover letter have already told the interviewer that you have the basic skills and experience required for the job.  The interview is your opportunity to show that you’re the kind of person they want to work with every day.

That means being comfortable with a little small talk (“Can you believe this heatwave?”), offering some genuine enthusiasm (“Wow, this is a great office location!”) – even a relevant question or two (“I see you’re using the new iPhone – how are you liking it?”).

Don’t totally bury your personality, either – both you and the potential employer are going to be happier if you end up working somewhere you fit in with the culture and environment.  Just keep it positive and try to make it relevant (“I notice you’ve got Vanity Fair on your desk – I love Vanity Fair!  Did you see last month’s piece on Grace Kelly?” or “I see you’ve got a lot of Apple computers here – I’m a big Apple fan!”).

You’d be surprised at how many people get hired because someone just ‘liked’ them in the interview.

8.  Prepare some examples

More and more companies are using what they call ‘behavioural interviewing‘ techniques.  This means they’ll ask you about specific situations (challenges) in which you used job-related skills.

Examples of questions they’ll ask:

• Describe a situation in which you had to demonstrate creative problem-solving skills
• Describe a situation in which you had to get a big project done on a tight timeline
• Tell me about the last time you had to work with a difficult co-worker

Your answers don’t always have to be from on-the-job experiences (especially if you’re a junior who hasn’t been in the workforce for very long) but they do need to be relevant, concise, and show you in a positive light.

Before you start interviewing, think of some situations in which you’ve accomplished something you’ve been proud of:  Organized a big event, managed a big project, worked super-hard for a couple of weeks to meet a deadline.  Then practice describing them in 2-3 sentences.

(It’s likely that the interviewer will ask you about ‘weaknesses’ or something you could have done better in these situations.  Make sure you have something to say about this, too – but keep it positive:  “I think next time I’d have established a weekly status meeting right from the beginning – it would have kept us on track earlier.”)

9.  Ask some questions yourself

Remember, part of the interview is you interviewing the company.  It may be a great job – but is it a great job for you?

So don’t be afraid to ask some questions:

• Can you walk me through a typical day in this role?
• Can you tell me more about the culture of the office and/or the department I’ll be working in?
• Are you looking for someone who is entrepreneurial?

(Keep in mind that questions like “When can I expect a raise?” and “How much vacation time would I get?” are bad ideas, until you actually have an offer on the table.)