The first five minutes often sets the tone for the rest of the job interview.  If you can make a good impression and maintain a relaxed attitude from the outset, you'll find the rest of the interview will roll right along.

Here are some suggestions to help you make sure the interview gets off on the right foot.

Greet the interviewer.  Sounds simple, but many people forget this basic courtesy.

Smile. A sincere smile can do a lot to put both of you at ease.

Introduce yourself. Don't assume the interviewer already knows your name.

Shake hands firmly and warmly.

Make eye contact when speaking. On the other hand, don't stare the interviewer down either. Maintain eye contact in a way that you would with a friend during a casual conversation.

Stand until the interviewer asks you to sit down.

Relax and sit naturally but do not slump in your chair or lean on the interviewer's desk.

Be prepared to make small talk to put both of you at ease.

Be prepared to talk about yourself as a person.

Speak in a firm, clear, confident voice. You may have great answers to all the interviewer's questions, but that won't matter if your responses are so muffled or timidly expressed that the interviewer can't hear you or doesn't believe you.

Maintain a positive attitude throughout the interview.

Practice your interview skills with someone--a parent, a brother or sister, a friend, a teacher, or a counsellor. Have them give you feedback on how well you perform some of the actions mentioned above. Is your voice clear and understandable? Do you look comfortable? Do you make good eye contact?

Videotape yourself in an interview situation, if you have access to a video recorder. Watching yourself on tape may seem embarrassing, but it can be a great way to find out what you do well and what areas you could improve on. Did you notice any odd habits you have -- fidgeting a lot or a nervous giggle -- that you could work on quitting?

Come on down to the Youth Employment Centre. We provide workshops to help you develop your interview skills and we have trained counsellors who can help you on a one-to-one basis. We also have a video camera onsite, which clients can use along with their counsellors to help improve their interview skills. Learn more about YEC services here.