It is typical that most applicants spend a lot of time preparing their written job application, but don't put the same time and effort into preparing for the interview. But, a candidate who prepares well and presents well at an interview will always win out over candidates with similar credentials and experience.

To help you ace your next job interview, I've turned the interview process inside out with a list of 30 ‘must do's' that will help you win over interviewers like myself.

1. Do confirm all important details such as time and location the day prior to the interview.
2. Do some background research, or review the research you have already completed. By the time you attend the interview you should be reasonably well acquainted with the organisation and the type of work they do, as well as the details of the position.
3. Do dress accordingly. While it is true that the rules of dress in the workplace have changed in recent years, in most cases you will still be expected to wear a suit and tie (if you are male) to an interview. I once heard it said that you should dress in the workplace according to where you want to be in the hierarchy, not where you currently are. This is even more important in a job interview.
4. Do arrive 15 minutes early. Not arriving early is considered being late.
5. Do give yourself plenty of time to make the journey and park the car, or if travelling by public transport allow for delays or cancellations.
6. Do stay calm, explain and apologise if you are late. The interviewer would rather hear an apology than nothing at all.
7. Do allow for double the time you are told the interview will take. It is not uncommon for interviews to start late and run overtime. While it's not reasonable for candidates to be late or ramble overtime in an interview, the same rules do not apply for the interviewer. You should therefore ensure your parking meter is taken care of, and do not schedule appointments directly following the interview.
8. Do switch off your mobile. Or better still, leave it behind.
9. Do shake hands confidently. Handshakes have a far deeper significance than most of us would credit. Never underestimate the power of first impressions.
10. Do be yourself. Don't play roles - you are selling yourself, not something you're not and can't deliver.
11. Do smile and be friendly. Try to form rapport with the interviewer. One of the basic rules of human behaviour indicates that someone is viewed more favourably if they are likeable.
12. Do make eye contact. If you are faced with an interview panel (ie two or more people interviewing you), it can be hard to know who to look at when answering the interview questions. As a rule of thumb, focus on the person who asked you the question, however try to address each member at some stage during the interview.
13. Do avoid one-word answers, unless it is obvious that this is all that the interviewer wants to hear. Introduce what you are about to say, and then expand. In my experience, not providing enough information is the biggest mistake made in interviews. If you don't say it, the interviewer may assume you don't know it, or can't do it.
14. Do keep it concise. While it may seem contradictory to the last point, it is important to keep from rambling on. Present all the relevant information while remaining as succinct as possible. Rambling is the second biggest mistake made in an interview. To overcome this, really listen to the question, and answer the question, and answer it concisely. So many applicants get this wrong. They are asked a question, and they go off on a tangent. They might think they are saying what the interviewer wanted to hear, but they didn't answer the question.
15. Do stay positive. Making negative or derogatory comments about your past employers or colleagues will not make you look any better. In fact it will have the opposite effect!
16. Do agree with the interviewer even if you know they are wrong. An interview is not the place to participate in an argument, and in most cases will fast track your application on the bottom of the pile.
17. Do tell the truth. If you're caught out lying or embellishing you will ruin all future chances with this employer, and may face disciplinary action for fraud if you are already working for this organisation.
18. Do use the word "I". Always use "I" when describing the work you have done in the past. Using "we" gives the impression that you may not have done the work independently, or that you weren't even involved in the first place. Hearing "we" rings alarm bells for interviewers.
19. Do use examples. It is one thing to say you can do something, but it is much better to provide an example of where you have done it.
20. Do ask for clarification if you are unsure about what a question means, or what the interviewer is looking for.
21. Do ask questions about the role early on if it is appropriate. Then fit your responses to what you have learned.
22. Do take a copy of your application and the job specification (if you have one) with you and keep a copy in front of you during the interview. Knowing what the interview question is aimed at will help you frame your responses correctly.
23. Do pause to reflect before answering the question. This will avoid an interview full of "umms" and "ahhs". If you have been given a glass of water, sit, think, reflect and have a drink before launching into your response.
24. Do reflect the interviewer's communication style. Allow the interviewer to set the tone of conversation. Mirroring their style can vastly improve your chances of making a favourable impression.
25. Do stick to the topic. Don't get off track.
26. Do put together a portfolio of your work to present at an interview. It may not always be looked at during an interview, but presenting examples of your work can strengthen your claims for a position, and it also demonstrates your initiative and innovation. Things to put in a portfolio include reports you have written, screen dumps of computer applications you use, certificates, awards, letters of recommendation, performance appraisals and so on. (Be sure that you are not breaching any copyright, security restrictions or intellectual property before including something in your portfolio).
27. DO ASK A QUESTION! If you are asked at the end of the interview if you have any questions, the answer is always YES! More than anything it shows that you have prepared, and interviewers love to see applicants who are well prepared and motivated about the position.
28. Do know exactly what salary you would like to commence at, as it is likely that this will be asked during the interview.
29. Do remain focussed on what the employer wants. Don't bring up conditions of service during the interview unless someone else brings it up first. The interview is supposed to be about y
    Bellsouth Secrets Revealed
    Formed after the American Telephone and Telegraph Company (AT&T) was forced to break up its regional companies, Bellsouth is based in Atlanta. Strangely enough, it is also the only one of those companies left that uses an actual bell symbol in its company logo. Bellsouth is a combination of Southern Bell and South Central Bell and provides services to 9 southern states in the eastern United StatesIn the 1990’s, when mergers were the name of the game, this company took a pass. Still serving the same states they did when they were first peeled out from under the AT& T umbrella, they have gone from the largest of the bells to one of the smallest. In 2004, in fact, their revenue was only about $28 billion.In order to provide many of the services this company does to its customers, they operate a number of other smaller companies. For instance Bellsouth Telecommunications provides local phone, while Bellsouth.net is a provider of internet service. Long distance comes to the region via Bellsouth Long Distance and Bellsouth international provides inte
    urrently are. This is even more important in a job interview.
30. Do arrive 15 minutes early. Not arriving early is considered being late.
31. Do give yourself plenty of time to make the journey and park the car, or if travelling by public transport allow for delays or cancellations.
32. Do stay calm, explain and apologise if you are late. The interviewer would rather hear an apology than nothing at all.
33. Do allow for double the time you are told the interview will take. It is not uncommon for interviews to start late and run overtime. While it's not reasonable for candidates to be late or ramble overtime in an interview, the same rules do not apply for the interviewer. You should therefore ensure your parking meter is taken care of, and do not schedule appointments directly following the interview.
34. Do switch off your mobile. Or better still, leave it behind.
35. Do shake hands confidently. Handshakes have a far deeper significance than most of us would credit. Never underestimate the power of first impressions.
36. Do be yourself. Don't play roles - you are selling yourself, not something you're not and can't deliver.
37. Do smile and be friendly. Try to form rapport with the interviewer. One of the basic rules of human behaviour indicates that someone is viewed more favourably if they are likeable.
38. Do make eye contact. If you are faced with an interview panel (ie two or more people interviewing you), it can be hard to know who to look at when answering the interview questions. As a rule of thumb, focus on the person who asked you the question, however try to address each member at some stage during the interview.
39. Do avoid one-word answers, unless it is obvious that this is all that the interviewer wants to hear. Introduce what you are about to say, and then expand. In my experience, not providing enough information is the biggest mistake made in interviews. If you don't say it, the interviewer may assume you don't know it, or can't do it.
40. Do keep it concise. While it may seem contradictory to the last point, it is important to keep from rambling on. Present all the relevant information while remaining as succinct as possible. Rambling is the second biggest mistake made in an interview. To overcome this, really listen to the question, and answer the question, and answer it concisely. So many applicants get this wrong. They are asked a question, and they go off on a tangent. They might think they are saying what the interviewer wanted to hear, but they didn't answer the question.
41. Do stay positive. Making negative or derogatory comments about your past employers or colleagues will not make you look any better. In fact it will have the opposite effect!
42. Do agree with the interviewer even if you know they are wrong. An interview is not the place to participate in an argument, and in most cases will fast track your application on the bottom of the pile.
43. Do tell the truth. If you're caught out lying or embellishing you will ruin all future chances with this employer, and may face disciplinary action for fraud if you are already working for this organisation.
44. Do use the word "I". Always use "I" when describing the work you have done in the past. Using "we" gives the impression that you may not have done the work independently, or that you weren't even involved in the first place. Hearing "we" rings alarm bells for interviewers.
45. Do use examples. It is one thing to say you can do something, but it is much better to provide an example of where you have done it.
46. Do ask for clarification if you are unsure about what a question means, or what the interviewer is looking for.
47. Do ask questions about the role early on if it is appropriate. Then fit your responses to what you have learned.
48. Do take a copy of your application and the job specification (if you have one) with you and keep a copy in front of you during the interview. Knowing what the interview question is aimed at will help you frame your responses correctly.
49. Do pause to reflect before answering the question. This will avoid an interview full of "umms" and "ahhs". If you have been given a glass of water, sit, think, reflect and have a drink before launching into your response.
50. Do reflect the interviewer's communication style. Allow the interviewer to set the tone of conversation. Mirroring their style can vastly improve your chances of making a favourable impression.
51. Do stick to the topic. Don't get off track.
52. Do put together a portfolio of your work to present at an interview. It may not always be looked at during an interview, but presenting examples of your work can strengthen your claims for a position, and it also demonstrates your initiative and innovation. Things to put in a portfolio include reports you have written, screen dumps of computer applications you use, certificates, awards, letters of recommendation, performance appraisals and so on. (Be sure that you are not breaching any copyright, security restrictions or intellectual property before including something in your portfolio).
53. DO ASK A QUESTION! If you are asked at the end of the interview if you have any questions, the answer is always YES! More than anything it shows that you have prepared, and interviewers love to see applicants who are well prepared and motivated about the position.
54. Do know exactly what salary you would like to commence at, as it is likely that this will be asked during the interview.
55. Do remain focussed on what the employer wants. Don't bring up conditions of service during the interview unless someone else brings it up first. The interview is supposed to be about
    How to Create a Name for Your Cleaning Business
    Before you open the doors of your cleaning business you not only need equipment and supplies, you need a name for your business. The name of your company will be the first thing prospective clients see - whether that is in the phone book, on your company car, in an ad, or on a website. The name symbolizes what your cleaning business represents. So it is important to spend some time on choosing a name that not only fits your cleaning business, but also presents a positive image to customers, suppliers and employees.The easiest way to name your business it to use your own name or initials, such as Joe Smith's Cleaning. This provides a personal touch, is easy to remember, and if you have a proven track record in the business, it can attract customers. However, if your plan is to one day sell your business, you might want to consider something less personal.Instead of using your name or initials, you may want to think of descriptive or suggestive wording for your business name. When going this route begin by brainstorming key words or phrases
    th an interview panel (ie two or more people interviewing you), it can be hard to know who to look at when answering the interview questions. As a rule of thumb, focus on the person who asked you the question, however try to address each member at some stage during the interview.
56. Do avoid one-word answers, unless it is obvious that this is all that the interviewer wants to hear. Introduce what you are about to say, and then expand. In my experience, not providing enough information is the biggest mistake made in interviews. If you don't say it, the interviewer may assume you don't know it, or can't do it.
57. Do keep it concise. While it may seem contradictory to the last point, it is important to keep from rambling on. Present all the relevant information while remaining as succinct as possible. Rambling is the second biggest mistake made in an interview. To overcome this, really listen to the question, and answer the question, and answer it concisely. So many applicants get this wrong. They are asked a question, and they go off on a tangent. They might think they are saying what the interviewer wanted to hear, but they didn't answer the question.
58. Do stay positive. Making negative or derogatory comments about your past employers or colleagues will not make you look any better. In fact it will have the opposite effect!
59. Do agree with the interviewer even if you know they are wrong. An interview is not the place to participate in an argument, and in most cases will fast track your application on the bottom of the pile.
60. Do tell the truth. If you're caught out lying or embellishing you will ruin all future chances with this employer, and may face disciplinary action for fraud if you are already working for this organisation.
61. Do use the word "I". Always use "I" when describing the work you have done in the past. Using "we" gives the impression that you may not have done the work independently, or that you weren't even involved in the first place. Hearing "we" rings alarm bells for interviewers.
62. Do use examples. It is one thing to say you can do something, but it is much better to provide an example of where you have done it.
63. Do ask for clarification if you are unsure about what a question means, or what the interviewer is looking for.
64. Do ask questions about the role early on if it is appropriate. Then fit your responses to what you have learned.
65. Do take a copy of your application and the job specification (if you have one) with you and keep a copy in front of you during the interview. Knowing what the interview question is aimed at will help you frame your responses correctly.
66. Do pause to reflect before answering the question. This will avoid an interview full of "umms" and "ahhs". If you have been given a glass of water, sit, think, reflect and have a drink before launching into your response.
67. Do reflect the interviewer's communication style. Allow the interviewer to set the tone of conversation. Mirroring their style can vastly improve your chances of making a favourable impression.
68. Do stick to the topic. Don't get off track.
69. Do put together a portfolio of your work to present at an interview. It may not always be looked at during an interview, but presenting examples of your work can strengthen your claims for a position, and it also demonstrates your initiative and innovation. Things to put in a portfolio include reports you have written, screen dumps of computer applications you use, certificates, awards, letters of recommendation, performance appraisals and so on. (Be sure that you are not breaching any copyright, security restrictions or intellectual property before including something in your portfolio).
70. DO ASK A QUESTION! If you are asked at the end of the interview if you have any questions, the answer is always YES! More than anything it shows that you have prepared, and interviewers love to see applicants who are well prepared and motivated about the position.
71. Do know exactly what salary you would like to commence at, as it is likely that this will be asked during the interview.
72. Do remain focussed on what the employer wants. Don't bring up conditions of service during the interview unless someone else brings it up first. The interview is supposed to be about
    Fractional Fairytales - Private Air Charter
    Once upon a time, long, long ago -- in the early 1990s -- the concept of fractional ownership in private aircraft was born, and there was much rejoicing throughout the land. People who never believed they'd be able to afford, or justify, owning a private jet suddenly had the opportunity to purchase partial ownership in one."At last," the people thought, "there is an affordable alternative to commercial airlines and private air charter. No longer will I be at the mercy of someone else's set schedules and destinations. I can fly where I want, when I want. No longer will I have to suffer interminable lines, deal with impersonal clerks, or eat indigestible meals. I will have my own private jet at my beck and call!"But, like all fairy tales, there is more myth than truth in this tale. In reality there are few, if any, advantages to fractional ownership over private air charter.FAIRY TALE:Fractional ownership is more convenient than private air charter.THE REALITY:While it may seem that ownership, even partial ownership, o
    nd in most cases will fast track your application on the bottom of the pile.
73. Do tell the truth. If you're caught out lying or embellishing you will ruin all future chances with this employer, and may face disciplinary action for fraud if you are already working for this organisation.
74. Do use the word "I". Always use "I" when describing the work you have done in the past. Using "we" gives the impression that you may not have done the work independently, or that you weren't even involved in the first place. Hearing "we" rings alarm bells for interviewers.
75. Do use examples. It is one thing to say you can do something, but it is much better to provide an example of where you have done it.
76. Do ask for clarification if you are unsure about what a question means, or what the interviewer is looking for.
77. Do ask questions about the role early on if it is appropriate. Then fit your responses to what you have learned.
78. Do take a copy of your application and the job specification (if you have one) with you and keep a copy in front of you during the interview. Knowing what the interview question is aimed at will help you frame your responses correctly.
79. Do pause to reflect before answering the question. This will avoid an interview full of "umms" and "ahhs". If you have been given a glass of water, sit, think, reflect and have a drink before launching into your response.
80. Do reflect the interviewer's communication style. Allow the interviewer to set the tone of conversation. Mirroring their style can vastly improve your chances of making a favourable impression.
81. Do stick to the topic. Don't get off track.
82. Do put together a portfolio of your work to present at an interview. It may not always be looked at during an interview, but presenting examples of your work can strengthen your claims for a position, and it also demonstrates your initiative and innovation. Things to put in a portfolio include reports you have written, screen dumps of computer applications you use, certificates, awards, letters of recommendation, performance appraisals and so on. (Be sure that you are not breaching any copyright, security restrictions or intellectual property before including something in your portfolio).
83. DO ASK A QUESTION! If you are asked at the end of the interview if you have any questions, the answer is always YES! More than anything it shows that you have prepared, and interviewers love to see applicants who are well prepared and motivated about the position.
84. Do know exactly what salary you would like to commence at, as it is likely that this will be asked during the interview.
85. Do remain focussed on what the employer wants. Don't bring up conditions of service during the interview unless someone else brings it up first. The interview is supposed to be about
    The Offer's On The Table
    In twentieth century America while young boys learned construction with Lincoln Logs, little girls instinctively cuddled a Raggedy Ann. Even today Raggedy Ann’s red yarn hair, patched pinafore and button eyes offer images of another era as she celebrates her 90th birthday in museums and private collections.But in 1958 Barbie was born. All grown up and designed with fantasy. This was no rag doll. Barbie’s hair was real and brush-able; her wardrobe generous and trendy. The ‘Barbie’ figure was to become the ultimate achievement of the perfect body. Playing with Barbie during formative years, young girls have acted out all of their dreams.The new millennium brought new images for females. Lifestyle issues changed the way the media influenced the female psyche and redefined some old messages about life, love and growing pains. “Stay sweet” changed to “Be strong”. “Find the right man” changed to “Get your degree”. Careers in nursing were discouraged as parents pushed for Computer Science.While professional women are up from 48% in 1993 to 50%
    esponse.
86. Do reflect the interviewer's communication style. Allow the interviewer to set the tone of conversation. Mirroring their style can vastly improve your chances of making a favourable impression.
87. Do stick to the topic. Don't get off track.
88. Do put together a portfolio of your work to present at an interview. It may not always be looked at during an interview, but presenting examples of your work can strengthen your claims for a position, and it also demonstrates your initiative and innovation. Things to put in a portfolio include reports you have written, screen dumps of computer applications you use, certificates, awards, letters of recommendation, performance appraisals and so on. (Be sure that you are not breaching any copyright, security restrictions or intellectual property before including something in your portfolio).
89. DO ASK A QUESTION! If you are asked at the end of the interview if you have any questions, the answer is always YES! More than anything it shows that you have prepared, and interviewers love to see applicants who are well prepared and motivated about the position.
90. Do know exactly what salary you would like to commence at, as it is likely that this will be asked during the interview.
91. Do remain focussed on what the employer wants. Don't bring up conditions of service during the interview unless someone else brings it up first. The interview is supposed to be about you being suitable for the position, not the other way around. This is something that you can research yourself as most organisations will have their Award, Certified Agreement or equivalent published on the Internet. If it's really important to you, ask later, once the selection process is over.
92. Do stay professional. Each interviewer is going to be different, and every interview experience is going to be different. Some interviewers will be very straight and to the point, while others will be very informal, laid back, and easy going. A lot of applicants make mistakes in this area, they start to feel too comfortable and think, great, this interviewer is really nice. And then they open up and cross the line. Stay professional!