Everyone needs to prepare for the interview. Everyone. Even if you’ve already been working for a while, don’t fall into the trap of thinking you don’t need to do your homework to make a great impression. From your physical appearance to your knowledge of the company and this particular job, you have to know exactly how to convey that you’re the perfect fit for this position. Here are some tips to strategize for the meeting and tackle the toughest questions so you can bring your A-Game.

Be sure you learn all you can about the company. There’s no excuse for failing to get the big picture in terms of their market, their competition, any active projects, current news releases or even visiting the property, if possible. Your goal is to be able to express what value you’ll bring to the job so you’ll need to be as informed as possible.

Arrive 15 minutes early.  It’s important you’re not too early or late. It’s disruptive to the recruiter’s schedule to have to come out and greet you before they’re ready or have to delay their schedule if you’re late.

Turn your phone off. You don’t want to be interrupted by a text or have your phone pinging with reminders. Turn it off and put it out of sight during the interview.

Think about what questions you may be asked and prepare your answers. You don’t want to be thrown off by a question you didn’t anticipate. Jot down some notes and be sure you can concisely answer the question as it relates to this particular job. No need to memorize the answers. That may make you sound rehearsed and robotic.

Think about some smart questions to ask your interviewer. They should show that you’ve thought about the job and are paying attention during the interview. Try to ask some things you’ve read about on their website or social media to show you’re interested in the company as a whole.

Be sure to practice with someone else so you’re can answer confidently. It will help you clarify your thoughts and make you much more comfortable.

Never speak negatively about a past employer or colleagues. Keep your answers positive and focus on what you’ve learned that you can bring to this new job.

Dress appropriately. That doesn’t mean you have to wear a suit or something formal. You should take your cues from the general office culture. No matter what you wear, it must be clean, pressed, and put together. Shoes should be clean and polished no outrageous nail or hair color or any quirky clothing. When you look your best, you’ll feel more confident.

Bring printed copies of your resume. You never know if you may need to leave one or you might have multiple people in the interview that may not have a copy handy. You may be asked to fill out an application on-site, even though you’ve submitted your resume. Be prepared with all your facts.

Be aware of your body language. Your posture, the way you sit and your movements convey subtle messages. Make sure you’re not slouching, fidgeting, playing with your hair, etc.

Take notes during the interview.  If you want to pursue something further, you’ll have a note to keep you on track. If you think of a question to ask at the end of the interview that’s related to your discussion, you’ll have it handy. It shows you’re paying attention and thinking ahead.

Probably not a good idea to accept a pastry or coffee when it’s offered.  And don’t bring a drink with you into the interview. The last thing you need is to spill something on the interviewer’s desk or on yourself and you don’t need crumbs cascading down your shirt or something stuck in your teeth.

Don’t bring up compensation. Of course, you’ll get to that when an offer is made and you’ll negotiate at that time.  It’s rude to demand a minimum level of pay or seem combative about your worth.

Think about what the interviewer is looking for. That will help you get into the right mindset. What are they looking for and what does their ideal candidate look like and say?

Don’t ramble on and on. It’s not uncommon to be asked to share “a time when…..”  Or “how did you handle……”  Have some examples and stories prepared that demonstrate what you did or how you handled a specific situation.

Remember, the interview isn’t only about your skills and experience.  The recruiter can get that from your resume. He/she is also gauging your behavior. Consider what personality traits he may be looking for and if you understand the true value of customer service. Convey that you’re the type of person who will go the extra mile and who cares about the customer’s experience.

After the interview, make sure you know what the next steps are, thank the hiring manager for his/her time and be sure to send a personal, hand-written thank-you note. An email thank you is ok, but a hand-written note will stand out and show your attention to detail.