Make Good First Impressions -- to Everyone You Encounter. A cardinal rule of interviewing: Be polite and offer warm greetings to everyone you meet -- from parking attendant or receptionist to the hiring manager. Employers often are curious how job applicants treat staff members -- and your job offer could easily be derailed if you're rude or arrogant to any of the staff.
When it's time for the interview, keep in mind that first impressions -- the ones interviewers make in the first few seconds of greeting you -- can make or break an interview. Make a strong first impression by dressing well (see #3), arriving early (see #4), and when greeting your interviewer, stand, smile, make eye contact, and offer a firm (neither limp and nor bone-crushing) handshake.
Remember that having a positive attitude and expressing enthusiasm for the job and employer are vital in the initial stages of the interview; studies show that hiring managers make critical decisions about job applicants in the first 20 minutes of the interview.