In my recruiting days, I frequently saw candidates who, although qualified, undermined themselves at EVERY turn through an amazing lack of interview etiquette and professionalism.

Study these tips prior to that all-important interview… especially when you’ve promised yourself that things will be different this time:

1) Look serious. What do your demeanor, dress, and attitude say about you? Get feedback from a friend, and rework any components that need to be addressed.

I’ll never forget the young woman who showed up at our corporate office in a sweater and jeans, wearing a backpack. Her message of disinterest could not have been louder.

2) Be prepared. With nearly every company online these days, there is no excuse for not doing your homework.

Tap into press releases, websites, and annual reports to formulate some questions about the company, their mission, and the job at hand—and have your notes ready to go.

3) Rehearse answers to common questions. If basic queries such as “Tell me about your strengths” make you freeze, it’s time for some serious preparation.

Giving thoughtful responses and practicing answers WILL pay off when you see that smile on the interviewer’s face—and you get called back for a second interview.

4) Act interested. Do you fail to take notes? Look everywhere but at the interviewer? Skip asking your own questions?

If you want to be remembered, bring a notepad, open it up, and carry on an intelligent dialogue about the company and the requirements for the open position.

5) Follow up. A staffing corporation study found that 88% of executives are swayed by candidates who write a thank-you note—yet nearly HALF of all job seekers fail to send one!

Consider the message you want to leave with a potential employer, and make every attempt to distinguish yourself from others competing for the same position.

Laura Smith-Proulx, CPRW, founder of An Expert Resume and author of “Solve Your Toughest Resume Challenges to Win More Interviews! 25 Secrets to Fast-Track Career Success,” uses a background in corporate recruiting to achieve a 98% résumé success rate landing interviews for fast-track professionals.

For FREE tips on how to create a knockout resume and successfully manage your career transition, visit www.AnExpertResume.com.