1 BE EARLY : There is a saying, “if you are on time, you are late.” Always show up 10–15 minutes early. This shows that you are punctual and also gives you time to interact or survey the scene a little before your interview.

2 DRESS PROFESSIONALLY : Our clothes begin creating expectations about us even before we start talking. Always dress professional for your interview. This does not necessarily mean to wear a suit — for instance, a suit at Google is out of place — but whatever professional is for your industry, wear that.

3 HAVE A GOOD ENERGY ABOUT YOU : Be enthusiastic and positive. This elevates the energy in a room and generally creates a good feeling about you.

4 GREET WITH HIGH IMPORTANCE : You never know who you are greeting, so greet EVERYONE with high importance — from the janitor to the owner of the company. This shows your respect for people and, who knows, the janitor might just be the owner’s nephew.

5 USE SMALL TALK TO FIND SHARED INTERESTS : There are usually brief opportunities for small talk before or after an interview. The best way to use this time is to identify shared interest or experiences. You may have gone to the same college, like the same sports team, or something else. But whatever it is, finding common ground with the interviewer helps leave them with a good feeling about you.