You have one chance to make a lasting impression. A successful first interview is critical to you going on the next step, so you must prepare for this meeting.

Before the interview, it is imperative to prepare for an interview.
There are several steps involved:

1. Research the company. Find out as much as you can about the company, the current business environment, its current competitions, economic factors affecting the industry. Some suggested sites include hoovers.com, yahoo finance, etc.
2. Understand your job. Understand what job you are applying for. Be sure to be prepared to answer questions regarding your background, work experience and education.
3. Know where you are going. You can use many of the online tools (i.e. www.mapquest.com, yahoo maps or www.expedia.com) to map out your route prior to the day of your interview. If you are using public transportation in the NY metro area, you can refer to www.mta.info for your current schedule and ticket information. Be sure to have the names of the people and the exact location where you will meet them (including floor number and suite location).
4. Dress Appropriately. A neat, clean business suit is always recommended for the first interview.
5. Interview Questions. Prepare three questions you want to ask on the interview. These questions should be well thought out.

1. Allow plenty of time to get there- never be late.
2. Bring several copies of your resume, sample questions and professional references.
3. Be prepared with samples of past work, if applicable, i.e. sales standings, portfolio, etc.
4. Get a business card from each person you spoke to.

1. Send a thank you note. The thank you note can be sent via email and can be brief. A separate note should be sent to each person you met with during the interview.
2. Follow up with your recruiter.

Be prepared to provide Hire Options with a complete list of references. This includes name, address, daytime contact number. These people should be professional references, i.e., a prior supervisor, current client or a former peer.

Most importantly, be sure to ask permission from your contact and let them know that you are using them as a reference. Also, be sure to explain that they may be called in the near future. This will help expedite a lengthy reference check process.