Interviews are your gateway to the corporate world, your face-to-face meeting point with potential employers, your only chance to make an impact. Like a stage artist between curtains up to curtains down, you have just enough time to confidently emphasize how you would benefit the organization and be the best fit for the job offer. Hence it is imperative to plan and project yourself in the best possible manner.

Prior to your actual interview, there is a bit of groundwork that needs to be done.

• Find out as much as possible about the company, work ethics, management style, market presence, turnover, projections and salary scales through company brochures, web site and employees.

• Tally match yourself against the offer and personally evaluate your suitability to the responsibility at hand. Work out for yourself, why you would be the best bet and how your individual traits will add value to the company's bottom line. Practice describing your accomplishments and experience in light of the job at hand.

• Mentally visualize yourself at the interview from start to finish, confidently tackling each question, planning also for the tough questions.

On the day of the interview, relax and work up a positive image with the right blend of formal attire, style and confidence.

• Be sharp on time. Being late tells the employer that you don't care about his time.

• Match your dress with the job you are applying for. Take care never to dress gaudily or wear excess make -up or jewellery. Go for the formal office look.

• There is no excuse for sloppiness. Hence take special care to be well groomed with manicured nails, clean hair and ironed clothes.

• A firm handshake shows confidence. The interviewer will be put off by sweaty palms, so don't sweat, just be cool.

• Non-verbal communication, body language is a route of communication that you need to be aware of, since the vibes you transmit are directly proportional to how you feel. Hence you must take extra care to relax and feel good.

• Be interested in what the interviewer is telling you and read between the lines. Enthusiasm, eye contact shows you are genuine and honest.

• Give the interviewer your ear. Absorb everything he tells you and ask questions. Be spontaneous.

• Tackle any questions which elicit a negative response about previous employers diplomatically. Use this opportunity to be positive and enumerate what you learnt from the previous job.

• Tackle money questions with care. Prior surveys within and outside the company will be a help here. Know your value and quote your price. Be extremely careful how you put it. Assertive and sure of yourself, never overshoot your mark or undersell yourself.

• Smile, it adds to your face value. Smiling people are a pleasure to know and have in any organization.