• Lay out your clothing in advance the night before. You don't want to be frantically searching for a missing sock or clean shirt when you should have left for the interview. Your appearance will not win you any points if it is suitable, but if is unsuitable it will cost you dearly. Dress to project an image of confidence and success, but your total appearance should be suitable for the interview. When undecided what to wear it is best to always err on the side of caution and be conservative.
You may want to tone down some of your personal grooming features such as having minimal jewellery, no overwhelming perfume or deodorant, disguising or hiding tattoos or body piercing, or anything else that may be considered as over-the-top for what could be considered as conservative for your industry.
• Make sure that what you decide to wear is clean and neatly ironed. Take care of other time-consuming chores like polishing your shoes and trimming your nails the day before the interview. You don't want to spend much time preparing for the interview the next day. You run the risk of having too many things to do with too little time, all being compounded by being in a naturally mildly nervous or excited state.
• Decide on how you are going to make your way to the interview venue. Make sure you know exactly how to get there and have alternative transport plan in mind. Aim to be there at least 10 minutes earlier than what is required. Arriving late is perhaps the worst possible start to an interview.
• Have the interview venue address and contact person's name and phone number written on a small piece of paper to take along with you. You may want your agent's or the company's HR department's contact details include in case there is a problem on your way there or at the reception area.
• Gather all the materials and documents you'll need for the interview in one place. Choose somewhere you will have to see them before leaving. You may want to include copies of your CV/resume, a few good references and the directions to the interview venue.
• If you are in an industry that uses portfolios to demonstrate your past accomplishments and the quality of work that you produce, be sure to have these ready to take with you. You might want to include writing samples, flyers about events you planned, letters of recognition or any media articles about something you accomplished or were involved in. Be ready to support past career accomplishments with specific proof or information targeted toward the company's needs.
• Make the efforts of taking your smartest and neatest pen along for the interview. You may want to make brief notes during the interview or you may be asked to fill in some forms. Rather have it and not need it, than need it and not have it.
Remember this: the more you prepare up front, the more relaxed you will feel during the interview; the more relaxed you feel, the better you will perform; the better that you perform, the more likely it is that you will get the job.