Acing that interview starts from the moment you apply.

It is the end of May and as we quickly approach the summer months, students are beginning to think about summer employment, graduates are starting to think about career planning, and non student applicants are starting to worry about the increased competition due to the influx of recent grads. This means it’s time for me to reiterate the importance of making a great first impression.

Planning for an interview begins long before the actual interview takes place. It is during the application process that you should start planning for that perfect interview. Don’t go blasting out a bunch of resumes, all willy-nilly, if you will be unavailable to interview because of exams or summer vacation plans. Be available to interview and track where your resumes are going, so if you have to go to an interview on short notice, you seem prepared. Before applying, do some research on the company and on what direction they are looking to go, so you have some cool points to talk about. When you are booked for the interview, get proper directions to the location, get the name of the interviewer, and ask if you should bring anything with you.

My frontend team recently informed me that candidates clearly need a reminder about proper interview etiquette. When you walk into the interview location, be organized and on time. Arrive five to fifteen minutes prior to your scheduled interview time with at least one empty hand, so you can shake hands, open doors, and pull out a chair. Don’t bring anything with you that is considered casual or unprofessional, like a coffee, a bunch of shopping bags, or a mish mash of technology. Look polished and dress appropriately for the type of company you are applying with, not necessarily just the job you applied for.

Walk in with a smile and kindly let the receptionist know who you are there to meet. Remember that the receptionist is someone who already works where you want to work, they have some influence, and they will talk about you when you leave. Never complain about anything when you are waiting for the interviewer, except maybe the weather, everyone can relate to that. Just don’t complain about parking, the time of day, how far the location is from home, or anything along those lines. Your first impression should be a positive capture of who you are, clean, organized and upbeat. Making a great first impression will be passed along to the hiring authority, and may give you a leg up on the job seeker competition.

It is the small details that can make the big difference in getting you your dream job offer.

To reach your destination, requires a little planning.

People often choose the most comfortable route in life. Whatever their destination may be, the familiar route is an easy choice. Most of us take the time to plan our way to work based on transit schedules or traffic jams. Either way, most people spend more time planning their morning commute than they do the direction of their lives.

We should all take the time to decide what we want the outcome of our lives to be, and realize the journey required to get there. Then, we should plan that journey, and have contingency plans in place in order to deal with any obstacles we may encounter so we are prepared when things don’t go perfectly.

The journey of life is filled with twists and turns, ups and downs. Yet, most people are still shocked when something happens that is unexpected. We should plan for emergencies like a job layoff or a family birth or death, all inevitable at some point in life. When we are challenged by something truly unexpected, it’s also very important to have a strong network of support, including friends, family, and neighbors who we can rely on for help when we need it most.

Change can be scary. People are often afraid of going the wrong way or hitting a dead end, and ending up worse off than if they had just maintained course. But, if we take the time to analyze the potential outcomes of our choices, we will see that most of our fear is irrational, that the potential rewards are worth the risks, and that we can overcome the fear with positive, rational thinking and planning.

Time is flying by and we are not taking enough time to plan our futures! Today, plan a short journey through the month of June, and set a goal to reach by month’s end. What do we want this month to look like? Our careers, our relationships, and our finances should all have a planned outcome of some sort. Are we happy with our current journey? What can we do about any sudden bumps in the road that may arise? Fulfillment takes planning and execution. Take a few minutes today to plan your journey, for the month, for the year, or for your lifetime, but definitely more than tomorrow’s travel route to work.