1. Turn off your cell phone or pager. This would have to be one of the biggest interview taboos. Turn it off the second that you step into the building and don't turn it back on until you leave. You'll only be disconnected for 20 minutes!

2. Never wear a McDonald's shirt to an interview at A&W. This should be common sense. Some people suggest that you dress professionally to an interview (i.e. shirt and tie for guys, blouse for girls) but most employers care only that you are "presentable". Don't dress like you would to go to clubbing but at the same time you don't have to shell out for a suit. Just make sure that your clothes are clean and ironed, avoid shirts with writing on them and tuck your shirt in.

3. Wait until the interviewer asks you to be seated until you make yourself at home. A job interview is not the time to forget your manners.

4. Avoid questions like "How much will I get paid?" and "Can I get weekends off?" Rate of pay is generally something that you will be told later in the interview. By asking about money right off the hop, the employer may get the impression that you care more about money than about being a member of their team. As for days off, you may want to wait until you've been working there for awhile before you start dictating your availability. Your employers don't care if Friday night is poker night! They care that you are available when they need you.

5. When asked for volunteer experience, never respond by saying, "Volunteering? Who would be dumb enough to work for free?!?" Employers tend to lean towards people with volunteer experience. It shows commitment, responsibility, and a devotion to your community. So head out to your local YM/YWCA or better yet, contact your local Students' Commission office and get involved!

6. Don't sit and pick your teeth or your nose or your ear or the nasty scab on your elbow... You want to look as though you are interested in what the interviewer is saying, regardless if inside you couldn't care less.

7. Never lie on your rŽsumŽ. It could catch up on you. Don't claim to have experience that you really don't have. It might land you a job but it won't help you keep it!

8. Don't mention how nervous you are to the interviewer. It's natural for you to feel nervous but employers want people who can perform under pressure. Even if you're crying inside, present an exterior that is as cool as a cucumber.

9. Never include your picture with your rŽsumŽ no matter how good looking you think you are! Unless you are applying for a job as a model or actor, your looks are not important. You (ideally) want to be hired on the basis of your ability. Plus, employers can face some pretty serious repercussions for hiring (or not hiring) based on something other than skill.

10. Don't forget to thank your interviewer at the end of your interviewer. First impressions are lasting impressions but how you close the interview is just as important as how you begin it. Smile, offer a firm handshake and let the interviewer know that you appreciate the time they took to meet with you. In other words, butter them up like corn on the cob! (Okay, that's overdoing it just a little but you get the point.)

Other helpful hints...

- Show up 10 minutes early. Better to be early than late.
- Don't fiddle. Keep your hands on your lap if you can't help but play with things on the interviewer's desk.
- Bring a copy or two of your rŽsumŽ along.
- Try not to yawn. Getting a good night's sleep before the big interview might be a good idea.
- Don't chew gum or bring food into an interview.