Clothes, attitude and confidence can definitely affect your chances of succeeding or failing in an interview. It is true, yes, but there are so many other things that affect the impression you make on someone- especially if that someone is a hiring manager. While these may not be as obvious, they have the potential to cost you.

With this in mind, here are 3 factors you should always consider before going to an interview that will help you make a lasting impression.

Timing, Timing, Timing

The hiring manager is human, as hard as it may be to believe. As the day goes on, they get tired and lose the enthusiasm mustered at the start of the day. This means that it can be pretty unfortunate for you if your interview is scheduled at the end of the day.

If you have the option, try to ensure that your interview is at the start of the day as the interviewer will be more receptive at the start. However, if that is not possible, prepare short, engaging answers to questions so that your interviewer remains focused on you. In fact, if you play your cards right, you may even be the person the interviewer will remember after the day ends.

Relationship Building

Again, your interviewer is a human. He will be less inclined to hire you if you appear emotionless and reserved. On the other hand, if you build a relationship with him and attempt to get along with him, that could be the key that opens the door to a new job. If possible, try to engage your interviewer on a personal level as well as a professional one- but don’t get too personal. Definitely don’t overshare.

Availability, Baby

Unfortunately, you cannot control this factor as you can’t really clear up your interviewer’s schedule. If your interviewer has a million things on his mind, he may not be as focused on you as you would want. In such a case, you need to prepare a list of points which can help quickly and efficiently convey why you are the best candidate for the job.

Everyone is bound to go through some tough interviews. After all, anyone can have a bad day. If you tank an interview, don’t beat yourself up over it. Pick yourself up and move on. Learn from it. Even if you don’t get the job, it doesn’t mean you don’t make the grade. It certainly doesn’t mean all hope is lost. At the very least, you have hopefully made a lasting impression on your employer. One that will only help your chances in the future.

With this in mind, here are some tips to ensure that your interviewer remembers you.

Seize the initiative

Even if you messed up every single question in the interview, hope is not dead yet. Once the interview is over, you can try talking to the interviewer informally, building a positive image of yourself. This way, even if you aren’t hired, you will have someone who can recommend you for other jobs while also building up a network.

Assess your interviewer’s attitude

No matter what feedback you get, you need to gauge how the interviewer delivers it. If he seems relaxed, upbeat and jovial, that is a sign that it may be a good idea to continue this budding relation. On the other hand, if the interviewer seems angry or reserved, then forgetting about the interview and moving on may be the best approach.

Read between the lines

Instead of simply taking what the interviewer says at face value, try to understand what he is trying to convey and try to show him that you are ready to attempt to improve. For example, if the interviewer says you have failed to attain the minimum experience required for the job, ask about a different position where you can work while attaining the necessary experience as well.

Don’t stop at just the interviewer

While the interview may be the most conventional way to get a job, there are various other possible approaches possible due to the influence of social media. You can attempt to reach out to other members of the relevant department through websites such as LinkedIn and demonstrate your abilities, which in turn may convince them to hire you, or at least give you a chance to prove your worth.

Maintain contact with the interviewer after the interview

Keep the interviewer informed about your job hunt progress; while this is not as relevant if your interview tanked, this is necessary if you are being seriously considered for a position. A manager may be unwilling to hire you even if you demonstrated exceptional skills but he is unaware of your availability. Keeping in touch with the interviewer regularly will help ensure that the manager knows about your availability.

Let’s face it, the job market is competitive. There are way too many applicants and simply not enough jobs. During an interview, every single action can have either a positive or a negative consequence. One wrong answer could be the difference between getting the job and another seemingly endless future of filling out resumes for the future.

With so many things to do, here are a few tips on what not to say or do during your next interview.

What are the operations of your company?

The moment you utter these fatal words, you can start considering other places. Your interviewer will feel insulted and angered that you do not even know the basics about the company you are applying it. You will come across as underprepared and unambitious as well. Always ensure you know even the minute details regarding the company you are applying at.

My faults? I don’t settle for anything less than perfection.

You will come off as attempting to cover up your weaknesses, which may indicate that you have either a lot of weaknesses or major ones. This is considered a cliché and unoriginal as well, which will further portray a negative image.

Instead, try to mention some negative traits along with how you have since managed to overcome them, to appear more human to the interviewer.

What’s the timeout policy?

If there’s ever a foot in the mouth, this is it. You will leave your interviewer wondering whether you have any intention of working or whether you’ll simply count down the clock in order to collect the cheque. Hence, it is always preferable to leave that question for later; once you have actually been hired.

My old boss was pure evil

Your interviewer will question your professionalism as well as the respect you have towards your colleagues. He will further wonder whether you will do the same once you leave this job. Overall, this will do nothing except hurt your image.

Always compliment your old colleagues. Or if you don’t have anything good to say about, don’t dwell on the topic too much. But under no circumstances should you criticize them vehemently.

Any buzzword ever

Chances are, this is not the first interview your interviewer is conducting. He has probably heard all the buzzwords and clichés in the world. He will not be impressed if your answers are typical as that will show unoriginality and a lack of creativity.

Try to come up with original answers. Humorous answers can, in some occasions, help to break the ice and actually impress your interviewer.

There is a significant gap between the number of applicants and the number of jobs available today. This means you need to do whatever you can to make your first impression count. While there are many ways you can go about this, here are some of the ways recommended by hiring managers themselves.

Humor

Ever since man has learned to talk, humor has probably been more important than any other form of conversation. This is due to the fact that humor makes you stand out and the other person is more likely to remember you if you said something funny. Of course, you always need to remember that there is a line which you cannot cross or you will be remembered, if only for negative reasons.

A mutual friend

The importance of a mutual friend between you and the hiring manager cannot be understated. While it may seem unfair, the mutual friend has a better chance of explaining your character and the benefits of hiring you. Furthermore, the hiring manager is more likely to believe someone he knows previously than someone he is meeting for the first time.

Share your ideas

If you have extensive knowledge regarding the company or even better, a specific project that the company is carrying out, you can share ideas you have that will help in the execution of the project. This will show that you can adapt to the needs of the company and play a vital role.

Persistence

There is a chance that you will not be appreciated at the level you deserve immediately. You may need to persist and continue to convince them that you deserve a chance. There’s a possibility that the company may consider your persistence as a sign of your dedication.

However, as with humor, there is a thin line which you need to avoid crossing or else you may be considered to be annoying and even creepy, which are attributes that will destroy any chance you have of getting the job.

Dealing with personal problems at work isn’t easy. Everyone knows that keeping your personal life separate from your work life is a good thing. Unfortunately, one often spills onto the other. We invest a lot of time and energy at work, so when things go bad it’s hard to leave it at the door when you clock out. The same thing is true for our personal lives.

The fact is- It’s difficult to keep our lives compartmentalized, no matter how hard we try. If something is going on at home or in your personal life, there are things you can do to ensure that it has minimal impact on your work life.

Don’t Over Share

There are some moments when it’s important to share what is going on- especially if you know it’s going to impact your performance. It’s not an excuse for poor performance, but rather an explanation if you just aren’t yourself. In some situations, such as a death in the family, you need to acknowledge what is going on and communicate that with your boss and coworkers. However, it is important not to over share and tell too much.

Instead of confessing your life story, simply state the obvious but try not to dwell and divulge every detail. How much is too much is subjective to a degree as some office settings are more relaxed than others. Whatever your news, be prepared for questions. Planning ahead can help prevent any over sharing. Anticipating these questions can help you mentally prepare yourself before you share and help guide how much you share.

Establish Boundaries

Depending on the nature of the problem, it may not be anyone in your office that you need to worry about. In fact, you may find that well-meaning family members are reaching out to you during business hours. This is especially true when there is grief- such as a death in the family, etc. You will need to establish boundaries with your friends and family. When you are at work, you need space to work through that aspect of your life in relation to your grief.

Your friends and family may have good intentions, but often this creates unnecessary turmoil when you’re back dealing with the every day stresses of work. With that in mind, however, it’s okay to have a “bad day” at work. Acknowledge them and if necessary, set aside time to address the issue before it becomes a problem. A 15 minute guided meditation, for example, can work wonders.

Dedicating time to yourself when you’re experiencing inner or outer turmoil is essential to healing. Self awareness will help you stay grounded and better equipped to handle the daily grind.

Be Compassionate

When you’re upset, you aren’t yourself. As much as you want to turn it off when you walk into the office, it’s simply not realistic. So, be kind to yourself. Don’t beat yourself up if you make a mistake or aren’t your most productive self. Understand that this too shall pass, and take things one day at a time.

Whatever is going on is temporary. Allow yourself the time and space needed to work through it, knowing you will come through on the other side. Being mindful of this will enable you to stay focused and get through the day until things get easier.

Remember Your Benefits

Sometimes things are simply too much for you to handle alone. Depending on where you work, there may be options available to you to help. Many companies offer benefits that are commonly overlooked, including counseling, childcare and legal services. These things, when appropriate, should be explored as they can help alleviate emotional and financial burdens.

Don’t assume that everything is up to you. It’s okay to ask for help. In fact, you should. Asking for help isn’t a sign of weakness—it takes courage. Everyone goes through bad times. Acknowledging that can make the transition back to the “old you” easier.