How to Land the Job

The game-winning first impression! A most first impressions are set within three seconds and experts say 55 percent of the time it comes down to how we look and carry ourselves.

Wear the sincere color blue. It symbolizes honesty as far back as the American Revolution. A blue suit your best bet, but if it is not your favorite color, then just a splash of blue will work just as well in a blouse, scarf or other accessories.

Hold your own hand! Place your right hand loosely around your left wrist remind you not to ring your hands or play with your hair. These are too common habits that signal nervousness and lack of confidence. The warmth you feel at the pulse point will help relax you!

Match your lipstick to the job description! Choose passionate red for creative fields like advertising; serious peach for the traditional fields like banking; and approachable sales and retail jobs.

Dodge common interview pitfalls! With the right preparation, it's easy to avoid mistakes.

1. Practice responses to common questions such as, why you left your last job or what your strengths are. Set these firmly in your memory so they sound like natural recollections during your interview.

2. Follow the 62nd rule. That's how long your response should be. Research reveals that employers stop listening after that! Use the time to give specific examples of past accomplishments.

3. Sights set stumpers! It's inevitable that there will be one question you just don't know the answer to. Instead of faking it, ask a related question like, "Can you clarify what your asking for?" This will buy time to think of an ideal response!

4. Just shrug off being laid off! It no longer carries a stigma as long as you speak nonchalantly about it. When it comes to resume blemishes just explain the lessons you've learned. It shows your focused on future success! Don't give up too fast! These days, companies hold onto resumes. These are candidates for runners-up so they can callyou if something opens up!