Connie

No matter how qualified you are for a job position, there are plenty of ways to mess up your chances. Particularly in a job interview, it is so important to present yourself in the right light and make a strong, positive impression on a potential employer.

Whatever you do, don't make these 5 rookie mistakes.

1. Come empty handed

Even if an employer doesn't specifically ask you to bring anything, never, ever come with nothing. Make sure you always bring a few copies of your resume, your portfolio, a pen and a pad of paper.

2. Dress inappropriately

As a rule of thumb, always dress one step above the office standard. If the company you are interviewing with has a business casual environment, make sure you dress more formally. If the office is casual, dress up a bit. Wear dress slacks and formal shirt.

What you wear signifies a level of respect. Make sure your potential employer knows that you value his or her time and the company.

3. Forget to research

Your interview is not just about you. You need to show the employer how you would fit into their company, and before you can do that, you need to have some information. Before coming in for an interview, get online and find out about the company's products and services, its competition, target customers, culture, etc.

4. Improvise

You got an interview and that is not always easy. Don't blow your chances by winging it as you go. Make sure you practice interviewing before you go so you don't fall victim to the pressure and your nerves. Practicing can really help.

5. Get there on time

At first this faux pa may seem counter intuitive, but if you've ever heard the ditty "If you’re 10 minutes early, you’re on time; if you’re on time, you’re late; if you’re late, don’t bother showing up," you might know what I mean.

Always get to an interview early, at least 10 minutes before your scheduled start time. Plan to get lost; account for bad traffic. Always overestimate the amount of time it is going to take to get there because your potential employers time is valuable and you don't want to waste a chance to show them how great you are!

Tell me, what do you think? What are other ways that a job seeker can completely screw up a job interview?