What are the minimum requirements for a job interview?

I believe the minimum requirements for any job interview are to be well-dressed (appropriate to your industry) with shined shoes, conservative accessories, and a recent haircut; and carry some kind of portfolio that holds additional copies of your resume and a notepad and pen so you can take notes. You have to get there early, have thought-out answers to typical interview questions, and have looked through the job description and researched the company. These are the minimum things that have to happen before you will get a job offer.

That’s the easy part: err on the side of conservative, pay attention to the details, do your homework, and don’t forget your resume.

The key here is that every serious candidate will address these basics. If you want to stand out, then you need to start going beyond the basics:

• Include a 30/60/90-day plan and a brag book in your interview arsenal. The brag book is a historical look at what you’ve accomplished in your career; the 30/60/90-day plan is a forward look at what you can do for your new employer.

• Learn to ask questions of your own in the interview to make it more of a conversation. Not only will you learn more, you’ll seem more engaged, confident and enthusiastic about the job.

• Hire an interview coach to help you polish your skills. You will be surprised at what an experienced coach can pick up on in your behavior or interview answers that can make a huge difference in your results.

It’s certainly possible to get a job offer without going the extra mile…but you improve your chances dramatically if you do.