Don't lie if you were laid off or your job was terminated. The truth will come out, and if you secure the position, your future at the company will be in jeopardy. Answer with the facts. Be open and confident, providing valid reasons for losing previous positions.

Arrive for your interview 5-10 minutes early. Everyone has their watch set differently, and a 5-minute cushion is a good idea. Some interviewers are time-sensitive and notice if you're even one minute late, dulling initial impressions. Don't arrive too early and put pressure on the interviewer if they are not ready for you yet.

When interviewing, introduce yourself with a smile, a handshake that matches the firmness of the hirer's, and a relaxed and self-assured demeanor.

First impressions matter. If appropriate, ask ahead of time about what to wear. The safe bet is to dress professionally, paying attention to grooming, colors, and accessories.

Bring a notepad and pen to take notes during each interview. This is an effective way to show your interest in the job and your attention to detail. It also gives you an opportunity to look down at times if you struggle with eye contact.

Nonverbal communication cues are part of the impression you make. A weak handshake, for example, shows a lack of authority. An averted gaze signals distrust or disinterest in the job. Show assertiveness by sitting up straight and leaning slightly forward in your chair.

When working with an executive search firm it is recommended that ALL contact information, including your street address, city, state, and zip code are on your CV. Typically the client, as well as the recruiter, will need that for their information.

Hirers use behavioral questions to dig into past achievements and predict future performance. These questions identify an applicant's key competencies and skills, so it's vital to prepare answers to match your skill set to the employer's requirements. Focus on past achievements that highlight your abilities in these key areas: Leadership, Teamwork, Problem solving, Conflict resolution, and Failures.

Rather than using standard verbiage, personalize what you want to say. Hiring managers want to hire a human, not a machine. Words such as "managed," "achieved" and "improved" are examples of positive, assertive words.

Treat this as a face to face, in person interview. Dress professionally, ensure that you are in a quiet place, turn off the ringer on your home phone, lock up your animals so that the dog doesn't bark or your cat doesn't walk across your desk during the interview. Yes, this happened!

It is important to have good office etiquette. There's nothing more frustrating to busy coworkers and clients than to have their emails and phone messages ignored. Your silence doesn't just make their jobs harder; it also conveys an unpleasant message: You're unimportant to me.

Think of LinkedIn as your resume. Fill out your profile completely but do not stop there. Use LinkedIn to reach specific individuals – the people most likely to hire you or help you get hired – and conduct research on your targeted companies.

Keep your responses short, concise and to the point. When asked a question, take a deep breath, pause and collect your thoughts before you begin to speak. Avoid verbal fillers (e.g., um, like, uh) and refrain from making jokes or discussing controversial subjects.

When going through the interview process, be patient. It is not uncommon for companies to have to discuss your interviews thoroughly and with everyone's busy schedules this can take time. Do not take this as a negative or the company not having interest in you. Companies need to follow the process and this may take time. Be patient and stay positive.

Don't immediately reject critiques from others, even if you don't like or respect them. Sometimes people you don't like may be giving you more honest feedback than you can get from others. Don't take it personally. Even if it is personal, who cares? Listen, process, and then decide what positive action you might want to take.

Always be on the lookout for opportunities to learn and improve your skills. Look for good seminars and training. Then ask work if you can attend and will they pay for your admission. If your company pays for education, use it! Keep learning to continually renew your enthusiasm.

Make the most of your week at work by establishing a routine of planning your week and your day. Start your day an extra 15 minutes early to do this planning every day. Write down the top 1-3 important things you must do that day. And most importantly, set and reach your goals!

Are you an exceptional employee? Here are some simple questions to help you be the best employee you can be:

1) Are you professional? Do you keep your phone away? Are you on time to meetings? Do you dress appropriately? The best employees know how to keep things professional at all times.

Be open and honest with your recruiter about previous submissions/applications to a client. If you have already been submitted to a client, it will only make the recruiter and yourself look unprofessional on the duplicate submittal.

Research the company before the phone screen and especially before an on-site interview. The recruiter you are working with should be able to share insights into the company, the culture, why the position is open, how this position fits into the team/organization, the manager's style and expectations for the role.