To get any kinds of offer, you have to get through the interview; your career may be determined by the interviewing that only lasts several minutes. When you receive the interview notice from the company, what should you do to present the best of you?

■Develop a Resume and Scrutinize Your Writing

Develop an effective resume that can quickly highlight who you are, where you can be reached, and the most brief and important information about your most recent educational or training experience. Check your resume or cover letters; having someone scrutinized them helps you avoid unnecessary mistakes.

■Dress Appropriately

Be aware of dress codes for each company; dressing professionally will help you develop self-assurance as well as gain the confidence of others.

For men, conservative dark navy or gray two-piece business suit with white long-sleeved button-down dress shirt might be a great choice. (If you only have one or two suits, make sure you make some differences with your tie or shirt in succedent interviews.) If the company you’re interviewing with is less formal, a conservative sport jacket and nicely pressed dress slacks and may be more appropriate than a suit.

For women, many recruiters still think that a skirted suit is still the most conservative choice for a female candidate, although suits with pants are becoming more popular and might be a better choice for the less-conservative and traditional industries. Pick a conservative color such as dark gray, dark blue, or brown; and a rich fabric such as wool. Your blouses should be white or light colored and skirt length should be a little below the knee. Shoes should be clean, well-polished and in good repair, with low heels and closed toes. You’d better carry a briefcase rather than a purse.

■Time Your Arrival

You must arrive in time for your interview. Arriving late will leave a bad first-impression to the recruiters and it may even mean that you will not be considered. At the very least it constitutes poor interview etiquette.

You should calculate your journey time and allow a margin for delays and other eventualities. Check all the available travel information before leaving and change your journey plans if necessary. Always carry a mobile phone so that you can call taxis or other assistance whilst traveling. With this careful planning you should arrive early for your interview—ideally about 20 minutes ahead. When you arrive early, you can talk with a receptionist or other person making arrangements so that you can figure out the basics of directions to the office, the estimated length of the interview, the basics of who you will be interviewing with and what you might be expected to bring, etc.