The greeting - you should provide a firm handshake, not a wet fish or a vice like grip. In terms of pressure try to match the person whose hand you are shaking. Smile at the interviewer and give good eye contact during the greeting.

Ensure your hands are clean, well manicured and free from perspiration.

Taking your seat - wait to be asked to sit. If this doesn't seem forthcoming ask where would you like me to sit? When taking your seat you want to show that you are relaxed and confident. Sit upright with the base of your back nestled against the back of the chair. If there are arms on the chair then gently rest your arms on them. If no arms are present then rest your arms neatly in your lap. Avoid crossing your arms as this looks defensive.

Facial/head signals - slow nodding when the interviewer is talking shows that you are actively listening and showing an interest in the interviewer. Smiling when appropriate demonstrates friendliness and approachability.

Maintain good eye contact throughout the interview without staring. If you are being interviewed by a panel it is acceptable to give eye contact to the person asking you a question. Occasionally scan the panel to show interest.

Hands - avoid overuse of your hands, fidgeting and gesturing. You will know if you normally talk with your hands so can make a conscious effort not to.

Mirroring techniques - when we build rapport with people we tend to mirror their body language. Check this out the next time you are having a coffee with a friend notice how similar your body language is as you chat away.

You can reproduce this subtly to display the positive body signals your interviewer sends. Only use this technique after a bit of practise with friends and remember keep it subtle.

Departure - again a good firm hand shake and good eye contact and smile.

Next issue we will look at how you should behave at the interview.

If you are keen to improve your interview technique then why not consider one of my new interview skills workshops starting in August 2006 - click here for more information and details of my early booking discount.

If you have recently joined a new company, changed departments, roles etc. you are likely to have to get to grips with new practises and procedures. I would therefore encourage you to settle into your new role first. One possible exception might be where you are familiar with a responsibility already and feel it would be an opportunity to shine.

E.G. You may be great at developing databases and your team/department needs a new database designed. Taking up this opportunity is easy for you and shows off your additional skills.

Here are some more suggestions of when it can be a good time.

You are experienced - you would benefit from developing your skills and your confidence. Talk to your manager or team coach to understand what activities are available and what does he/she see you doing. Discuss what support and training is available.

Getting bored - are you over familiar with your role, could you do it with your eyes closed? If the answer is yes then again you need to start thinking of what tasks are available for you to learn new things and stretch you more.

Want to improve your confidence - ironically the way to build up your confidence is to take on more tasks. By getting involved in extra activity and having success you will feel more inclined to try more and hence feel more confident. Next issue I will discuss how to manage the tasks to ensure you have every chance of being successful.

Want to get on - by taking on extra tasks it's your chance to shine if you go about it the right way. I will expand on this more next time.

But for now taking on more responsibilities demonstrates both your skills, positive and helpful outlook and raises your profile.

Next time we will look at how to make the most of those extra responsibilities.

What are your big issues/problems in work - email me here and I will try to cover common problems in future issues of this Ezine.

If you want to make the most out of your career - click here

Next time we will look at how to make the most of those extra responsibilities.