Get your mind revved up

Ever feel like you settle into an interview after a few minutes? That doesn't go unnoticed. 'As a former recruiter, I would see candidates come alive three or more minutes into the interview,' says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, partner with SixFigureStart, a career consulting firm. Unfortunately, that's a big strike against you: 'That's three minutes too late, as I've already formed an opinion about them,' notes Ceniza-Levine, a former Fortune 500 recruiter. She suggests taking five minutes in the waiting room to review an index card with key points or an inspirational quote to make sure you're operating at 100 percent the moment you sit down.