So, you’ve arrived early for your interview just like you’ve been taught, partially because you did a drive by the day before just to be prepared. Good job.

However, a little tidbit that you might not think of: Leave your cell phone in the car!

We get it. Your cell phone is your lifeline, your connection to the world; it’s the only way people can get a hold of you. However, it’s not appropriate to bring your cell phone into an interview setting.

You might be saying, well, I turned it off. Great, but really, what is the point of having a powered off cell phone with you in the first place?

You’d be surprised to see how many people we interview who forget to do this. They step on into our office, cell phones on, Britney Spears ring tones, texting away about the latest happenings.

If you do this, you might be giving of the following vibes:

1. I’m really important and I don’t care about interview protocol or etiquette
2. I don’t understand what is appropriate for interviews
3. I don’t really care if I get this job, something else is out there for me
4. If I will do this in an interview setting, you better believe that I will do this during the normal workday (also not appropriate in most settings)
5. I’m above it all, I’m not a team player and I do what I want, regardless of what other people think.

In this economy with scarce jobs, you need to put your best foot forward. You were lucky enough to get an interview based on your resume so take the time to be at the top of your game. Leaving your cell phone in the car for an hour or more will make it all the more exciting when you’re done so you can see all the messages you got.