Over the years, I've seen and heard some pretty funny and not so funny interview fails.

Here are some points I think are important at FedEx, but also about anywhere you are interviewing:

1. Do not square corner yourself into the interview with a last minute flight or jumpseat. I've had guys ask me about how early they should show up, or say they were getting up early and driving in that morning from 3-4 hours away... I know of one very sharp retired officer who flew in from the other side of the world on a Saturday for a Monday a.m. interview. How sharp do you think he was after giving himself about 36 hours to adjust to crossing 12+ time zones? (Not on property, btw...) You have to ask yourself--what is this job worth to me? If its worth several million dollars, or if you think it will change your life, then taking 3-4 days off your current job and burning leave/vacation/dollars to be in position 24-48 hours early is cheap insurance. You aren't going to sleep well the night prior, and will be under a lot of stress anyway. Don't add to that stress by showing up late the night prior or looking at your watch as you drive up 78 or Interstate 55 worrying if you will make it. Get a nice room somewhere, unwind, and reflect on your preparation. The day prior--relax--go for an afternoon run or workout, have a beer or glass of wine with dinner, and get as much sleep as you can. Being well rested and in a good frame of mind is priceless. Heard about one client who put his head down in a briefing room while waiting for his turn at the sim and took a nap. It may have been early, but how much enthusiasm for this new job does that show? (Not hired, BTW...) We may make jokes about how you are going to be tired working at FedEx, but there is no excuse being tired at the interview for any airline. I do not recommend staying with a friend if they have pets/kids/noise etc--get a sterile, quiet hotel room. Get in your zone, and be on the local time clock body-wise if at all possible.

2. Area fam. Get a friend/sponsor to drive you to where you will interview from your hotel. Time the trip from the hotel to the location and take the bus/van/taxi/your car to arrive at least 1 hour early. I gave this advice to my own daughter who just locked down an AFRES pilot slot last week. I reminded her all her years of work and effort will be wasted if she had to call saying she was late because of A) traffic B) gate closures C) mechanical issues D) taxi driver was lost/confused etc. I told her if she wasn't a hour early she was wrong, and if she wasn't :15 early she might as well not go to the interview as she would not be hired. I give the same advice to airline clients. All airlines run on time. FedEx takes time management even to a higher level. If you cannot be on time for your interview, WHEN can you possibly be on time?

3. Suits. Red ties at Delta and American. A nice tie at Fedex--color your option. I don't recommend brown or earth tones to avoid any UPS comparisons. (In Louisville for UPS--invert this--wear a brown suit) Look at the new hire pictures (have your sponsor show you). Do you look like they do or is your suit "different"? Black, blue, charcoal, gray, and a nice shirt should be fine. Most of these folks are wearing exactly what they wore when they interviewed. Why do we wear suits for these interviews when we never wear them at work? Someone one told me "if they are going to pay you like an executive, they want to see you dress like an executive...." I didn't make the rules, but if you want the job you should try to play by them. The goal is if you ask the interviewer "what kind of suit did he have on?" the answer would be "hmmm....not sure...don't remember anything particular...but he looked sharp....I remember that... Woman can wear suits or skirts...men need to stick with suits even though we have seen the infamous kilt pictures.

No interview is perfect, and there are always challenges. That said, if you can avoid digging yourself a hole at the start by showing up well rested, on time, and looking sharp...the confidence you carry will spill over into the interview conservations. If you are are apologizing from the get-go for being late, yawning, or realize you look very "different" that the other 5 interviewees, then you are already probably going to be very self conscious and digging yourself out of a hole to start the process.