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Congratulations, you just landed an interview or meeting with a cool new company in another city.

Once the meeting is scheduled and your flight is booked, is there more you could do to get ready?

You’ve already researched the company. Your resume or presentation is up-to-the-minute current.

And yet you wonder: Is there anything else you should be doing to get ready for an out-of-town face-to-face interview?

All meetings are basically the same, right?

Actually, an out-of-town meeting or interview presents a special challenge.

You’re faced with strange surroundings, unfamiliar logistics and a bit of extra tension over whether relocation will be an issue for you — or your employer.

So you should be mindful of a few things you might not have thought of that can put you in the employer’s best — or worst — light.

And today, since a number of companies (such as Wal-Mart (WMT) ) are located in unfamiliar places (such as Bentonville, Ark.) but still recruit thousands of employees and suppliers from all over the country, you might easily find yourself in this situation.

http://www.thestreet.com/video/personalfinance/10338875.html for the video version of this story from Jennifer Openshaw.

Here are six tips that could make a big difference.

- Know the route.

Research the best way to get to the office or interview from the airport or your hotel. Remember, you want to appear confident, skilled and on top of things. That’s not the impression you’ll give if you need the company to walk you through the process of finding their front door.

You’re a big kid now. Don’t get lost. Find the office on your own.

- Talk to the driver (if you use one).

I just traveled to Nebraska to meet the CEO of TD Ameritrade. Lo and behold, the driver — an ex-cop — had been his driver. Call it luck. But aside from being the CEO’s driver, this ex-cop knew everything about the city: companies moving in and out, economic development, growth trends — all information that can make you appear more on top of things.

- Identify key locations.

Once you know the area the office is located in, try to identify some possible business meal locations nearby. That way, should your interview extend to lunch or dinner you can say casually, “I’ve heard Cafe So-and-so is pretty good.” You might cop a good meal, but better yet, it shows some interest and lets them know you’ve done some homework.

They might not go with your suggestion, but it’s the thought that counts.

- Know what’s happening.

Read the local paper online to get a feel for what’s happening in town. You don’t have to know who holds every local political office, but it wouldn’t hurt to know what the big issues are. Is there a new plan for downtown revitalization or a sports arena? Other big business news?

You’ll get good material to talk about, not to mention avoiding embarrassment of not knowing something. And besides, you’ll get a feel for what it would be like to actually live there, should you make the leap.

- Keep it positive.

Even if what you learned reading the paper wasn’t very flattering, don’t knock the place. If you have qualms about the crime rate, concerns about the quality of the local schools, or complaints about the weather, zip your lip on the first face-to-face visit. Save it all for the second interview or follow-up discussion.

You don’t want attitude to get in the way of your chance.

- Don’t look at your watch.

You’re there, now relax. Yes, you might miss your flight. Yes, you might be inconvenienced. But put yourself in their shoes — would you want to add people to your team who are so focused on themselves and their needs to get back home?

“Early in the afternoon it was obvious to me that I wouldn’t make my 4 p.m. flight,” a friend told me recently about a Seattle interview. “But the only reason I was there that day was to get a job, so what was the point of being nervous and cutting off the discussion to rush to the airport? As long as they wanted to keep talking to me, I wanted to keep talking to them. I made other plans later.”

Right attitude.

The bottom line: As an out-of-town candidate, you want to appear proactive, interested in the local community and willing to focus your energies on the company’s behalf.

Acting accordingly will help tip the scales in your favor.

In case you missed them, here are the 10 most widely read articles and widely viewed videos on TheStreet.com for the past three days (as of April 18). Daniel Dicker finds some good oil plays, and Simon Constable explains a dip in gold.

1. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/video/strategysession/10350511.html by Simon Constable, published April 16 at 10:36 a.m. EDT.

Michael Darda, chief economist at MKM Partners, discusses burgeoning commodity price inflation and explains how hawkish actions by the Fed could spark a plunge in gold prices.

2. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/newsanalysis/techtelecom/10350951.html by Scott Moritz, published April 17 at 3:26 p.m. EDT.

An analyst cites a rare revenue-sharing deal on the iPhone.

3. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/markets/activetraderupdate/10351162.html by Jim Cramer, published April 18 at 3:22 p.m. EDT.

Judging by earnings reports, it’s off to the races for the Dow.

4. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/video/cramermarketupdates/10350631.html by Jim Cramer and Gregg Greenberg, published April 16 at 3:19 p.m. EDT.

Cramer discusses whether it’s a good strategy to bet on the next private-equity takeout.

5. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/markets/analystsactions/10351120.html by TSC Staff, published April 18 at 9:49 a.m. EDT.

Who said what on Wall Street.

6. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/newsanalysis/winnershealth/10351174.html by Robert Holmes, published April 18 at 4:49 p.m. EDT.

Avanir Pharmaceuticals soars.

7. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/markets/activetraderupdate/10350967.html by Daniel Dicker, published April 18 at 7:38 a.m. EDT.

Looking for a breakout in oil.

8. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/newsanalysis/techstockupdate/10350639.html by Alexei Oreskovic, published April 17 at 6:47 a.m. EDT.

That may be the only thing it’s got going for it this quarter.

9. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/newsanalysis/businessinsurance/10350287.html by Mark DeCambre, published April 16 at 7:02 a.m. EDT.

Investors are trawling for mining industry bargains.

10. http://www.thestreet.com/_top/markets/metals/10350835.html by Simon Constable, published April 17 at 11:26 a.m. EDT.

Bullion is losing $1.40 at $693.10 an ounce.

NEW DELHI, Feb. 19 (UPI) — India has said it will enforce its rights under gas production-sharing contracts for the supply of gas from Reliance Industries’ Krishna-Godavari basin.

The government said it is taking these measures to prevent Reliance from diverting its gas supplies to other customers during the contract period. It said the move is also aimed at ensuring uninterrupted supply of gas to new gas-based power projects that are set to come up in the next three years.

The government said it would enforce its rights by capping the gas seller’s contractual liabilities after a discussion with suppliers and the lenders to the power projects. It has another proposal to strengthen the sellers’ covenants regarding maintenance of reserves during the contract period.

“The second proposal would ensure that the gas reserves based on which the supply contracts have been concluded are maintained and preserved to ensure uninterrupted supply,” said a spokesman for the Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry.

The government is also planning to have a definitive contract period and a fixed annual contracted quantity instead of the current variable supply provisions. India’s existing gas-based power projects have faced problems due to irregular gas supplies, and gas companies have been unable to meet rising demand, The Business Standard newspaper reported Monday.

About 10 percent of India’s power plants are gas- based and they are pressuring the government to force state-run and private gas companies to ensure regular supplies to power plants.

NEW YORK - One of the citys most prominent restaurateurs took out a full-page advertisement in The New York Times on Wednesday, accusing the newspapers chief food critic of lacking the bona fides to do the job.

Your readers would not expect your drama critic to have no background in drama or your architecture critic to not be an architect, Jeffrey Chodorow wrote. For a publication that prides itself on integrity, I feel your readers should be better informed as to this VERY IMPORTANT fact, so they can give your reviews the weight, or lack thereof, they deserve.

The ad comes on the heels of Frank Brunis scathing review of Chodorows newest Manhattan eatery, Kobe Club, which specializes in serving tender and fatty Kobe beef from Japan. A 10-ounce rib-eye portion of the beer-fed cattle costs $150 on Chodorows menu.

Although Kobe Club does right by the fabled flesh for which its named, it presents too many insipid or insulting dishes at prices that draw blood from anyone without a trust fund or an expense account, Bruni wrote Feb. 7.

At least one other high-profile critic has also panned the restaurant. In the highly competitive New York restaurant world, such criticisms can be the financial kiss of death.

Id like to see The New York Times have a food critic that has no agenda and has culinary experience, which is not Frank Bruni, Chodorow said.

The ad was addressed to Pete Wells, editor of the newspapers Dining section, who said the paper has no plans to move Bruni to another job. He also said he had his employees back.

Yes. Absolutely, Wells said in an e-mail.

According to a biography on the Times Web site, Bruni has served as chief of the papers Rome bureau and in other news positions but has no prior experience as a restaurant critic. 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

POLICE chiefs last night publicly warned the Labour Party that “no one is above the law” as the cash-for-honours inquiry erupted into open warfare between Downing Street and the Met.

After senior Labour figures lined up to criticise the “theatrical” arrest of Tony Blair’s aide Ruth Turner, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority launched an unprecedented counterattack, suggesting the party was trying to “manipulate” and “pressurise” officers.

Len Duvall - in remarks believed to reflect growing fury within Scotland Yard - urged those who had questioned the conduct of police to “reflect on what they have said”.

The long-running inquiry took a dramatic twist early on Friday when Turner was arrested at her London home at 6.30am, taken to a police station and questioned on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. This sparked speculation that police were looking at the possibility of an attempted cover-up, as well as allegations over the ’sale’ of honours.

The Labour establishment reacted with fury to the latest arrest. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said she was “slightly bewildered” as to why Turner was arrested early in the morning by four policemen. Former home secretary David Blunkett demanded “thoroughness, not theatre”. Lord Puttnam, Turner’s friend and former boss, also accused detectives of “theatrics” and called on the police to “put up or shut up”.

The remarks last night prompted the Metropolitan Police Authority’s extraordinary statement. Duvall, himself a Labour politician, said: “It seems to me that it is inadvisable for others to comment, openly or behind the scenes, on the merits of individual lines of inquiry until such time as the full picture can be revealed.

“What is clear is that allegations of perverting the course of justice raise very serious concerns. It is also clear that no one in this country is above the law.

“As chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority I must be seen never to seek to manipulate or pressurise senior officers in the Met on any operational inquiry. Others would do well to follow my example.”

Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the politicians’ public comments were “particularly disturbing”. “There are many junior officers who will feel their careers are being threatened subliminally, and that’s wrong,” he added.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Lord Thomas of Gresford said: “There is nothing theatrical about the arrest of Ruth Turner. Once the police had formed a reasonable suspicion of her perverting the course of justice, it was their duty to act swiftly and professionally to preserve any evidence.”

The attacks on the methods used by the Met may reflect growing panic in Downing Street over the direction the inquiry appears to be taking.

Senior Labour figures had been growing increasingly confident that the police investigation into the alleged offer of honours to businessmen in return for donations to the party was running out of steam.

But Turner’s arrest could herald a significant new development.

Whitehall insiders claim Scotland Yard detectives will shortly return to Downing Street to search computers and files that could prove Blair’s office tried to “cover up” suggestions that honours had been offered to businessmen in return for donations to the Labour Party.

Since starting the investigation, following a complaint from SNP MP Angus MacNeil early last year, police have interviewed more than 50 people from all three main political parties.

Turner is the fourth person - and the first salaried government official - to be arrested in the inquiry, after Lord Levy, major Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and headteacher Des Smith.

Labour officials have privately complained about apparent leaks from the inquiry team.

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