Self Help Tips | Prepare for a Job Interview

Preparing for a job interview can be stressful. You need to make a good impression, and you want the job! Don't despair. Instead, spend some time and energy preparing yourself as fully as possible.

Here are six easy, yet very important ways to prepare for a job interview:

1. Learn about the company you're interviewing with. Do as much research as possible. You can find information from the Internet, the company's website, periodicals that have published articles about the company and people you know that work for or in association with the company.

2. Understand the company's market, their products and services and their mission.


3. Practice interviewing. If you're asked to interview for a job, even if you have no intention of taking the job, go to the interview and get practice!

4. Develop a list of questions that you can ask during your interview. Questions could be regarding company philosophy and goals, enrichment and education programs for employees, outlook and future projects, or anything else that you can think of that is pertinent and intelligent.

5. Dress the part. If you can, go to the location of your interview and see what employees are wearing. Then dress in a similar fashion, but one step up. If you don't have a way to do some pre-interview reconnaissance, opt for a simple suit with clean lines, highlighted by subtle accessories.

6. Prepare the night before by making sure your clothes are ready. Get any information you'll be taking with you, such as a copy of your resume, ready. Practice your smile, eye contact and handshake (first impressions are important).

To prepare for a job interview, the key is to be knowledgeable, neat and not nervous. When you use the six steps outlined here, you'll have gone a long way to ensure that you'll do well in your interview.

Before your interview, if you have a case of the nerves, take three deep, belly breaths to calm yourself down. Stop in the restroom before you announce yourself and check your look in the mirror.

Make sure your hair is neat, your cloths are neat (your collar isn't standing up is it?), and your makeup is in place and not on your teeth. Stand up straight and smile. Walk in confidently to announce yourself.

During your interview, ask questions about the company (without interrupting), and use positive body language ? sit up straight, use good eye contact and lean slightly forward to show interest. If you don't have a ready answer for a question, don't panic. Take a moment to think, and then give your best answer.

After your interview, be sure to thank each person you met, including the receptionist, and wish them a nice day. Job interviews can be nerve-racking, but with some preparation, you can ace the interview and feel confident about the results. If you don't get the job, keep looking and move on to prepare for a job interview with another company.




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