• (The night before) Ask a good friend, parent or spouse to pump you up. Enjoy a full night's sleep and erase other problems, worries, distractions from your mind. Concentrate only on what you want to do with this time.



• One more time, practice your answers out loud to these questions: Common Interview Questions
• (Walking in) Say in your head, "I am a great candidate for this job!"



• Be confident. It is expected that you may be nervous. Imagine that you are an actor and you have been asked to play a role of a super candidate who is terrific in every way.



• Stand when the interviewer enters the room, and remain standing until he/she sits.



• Greet your interviewer with a firm handshake, and maintain eye contact throughout the interview. Remember that you are selling yourself—eye contact is really important.



• Make a mental list of your special talents, abilities, and qualifications that give you the edge on being the best candidate for the position.



• Even if you are nervous, remember to smile from time to time (But not the whole time)



• (As the interview begins) Look for opportunities to break the ice with casual, friendly conversation. (I have a plant like the one in your lobby...a Ficus I think it's called....mine is not doing quite as well...but I do love gardening.)



• Be careful not to get into a discussion on any of these topics. Topics to absolutely avoid



• Let the interviewer know that you have visited the company’s Web site or read their annual report, brochures, etc. Say, "I noticed that your Website includes a letter and photo of the company president. How did that get started? Has it been well received?"



• Be responsive to what the interviewer is saying or asking. Body language is extremely important.



• Maintain good posture. Don't bite your nails or fiddle with your hair. Listen carefully to the interviewer, and wait for opportunities to ask questions about the company and/or the position (See below for ideas).



• If you wish to take notes, ask the interviewer for permission to do so. Never let your eyes (or your thoughts) wander—it shows disinterest and poor communication skills. Refer to your notes to clarify what the interviewer has said.



• Be Brief. Don't give long-winded answers to their questions. Answer clearly. However, if a yes or no question is posed, you should elaborate.



• If you are unsure of how to answer a question, ask to have it restated or clarified further. Say, "I'm sorry but I'm not sure what you are looking for. Can you help me to understand the intent of your question?"



• Read how to handle illegal questions so that should one come up during the interview, you will know how to respond appropriately.



• Avoid blurting out your answers. You are not being rated on how quick you respond. It’s perfectly okay to pause and think what your answer will be before speaking.



• Relate And Refer - In formulating your answers, make sure they logically relate to the position for which you’re applying, and refer to your qualifications and abilities. The real question behind every interviewer's question is “Why should we hire you?”



• Be Professional. Never swear, chew gum, smoke, or make inappropriate jokes. Even if your interviewer displays this behavior, it gives a bad impression of who you are.



• Be respectful of the interviewer's role. Respond to the interviewer’s jokes and comments by smiling, nodding, and commenting when appropriate. Don't try to top the interviewer's joke with your own.



• Be positive and stay positive. Never speak negatively about past employers, co-workers, or job experiences even if the interviewer does so.



• Be yourself. Your unique personality will distinguish you from other applicants.



• Remember, you are also there to see if the position is the right one for you. Is this a place you want to come to every working day? Is it well maintained, clean? modern?

1. Do Your Research
2. Practice Interviewing
3. Prepare an Interview Folder
4. Your Personal Dress Code
5. Planning Your Time To Get There
6. During The Interview
Next 7. Exiting Gracefully
8. Post-interview Follow up

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