20 Ways to Prepare Now to Impress Your Interviewer

Summary: Want to impress your interviewer during your next interview? It takes a lot of preparation to make a great impression and ensure the interview is a success.

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Preparing before you even get your next interview is a necessity if you hope to find a good job someday. Once you actually have an interview scheduled, use these tips to continue to help you prepare for what you need to do before, during, and after the interview.

1. Go prepared – know where the interview is being held, the scheduled time, the name of the interviewer and how to pronounce their name correctly.
2. Know the style of the interview beforehand – find out if the interview will be one-on-one, a panel, or a group interview. Ask if any testing will be part of the interview.
3. Allow for delays – If you rely on public transportation to get around or drive yourself, allow for time for traffic and unexpected delays.
4. Arrive early – Plan on being in the waiting room 10 to 15 minutes before the interview. This gives you time to relax before the interview starts. Being late is completely unacceptable.
5. Dress professionally – Wear a conservative outfit with professional colors and minimal accessories.
6. Shake hands – Practice a firm handshake with family or friends so that you can impress others when needed with a nice firm grasp. Make eye contact while you shake hands.
7. Smile – Eye contact with a nice genuine smile makes a big difference in how the interviewer perceives you.
8. Be aware of your body language – Don’t fidget! Keep your hands folded on your lap to help keep your legs and hands still.
9. Use STAR: Situation, Task, Action, Result – This method helps you answer questions with a specific situation in mind and how you took on the situation.
10. Take notes – Taking so many notes that you aren’t paying attention is bad, but taking a few notes on things you want to ask about later shows you are invested in the interview.
11. Use a nice pen – Small details like using a nice pen show that you put care into your work.
12. Do your research – Find out all you can about the company so that you don’t ask stupid questions during the interview and so you have a better idea about what the company is all about.
13. Know your resume – Be confident about what you have put down on your resume, putting focus on your achievements.
14. Bring a spare copy – Carry at least one extra copy of your resume so that you can hand it to the interviewer if they need it.
15. Keep folders and portfolios professionally looking – If you keep your work in a folder, binder, or portfolio, make sure it is an appropriate and professional looking one.
16. Use positive language – When referring from anything to past bosses to your education, spin any negative aspects into a positive learning moment.
17. Ask the interviewer questions – You need to find out if the company is a place you want to work and the people are those you can see yourself being surrounded by on a daily basis.
18. Go in prepared with questions – Asking thoughtful questions that show you have been paying attention and know your stuff will be impressive to the interviewer.
19. Send a thank-you note – Send a thank you email when you get home from the interview and send a thank you card in the mail that will arrive a few days later.
20. Make a lasting impression – Acting calm, collected, and confident will be remembered by the interviewer when they look back on their time spent with you.

Read these related articles to learn more:

• 10 Tips to Ace Your Next Job Interview
• Essential Etiquette for Every Job Interview
• 6 Things to Never Do Before Interviews

Photo: yahoo.com



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