A new spin on interview preparation, for first-timers and those who have interviewed before.

Interviewing can be quite a task, especially if you are unprepared. Preparing for an interview should be as simple as a multiple choice exam where you already know that two of the five answers are correct-you are just trying to pick the most correct of those two. For simplicity’s sake, choose each of the two correct answers and you will be prepared whether interviewing for a first position, a new position with another organization, or a position within a current organization. Are you ready?

Know where you are going prior to the interview day by finding out:

  • Exactly where the building is and which entrance to use.
  • Whose name to give the front desk upon your arrival.

Represent yourself properly by:

  • Dressing appropriately and completely. If the recruiter urges you to dress down for casual Friday, wear nothing less dressy than Docker pants or skirt, tuck in and secure the buttons on your shirt.
  • Offering a firm handshake and a sincere smile

Keep your mind on the next objective by:

  • Focusing on getting to the second interview, if this is your first interview.
  • Focusing on letting the interviewer know you are the one for the position, if this is your second interview.

If there are any spotty points in your occupational, make sure to:

  • Have answers for these in advance of the interview.
  • Practice answering the questions to yourself in front of the mirror until you feel confident that you will be able to do the same at the interview.

Take plenty of resumes with you and:

  • Reproduce them on clean, white or off-white, 25% cotton grade paper.
  • Spell-check, grammar-check, double-check, and triple-check your resume.

Have your reference list on hand because:

  • Even if you submitted an application online, you will likely be asked to fill out a paper version prior to your first interview.
  • It is useful for keeping human resources from waiting on you to dig up references at the last minute.

The night before your interview, make sure to get plenty of:

  • Rest
  • Relaxation.