10 Steps to a Successful Interview

1. Do Your Research: Understand as much as you can about the company. Learn about its mission, business, service, size, customers, and competition. This will give you an edge in selling yourself and marketing your skills to the business.
    
2. Be Prepared: Bring along a professional binder containing extra copies of your resume, a copy of your references and paper to take notes. Have questions prepared to ask at the end of the interview.
    
3. Dress Professionally: Before the interview, select your outfit. Overdress rather than under dress. Wear a suit and polished shoes. Dress for confidence. If you feel good, others will respond to you accordingly.
    
4. Arrive on Time: Never arrive late to an interview. Allow extra time to find the building. Plan to arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of the scheduled interview.
    
5. Show Enthusiasm: A firm handshake and good eye contract demonstrate confidence. Smile, nod, and give nonverbal feedback. Employers want to hire candidates that are enthusiastic and interested in the position. Remember to speak distinctly in a confident voice, even though you may feel nervous.
    
6. Listen: One of the most neglected interviewing skills is listening. Make sure you are not only listening, but also reading between the lines. Sometimes what is not said is just as important as what is said.
    
7. Give Specific Examples: More employers are asking behavioral questions . Your past behavior can indicate your future performance. When answering questions give examples that highlight your successes and uniqueness. One specific example is worth more to the employer than a lot of vague stories.
    
8. Answer the Question Asked: Candidates often don’t think about whether or not they are answering the questions asked by their interviewers. Make sure you understand what is being asked, and get further clarification if you are unsure.
    
9. Ask Questions: Your questions indicate your interest in the company and job. Many interviewees don’t ask questions and miss the opportunity to find out valuable information.
    
10. Send a Thank You: Make sure to send a thank you within 24 hours of the interview. You can email or mail a thank you letter to employers. For examples view the sample Thank You letters .