3 Tips to Prepare for Your Next Job Interview

When you are about to go into an interview for a new job, your mind may be racing with questions. What should I wear? How should I act? What do they want me to know about the company? This blog post will answer these questions and more! We'll cover how to dress, what to say in the interview, and even provide some hints on follow-up emails after the interview is over.

What to wear to an interview
If this is overwhelming to you, keep it simple.  But please know that what you wear may depend on what job you are interviewing for.  For example if you are interviewing for a legal job at a 100 year old law firm, you want to look professional, not too casual and likely want to look pretty traditional. Make sure your clothes are clean and pressed. Avoid colognes or perfumes with strong scents as these can be offensive during an interview. Women should wear makeup to make sure you look put together but may not want to put on your "night time" makeup for a "day time" job interview.  Hair should be put together so there's nothing in your face. Some this may seem harsh, but this is all about making a good first impression - you don't want to be remembered for your clothes instead of what you have to say.   However, if you are interviewing at a 2 year old start up advertising company where your creative qualities will be called upon in the job, you may want to show some of those qualities in what you wear to an interview.  

Research to do before an interview
A successful interview starts with good research. Make sure you know the basics about the company - what they do, who their competitors are, and how long they have been around for.  It would help if you also read recent articles on them so that you can ask relevant questions during your interview session regarding new products/services or partnerships being formed by the organization. Remember, your interviewer will also do some research on you as well, so if you’d like to Remove mugshots or clean up your social media, be sure to do it before going for the interview - more importantly before you even apply for a job.

What not to do during an interview
This may seem like a no-brainer, but you'd be surprised how many people mess up during an interview. Don't show up late. Make a plan for how you will get there on time and leave plenty of extra time for travel.  Do not chew gum - it's distracting and shows poor manners.   You should also avoid interrupting someone who is speaking with more than just short phrases such as 'yes' or 'uh-huh.'   Avoid negative body language like crossed arms and furled brows. That gives a negative impression to your interviewer.

By utilizing the above tips, you’ll be ready to wow your interviewers and answer any questions they may have with ease and confidence!  We have more tips to interview like a pro in this article if you need some more tips.  Good luck!