Simply put, an interview will be the most important factor in getting hired. You can’t put your personality down on paper, but you can definitely show someone your great qualities in an interview. Your resume will provide employers with background information about you along with your experience, but an interview will allow them to analyze what kind of person you are, or rather if you’re the kind of person they want to work with.

Hopefully you know the importance of an interview, but you don’t know how to go about expressing yourself well. Like many things in life, there are three parts to a successful interview- before, during, and after it. Doing well in each part is essential to making yourself stand out from the commoners also applying for your position. Bear in mind that this article doesn’t focus on any specific job industry, but rather on conveying yourself effectively in any normal interview.

Before the Interview

At this point, you’ve probably sent in your resume and had an interview scheduled.

1) Research!

If the company has a website, read the “About us” section. Know exactly what you are applying for, what company you’re going to be working for, what the company specializes in, who runs the place, and anything else relevant for your position. More likely than not, you will know the name of your interviewer so be sure on how to pronounce his or her name. You do not want to get things off to a bad start by embarrassing yourself right at the introduction.

2) Attire

You should dress accordingly for the kind of position you are applying for. If you have a friend working there already, you would be best off asking him what would be best. Or if you have been to the office already, you can base your attire on what people were wearing. Generally, you can’t go wrong with dressing conservatively, but the most important thing about your appearance is that you look neat, clean, and professional.
Another thing to note is the way you smell. While it’s recommended that you wear deodorant, it is not recommended that you wear cologne or perfume to an interview. Not only is there potential that your interviewer is allergic to your odor, but you are there to score a job, not to score.

3) Transportation

First and foremost, know where you are going. This means not Google mapping the address on the day of the interview. If you have to, go there the day before to be sure you know how to get there. This not only applies to getting to the building, but getting to the room as well. The point is to arrange your transportation so you’ll get there early. This means taking the bus before the one you’re supposed to take, driving 20 minutes earlier than you normally would, having a friend drop you off (so you don’t have to worry about parking) or anything else- just get there early!

4) Prepare your interview package

Find the most professional looking bag or briefcase you have and include in it copies of your resume, letters of reference, information about yourself, (be prepared to possibly fill out a job application there, which could include past employers, etc.) paper and pen (for note-taking), and anything else you need.

5) Prepare for the following common interview questions/topics ahead of time

1. Where do you see yourself 5 or 10 years from now?
2. Why did you leave your last job?
3. Why should we choose you over the other candidates applying?
4. Tell me of a time of when you accomplished a difficult task.
5. Tell me of a time where you used teamwork effectively.
6. What is your greatest weakness? Greatest strength?
7. Why do you want to work in this particular industry?
8. What about you makes you right for this job?
9. Tell me about yourself.
10. What is your greatest motivator?
11. What would be your ideal job?
12. How does work pressure affect you?
13. What do you like to do in your spare time?
14. Give me some examples of your creativity.
15. Tell me about your public speaking skills.

6) Eat a balanced meal the morning before

Unless you are meeting over a meal, you should not go into an interview hungry. Your stomach growling isn’t pleasant, nor is the distracting idea of hunger. Additionally, while it’s nice to eat a tasty meal, you do not want to eat anything that will give you heartburn or anything that will distract you later. Beware of garlic, which will induce halitosis (bad breath). Also watch out for beans- I am positive flatulence will not be appreciated by anyone. Also be sure to keep your breath fresh after your meal, don’t give yourself a chance to make a bad first impression.

7) Turn your cell phone off.

A cell phone going off will show your carelessness and is just rude. Vibration mode won’t do it either, it can still be heard in the middle of a conversation, and can just as easily be a distraction to you.