With the economy spiraling down jobs are being cut left and right. You find yourself asking, what chance to I have? There are a few things on your end that you can do to ensure a positive outcome with all of your interviews. You are trying to sell yourself to a total stranger and most interview situations make you uneasy. All you have to do to make this situation a little more painless is to be prepared! The proper preparation before every interview will help lighten the stress involved. Keep these tips in mind for all your interviews:

Practice

Practice answering interview questions and responses to those questions. Think of actual examples that your skills have benefitted you from previous employment. Providing actual examples can definitely market you to the interviewer.

Prepare

Prepare responses so you are ready for any question that comes your way. Doing research on the company before the initial interview is a big plus. It shows the interviewer you took the time to look up the company and that you prepared for the interview. Knowing any information on the company can help you when answering questions during the interview.

Your Best Performance

Make sure you are at your best for your interview. The night before, make sure you get a good night rest so that you are refreshed and ready for the interview in the morning. Eat breakfast and do some last minute prepping for the interview.

Personal Appearance

Dress to impress. Make sure you are well groomed, clean cut, and you wear professional attire. If you know the type of dress the office you are interviewing with is, then dress accordingly. However, always wearing a nice suit and tie gives off a professional attitude.

Be On Time

Be on time for your interview. It’s best to show up five to ten minutes early if possible. If you have the time, look up directions to the office beforehand or make a trip to the office a day before to make sure you know the correct route to take.

Network

If anyone you know works at the company you are about to interview at, ask them if they know anything about the hiring manager that you can use as leverage during your interview. Being able to relate to the hiring manager may make your interview go a lot smoother.

Questions, Questions, Questions

Who says asking questions is a bad thing? Asking good solid questions during your interview shows the interviewer that you are prepared. Ask questions about the positions, the company, and any concerns you may have. Sometimes, only answering the questions, is not enough. If you have the time, while you are researching the company, make a list of questions that you may have.

Impress

Always give a firm handshake when initially meeting the interviewer. If applicable, bring your portfolio to show what you can do to your potential employer. Always bring copies of your resume. Don’t assume the interviewer will have a copy, and in case other you meet other people during your interview, you want to be able to hand them a copy of your resume if they ask for one. When answering questions about previous employment, try to link them to the job you are interviewing for. Know what’s on your resume. Bring a list of your references even though an employer may not ask for them, offer it anyways.

Stay Calm

During the interview, do your best to relax and stay calm. If you need to, take a moment to regroup. Listen to the questions, think about your answer, and maintain eye contact when talking to the interviewer. You don’t want to silently freak out in your head and when it comes to your answer for the questions you not know how to answer because you weren’t paying attention. Just take a deep breath and you will be A-OK!

Follow Up

Always follow-up with a thank you note and reiterate your interest in the position. If you interviewed with several people, be sure to send a note to each one. A hand written note seems to be the best way to thank someone. It’s personal and handwritten and shows the person that you care enough to take the time to sit down and write a not for them. Also, it’s surprising since most people send an e-mail.

Keep in mind; these are a few suggestions on what you can do to help you improve your interview. Be smart, sharp and use your head and you will have no problem landing the job!