An interview can be a terrifying prospect, especially if you haven’t done one in a while. However, there are ways you can prepare for your meeting and build confidence. Here are five tips to make you feel more self-assured for your next interview.

1. Research the company and position. Before ever walking into the company’s lobby, research everything you can about the organization. Check out their LinkedIn profile, Facebook page, Twitter, Blog, and everything else. Google them and find out if they have appeared in the news or if there are reviews of the company. Thoroughly review the job description and do some additional research of the job duties.
2. Review sample questions. There are some common questions that get asked in most interviews, such as, “Where do you see yourself in 5 to 10 years?” and “what is your biggest weakness?” It is important to be prepared for these questions but not sound like a recording. Think through your answers and be honest. Try to be original as well.
3. Practice. Ask a friend or family member to work with you before the interview. Have them ask you some questions so they can give you feedback on your body language and your response times. It might feel silly, but evaluate yourself in the mirror while answer questions as well, so you can see if your eye contact is too much or too little, or if you appear nervous in any way.
4. Search yourself online. As you begin to submit your resume for jobs it is a good idea to keep track of your social media and other online information. Google yourself to see what comes up on the first several pages. Manage anything negative by producing positive information on a blog or social media.

It is important to prepare for your interview. If you have done the research, practiced, and improved your online image, you should be confident that you are prepared. Are you looking for your next job interview? Contact the professional recruiters at StaffEx to see how we can help you!