1. Dress to Impress

They say you should dress for the job you want, not the job you have. When it comes to interviews it’s never been truer. The interviewers’ job is to see if you could be a good fit with the company. Do some research to find out what people are like in the company, try to dress in a manner that is similar to the culture of the company, while keeping your personal style. While dressing like people in the company won’t get you the job on its own, the first impression the interviewer will have of you will mesh well with the style of the company.

2. Hygiene

Would you hire someone who’s hair wasn’t brushed or their breath was smelly? As much as we try not to judge people on their outer appearances, failing to keep up with basic hygiene practices is a huge red flag. Even if you have a great resume with exceptional experience, if you can’t take care of yourself the interviewer will question how you will be able to handle the position.

3. Do your research

When you are going for your interview, you should feel like you know so much about the company that you could be the person doing the interview. When you know the companies current events, values, and projects it not only prepares you for questions like “why do you want to work for this company?” but also gives you talking points and the ability to create relevant questions for the interviewer. When you start to talk about something the company has recently done, it signals that you are genuinely interested in the company.

4. Ask Questions

The most impressive thing for an interviewer is when the interviewee is active and engaged in the interview. Don’t wait until the end of the interview to ask questions. Remember that it’s not only them deciding if they want you to work for them, but also you need to decide if the company will be a good fit for you. Not only will you get a better feel for the company culture, and if you’d like it but also turning it into a two-way conversation rather than rapid-fire question answers makes it a more memorable interview.

5. Be yourself

In the end, the most important thing you can do is be yourself. The last thing you want is to get the job based on false pretenses, and not be able to follow through with your promises. Pretending to be something that you are not most of the time is more obvious than you would think, and if somehow it goes undetected it won’t take long before the truth will come out. Honesty is always the best policy when it comes to interviewing. Sometimes even if you don’t have the exact skills or experience they are looking for, your honesty and willingness to admit your weaknesses will shine brighter than your downfalls, landing you the job.