FYI, I’m not an expert. Maybe if I was I’d have a job by now. But there are quite a few things I’ve learned in my experiences with job interviews, and the more I sit through the more I realize how important it is to be prepared. I have a few tips for your next interview and how you should prepare ahead of time. Hopefully you’ll find these helpful.

1.Do your research: So you have an interview. Good for you. The hard part is just starting. You may have caught their attention, but now its time to show them why they want need you! One of the first questions interviewers often ask is “What do you know about this company?” My advice to you: know something about the company. Do your research. Even if it’s a simple ‘google’ of the company name. Take notes, and go into that interview with something important to say.

2. Always be prepared with examples: Whether you’re looking to start your first part time job at a fast-food restaurant, or looking for a big corporation career, questions are going to be thrown at you in the form of “Can you give me an example of a time….?” These used to terrify me, but not now that I’m prepared in advance. I like to prepare answers in advance for questions I anticipate, such as “Give me an example of a time you had to make a tough decision” or “give me an example of a time you had to work towards a deadline” or “give me an example of a time when something didn’t go right. What was your reaction?” Give it some good thought. Of course you want your answer to be positive, and showcase how you are as a worker and individual and how you dealt with these examples. There is nothing wrong with going into an interview with a notebook/pad of paper with notes on it.

3. Ask Questions: This is a big one. Most people aren’t prepared when the interviewer asks “so do you have any questions for me?” I’m always stumped, flushed in the face, and struggle for words usually replying “no, not at the moment”. You should ALWAYS have questions to ask of your interviewer. Show that you are professional and you mean business. You’re there to learn about the job just as they are there to learn about you. If you’re like me and struggle to come up with questions, check out the blog Career Girl Daily for some awesome tips and tricks for interviewing, including the 9 Relevant Questions to Ask During Your Job Interview. They helped me out, so hopefully you’ll find some use of them.

The most important thing in an interview is to be yourself. In my experience interviews are getting more and more unconventional. What may seem like a friendly conversation is their way of sizing you up. They may not ask the traditional interview questions, but it’s still an interview. Practice makes perfect. Practice your passion, tone, body language and just be you!! Just remember….why should they choose you?

Good luck my friends. The struggle is real. Have you interviewed recently? What do you find helpful when preparing for an interview?