Ace that Interview!

Are you a new graduate and eager but also anxious for your first interview?

Don't worry, you are about to ace your interview, especially when you prepare by following these simple steps.

Research the Company/Organization

The interviewer expects you to know the company you're applying to be a part of.  Browse the organization's Web site, look for and read as many news and articles you can find about the company.

You can learn more if you're able to meet and talk with some of the company's current employees.

Identify the Best of You have to offer

When you know about the company, its products and its business, you can determine how you can best help the company.

Identify and list down the top three skills or experiences you can offer the employer that other applicants can't?

Prepare your Presentation

Once you know what you can offer, next you have to figure out how to best communicate these to the interview when answering questions

It's also good if you can prepare examples that highlight your top three skills and experience in a good way.  Recall actual events or activities you took part in and share how your skills led to the success of such activities.

You can also develop a portfolio of past work experience or campus organization experience to use as a presentation prop during the interview.

Set up Your Closing Statement

If you really want to work for the company, at the end of the interview, you have to leave with a good impression of your enthusiasm for the job. Prepare a closing statement that presents this, without making you look desperate.

Practice

Ask a friend or a family member to practice with you in mock interviews.

Be Pretty

Make sure you look your professional best for the interviews. So buy some decent business attire to be sure you look the part.

Don't Be Late

You cannot be late for interviews -- period. Get good directions to the company ahead of time.

If you can, travel to the office location to get a good idea of how long it will take you to get here and that if you can actually locate the company.

Rest Well

Get a good night's sleep before your interview so you'll be as physically, psychologically and emotionally ready for it.

Mistakes can happen, move on.

When you accept the possibility that during your interview, you'll struggle answering some questions, or you may forget to make some important points, it'll loosen some of the pressure.

It doesn't have to be perfect; it just has to be good. You can do that.