Did you recently receive a job interview? That’s great! Going to a job interview is the first step of getting the position you desire. But what should you do to prepare for the upcoming meeting? Well, here are some strategies that you can use as a guideline to be successful in an interview.

1. Arrive on time:
Arrive on time without delay. Showing up late sis a bad sign to the employer. It will make him or her see that you are not reliable to come to work on time. Show up early to avoid any delays from traffic or being lost. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

2. Resume:
Make sure to bring in a completed resume to your interview. If you do not have one or need to update it, you can find blank templates and resume tips online – like through Optimal Resume. Also, some employers like a resume to have a cover letter with it. Here is a guide to create a cover letter https://resumegenius.com/resume/cover-letters-the-how-to-guide .

3. Research:
Do a little research on the company that you are planning to work for. Learn all you can of the work ethics and the position of that company so that you can have a general idea of what you’re getting into. If you do not understand something, write the question(s) down on paper or note card. This way when the employer asks if you have any questions, you would know what to say.

4. Attire:
Dress appropriately. Wear either business casual or business professional. Do not wear revealing clothing, or something you would wear around your friends. Also, do not put on heavy makeup, jewelry, or perfume/cologne that is very strong. It can be very distracting to the employer.

5. Positive Attitude:
Encourage yourself that you can do the best you can and always have a smile. Positive attitude gives you positive results.

If you want to learn more tips to prepare for your upcoming interview, please visit this site for more details.

If you need help preparing for an upcoming interview contact Career Services on a campus near you!

This is a question that most people do not exactly sure how best to answer. When interviewing you always want to be prepared for this question so you can answer it confidently and concisely.

Tell me about yourself?

Though this is one of the most frequently asked questions, it is also one that the applicants tend to prepare for less frequently. Yet this simple question will set the tone for the interview. When most people get asked this question, they start off with something like “I was born and raised in somewhere, USA. My parents worked as farmers. I went to college to study communications and for the last ten years I worked for HSN as a Customer Service Representative.” When answering this question you want to be a little more specific.

There is an easy way to breakdown how you should answer this question. The answer should be about one to two minutes long. You want to avoid rambling, since it will give the interviewer the impression that you are unprepared. To avoid rambling. Break this question down into three parts:

1. Quick overview of yourself – where you grew up, why you picked your college major.

2. Your work experience and accomplishments.

3. Wrap that all up and relate it back to why you are there applying for this specific position. How did your life experiences, work history and education bring you to today’s interview?

Always remember that you don’t want to simply recite your resume and to focus on your skills that are applicable to the hiring manager. Think of this question as a preview to a movie: you want the interviewer to buy a ticket to your movie and not move on to the next theater.

For more tips on interviews and career preparation visit Career Services on any campus.