How to fully prep for an interview

If you’re hoping the new year is going to include a new job, make sure you’re ready. When you’ve scheduled an interview, it’s easy to get anxious in the days leading up to it. It’s hard to know exactly what to expect from an interviewer, but there are a few things you can do to be as prepared as possible.

Know the basics: Make sure you’ve Googled the company’s physical address and checked out it on a map. You want to know exactly where the building is and where you should park when you get there. Confusion can lead to tardiness, and that’s the last thing you want. Also, make sure you’ve got the company’s number and your contact’s name saved in your phone, in case of emergency.

Do extra homework: When you’re on your way to a job interview, you want to be ready in every way. Physically, you want to be alert (caffeinated, possibly) and energized (get a good night’s sleep). You also want to be excited about the opportunity, so make sure you fully understand the job description and don’t have any questions about the company. Do your research and find out exactly what the company does and what you’d be doing for them.

Practice out loud: Look over some common interview questions and practice answering them to yourself. You don’t want to trip over any easy answers, and you’ll want to make sure you’re speaking slow and clear. And don’t just settle for the first answer that comes to mind. When preparing to answer common questions, give more than a generic answer. Take some time and come up with thoughtful and interesting responses.