by Alexis Randall

Created on: September 17, 2009

For most people interviews are a stressful venture into the unknown. Whether you're comfortable meeting new people and making small talk, or not, knowing you're being judged against other potential candidates and you may or may not be found worthy is daunting to say the least. One of the best ways to combat these nerves is to simply be prepared. There are a few simple things you can do to ensure preparedness for the big event.

Select your attire ahead of time. Your outfit depends entirely on the position you are interviewing for, but a good rule of thumb is to always err on the side of conservative and professional. If you need advice on what is or is not proper interview attire your local job service can be a great resource. Some basic rules of thumb - men should lean toward collared shirts and long pants; women - skirts and dresses should be at least knee length, avoid low cut tops and open toed shoes; man or woman, always attend to personal hygiene. These are just a few tips to keep in mind. Another is to always be prepared.

Know the company you're interviewing for and the position you are applying for. Take the time to do a little research. A perspective employer will be impressed to find out you know something about their business, and the research should provide you with the background you need to formulate intelligent, relevant and unique questions. When they ask if you have any questions, always make sure you have something to ask them about. However, an interview is not the correct place to ask about things such as pay, benefits, and vacation time. You'll want to formulate your questions to express interest in both the position and the company. Practice asking and replying to questions in the mirror. This will give you the chance to see yourself and your expressions.

We all have nervous twitches or quirks. Some of chew their lips, some pull their ears, some slouch, some tap their feet, some twist their hair, whatever yours is be aware of it and make a conscious effort to control it during the interview. You'll want to be conscious of your posture and avoid holding anything in your hands that you might be tempted to fidget with. This can be distracting to your potential employer, and you want them to focus on you not your isms.

However that's not say you don't want to express yourself and allow your personality to show through. Often an employer will be likely to hire a less qualified candidate over a more qualified one simply based on how well they can relate to other people. Smiling, cracking an appropriate, well timed joke and laughing at your interviewer's jokes are all good ways to ensure the chemistry is good between you and the potential employer. However, if that's just not your personality, if you're serious and reserved by nature, forcing gaiety can come across as phony so be as engaging as your personality allows. You don't want to pretend to be one person in the interview and then get the job and your real self be nothing like who they thought they hired. There are plenty of employers who prefer the serious and reserved type.

Most importantly relax, and believe in yourself. You applied for this job for a reason. On some level you must believe yourself to be capable of performing the duties required. If you don't believe your interview won't either. Confidence is always your best accessory.

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