by Kaye Boss

Created on: November 10, 2010   Last Updated: December 08, 2010

If you want to succeed in this world then you need to master the art of self-promotion.
With the following five tips for acing an interview, you will learn how to survive all aspects of interview and more importantly, how to get the job. 
  First of all, congratulations on getting the interview! 
The first step is to prepare. Take time to investigate the company that you’re applying to and know a bit about their background. The more you know about the company the more you can impress them during the interviewing process. 

During an interview companies often ask questions like, “What interested you in this position?” or “Why have you chosen this position?” The more information that you know about the company and the position, the better answers you can give. 
For example, if you’re working for a gym that introduced a revolutionary weight loss program that other gyms have yet to incorporate you could show an interest in that program. Showing your interest in the company, without going overboard and looking desperate, and showing a genuine want to be a part of a company are great ways to hear back from a company. 
You’ve probably heard step two a thousand times before but that’s because it’s the perfect way to ace an interview; practice answering questions.
A lot of interviewers use similar questions. If you’ve been to a handful of interviews you’ve probably heard several of the same questions with slight variations such as: Where have you worked previously? What challenges did you face? How did you overcome these challenges? etc. 
Sound familiar? It should. In fact, there are countless websites online that offer full lists of questions that most interviewers divided by popularity and subject. Check out a few websites and start answering questions. 
Why does this work? Practice may not make you perfect but it does make for thoughtful answers. If you go into an interview and you’re confident in your answers and able to convey your answers in a professional and thoughtful manner, not simply reciting answers or muttering through, then you will impress your interviewer. 
So now it’s the day of the interview and on to step three. Step three is simple. Make sure that you are dressed appropriately for the interview. Go into all interviews looking professional, tidy, and self-respecting. I aced an interview once before when I said, “I’m perfect for this position because I respect myself. I feel that I can appropriately represent this company because I project respect and confidence. I’m not limited by insecurities and I feel that will reflect well on your company.” 
I could’ve added more and addressed the specific position more but the interviewer was so impressed that I left it at that. 
During the interview, be calm and answer each question appropriately. Ask for clarification if you’re unclear and take your time. Rushing through answers will lead to regret. 
Finally, that last step has arrived and it’s just as crucial as the first. Follow up with your interviewer. Send a thank you letter or e-mail to your interviewer, and call the company several days later to let them know that you’re still interested in the position. Companies will appreciate the interest and the persistence and it will be rewarded. 
Following the above five steps is the perfect way to acing the interview and getting the job! 

Learn more about this author, Kaye Boss.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.