How do I ace an interview?

If you’re looking for a guide to prepare you for an interview, you’ll find plenty of opinions. If someone promises they can promise to help you ace an interview, beware. This is one of those promises that can’t likely be kept.

Tutorial

While there’s no way to be sure that you’ll ace an interview, there are some steps you can take to ensure that you’re as prepared as possible.

You may ask why it’s not possible to be certain that you’re ready to ace an interview and the answer is that interview always carry the potential for questions you weren’t prepared for. You may think that you’re ready for every question the interviewer may ask, but there’s always the chance that some of the questions will be unexpected.

Consider, for example, the interviewer who wants to get a feel for your honesty. He might ask, “What was the last lie you told?” And you aren’t likely to have an answer ready for that question. Think questions like this are too far “off the wall” to be used in real interviews? Think again. Interviewers have all kinds of questions they use to find out about your personality and to help decide whether you’d be a match for their company.

That said, realize that you can take some steps to help increase your chances of breezing through an interview. You can dress appropriately and be sure that you look your best. If you aren’t worrying about your apparel or how you look, you’re more likely to be focused completely on the interview.

Review your resume thoroughly. Try to think like an interviewer and consider questions that might come up about education or past employment. Go over past jobs so that you aren’t floundering when asked about your responsibilities at a specific company.  

Remember that it’s okay to stop and think. Don’t have the idea that you have to offer answers immediately. It’s perfectly acceptable to take a moment to consider answers before you start blurting out the first thing that comes to mind. Also don’t feel that you have to fill silences while the interviewer is thinking.

When it’s time for the interview, the best you can do is to be as prepared as possible, look your best and present a confident air.