If you’ve even glanced at a TV or news website in the last couple years, you’ve heard about the massive wave of new job seekers looking for their first shot at gainful employment. With more and more qualified applicants arriving on the scene every day, what are you doing to stand out from the crowd?

If you have already scored an interview, congratulations! You’re already halfway there. However, it isn’t your experience alone that sets you apart from your competition; being well-prepared for your interview is the best thing you can do to secure the position and impress your future boss. Below is a breakdown of where your focus should be during each interview.

Know the company

A universal truth is that you will stand out to a potential employer if you can demonstrate your knowledge of the company itself. According to Levo, a leading career organization specializing in building your marketability, here are the top five questions you should know the answers to:

What exactly does the company do? Knowing this will help you convey to the interviewer how the goal of the company fits into your career goals. If you find yourself unsure about their goals, remember to ask during your question portion of the interview.

What is the company mission and core values? Incorporating the mission and values of the company, and the interviewers, into the conversation will definitely give you a leg up against the rest of the competition – but only if you actually agree with their direction.

What does the company culture look like? Candidate and employer can both agree that the way you fit into the culture and environment can and should play a huge part in the hiring decision. Things to consider are how the management interacts with employees and how independent or collaborative would your position be.

Do your research on the company before the interview. You should know the basics and more about the company and how it aligns with your goals.

What current or big events have happened within the company in the last few months? During an interview, one advantage you have is being able to engage in conversations that may come up. Research current or ongoing studies. Read up on recently published research. Be aware of events happening within the company in case the interviewer brings them up.

What does the past, present and future of the company look like? Knowing the background and history of the company is an impressive tool to have under your belt in an interview. You should be able to tie in your abilities and contribution to the plan the company has in place for the future as it continues to grow.

These are questions that are usually very accessible, thanks to websites like Google and Glassdoor. Not only will it help you distinguish yourself as a potential employee, it will also give you a good idea whether you’re interested in what this company has to offer and how it operates.

Learn who is involved in the interview process

Interviewing shouldn’t be like going on a blind date. The more you know about the person interviewing you, the better your chances are for impressing them. What are the names of those on your interview panel? What roles do they play within the company? What is their relationship in terms of the role you are interviewing for? Knowing the answers to these questions will help you stand out from the other applicants. Like you research the company, research the interviewers via LinkedIn.

Practice! Practice! Practice! The questionnaire portion of the interview can be the most nerve-wracking, but it can also be the most redeeming when gracefully handled. As with most things, practice makes perfect!

Practice answers to typical questions

The questionnaire portion of the interview can be the most nerve-wracking, but it can also be the most redeeming when gracefully handled. As with most things, practice makes perfect! Common open-ended interview questions include:

Can you tell me a little about yourself?

How did you hear about this position?

Why are you interested in this company?

What are your strengths?

What are your weaknesses?

Tell me about a challenge you’ve faces and how you addressed it.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years?

What is your dream job?

What kind of work environment do you work the best in?

Can you tell a story of a scenario where you took on a leadership role?

Do you have any questions for me/us?

These questions are designed to tell the interviewer crucial attributes you may have, facts about your values as an employee, how you will fit in with the company culture, and other aspects that are of significance to the development the company.

Make sure you come armed with the answers to at least a few of these questions. It’s impossible to predict precisely what you’ll be asked, but simply being prepared to fire off a few quick answers will impress the interviewers and let them know that you mean business.

Bring extra copies of your resume! Even though your interviewer has more than likely seen your resume online earlier, there may be more than one interviewer or they might want a refresher to go over with you.

Bring copies of your resume

This is something simple that’s often overlooked. Bring extra copies of your resume! Even though your interviewer has more than likely seen your resume online earlier, there may be more than one interviewer or they might want a refresher to go over with you. Bringing extra copies will show that you’re prepared for anything, organized and proud to talk about your experiences.

Wear appropriate attire

Appearance is worth more than anyone likes to admit. Are you having trouble coming up with a good outfit to wear to your interview? Pinterest is a great source to inspire your go-to interview outfit. Since you should have already done your research on this company you probably have idea as to what kind of culture to expect. Dress accordingly and use Pinterest to help. And remember, it’s better to over-dress than under-dress! For more tips on how to dress for an interview, check out our blog post Dress to Impress: Interview Edition.

Between traffic jams, missed turns, and jockeying for a parking place, there are many looming opportunities waiting to delay your arrival.

Know where you’re going and arrive 15 minutes early

It’s a pretty terrible feeling when you know you might be late for an important interview. Between traffic jams, missed turns, and jockeying for a parking place, there are many looming opportunities waiting to delay your arrival. That’s why it’s important to do everything early. Wake up early, get dressed early, leave early, and finally, arrive early. As a mentor once told me, “You’re late if you’re on time.” Of course, make sure you’re being reasonable; you’re going to get some strange looks if you show up two hours before you’re scheduled to go in.

Firm handshake

It might seem like a trifle compared to all the other tips, but a handshake is usually the final lasting impression of a candidate on their way out the door. A firm handshake instills a sense of confidence, which will no doubt delight the interviewer. Do your best to avoid a limp-wristed “dead fish” handshake, since that may make the manager think that you’re weak-willed and not up to the challenge. In any event, leaving the interview with a strong handshake is always a good idea and should never be forgotten.

A firm handshake instills a sense of confidence, which will no doubt delight the interviewer.

While there is no magic formula for getting a guaranteed job offer after the interview, it’s imperative that you do your best to be professional, personable, and prepared. If you follow these tips and practice answering some of those open-ended questions, you’ll be in the best position to surprise and impress at the interview. Good luck!

Article Contributions By: Headway Marketing Department