You've got yourself an interview, that's amazing! now is your opportunity to make a long-lasting impression. Preparing ahead of time will help you maintain your composure and perform at your best. Here are some tips on what you should do before any job interview

1. Research the company ahead of time: do some online research on what the company does and its founder/s, as well as some background on their management team. For example, if you’re interviewing for a Marketing job, find out how many people work in the Marketing sector and how large it is. You might also want to look up any past success stories about the company in their industry or with related companies. Knowing these stories will show that you are interested in the company and industry.
2. Prepare the possible questions and their answers: looking at the job description and the qualifications required for the position, you should be able to gain some insight into the different types of questions that might be asked regarding your skills and experiences. Make a list of potential questions and write down your responses. The moment of interview is an opportunity not only for you to demonstrate your knowledge, but also your personality. This is why any examples from relevant hobbies, personal projects or interests, may be of relevance to the interviewer. It's a combination of all of these factors that will assist you to show why you're a suitable fit for the position.
3. Think of the questions you’d like to ask: there will probably be interesting questions that will come up while you are reviewing the company. It's important to write down all these interesting questions so you can ask them at the exact moment during the interview. This exact moment in the interview will be when you are asked whether you have any questions, it's important that you make these questions as clear as possible. This will show that you are interested in the company and that you want to learn more about it.
4. Practice with friends or family: "practice makes perfect". Don't be embarrassed to make mistakes by rehearsing in front of your family or friends. There is only one way to improve your speech and presentation and that is to practice!
5. Dress for success: of course, there is no golden rule on how to dress for every company. Nevertheless, in general, you should want to look bright and professional. If you're unsure how you should dress and there is no dress code specified, do some investigation on what would be suitable for the industry and company.

An extra last tip that we suggest taking into consideration is following up with the employer. It is extremely important that your role won't finish with the interview. After a few hours or even the next day, you should send a "thank-you" email to let the company know once again about your interest in the role.

‍