How to Prepare for an Interview

In order to prepare for an interview, first prepare an interviewing portfolio that includes in it the following documents:

• Several copies of your updated resume
• A copy of the job description and/or classified ad for the job for which you are interviewing
• Several copies of your sheet of references with current addresses, phone numbers, and email addresses (at lest three professional references, not your friends)
• Copies of reference letters you have received from former employers and volunteer supervisors
• Copies of any relevant awards you have recieved
• A neatly word processed sheet or printed Internet pages of the research you preformed in getting to know about the company to which you are applying
• A neatly prepared sheet of the research you did to find our the appropriate salary range for the job you wish to obtain
• Directions and phone numbers for finding the location of your interview, along with the name and title of the person you will see
• Work samples, if you have them. This would include documents you have written, graphics you have produced, photos you have taken, etc.

Read through all of your materials and get to know them well, especially what you have put on your resume. Also make sure to know yourself - know what you want form a job and out of life. Also, know what you can offer a company that makes you stand out from other potential employees. Be able to discuss all of this without having to look at your resume and notes very often. However, do feel free to look at it and point important aspects of it out to the interviewer.

Familiarize your self with the 10 major types of job interviews and be ready for any of them to occur. You may have two or even three interviews and they may be of different types.

Read over the Top 100 Interview Questions and be ready to answer any of them with the proper job interview etiquette.

Make yourself aware of the odd and strange questions that you may be asked and be ready for them.

If you can, practice interviewing with a friend or by yourself in a mirror a few days prior to the interview.

Be aware of illegal interview questions and how to handle them tactfully.

The day before the interview, review your portfolio contents, eat balanced meals, do something for recreation and relaxation, and do not stay up too late. Make sure you have a proper and properly clean outfit to wear to the interview; if you do not have one, try to borrow from your friends.

Get enough sleep and rise early enough to check on traffic and weather patterns to ensure you arrive at your interview safely and on time. If you can, drive by the interview site the day before, so that you know exactly where it is. Be sure to remember to take your Interview Portfolio with you.

These Interview-related Hub Pages can help you further on your way to preparing for a successful job interview:

• Top 10 Types of Job Interviews
• Interview Etiquette
• 100 Interview Questions
• Top 10 Objections to Hiring Job Candidates (how to overcome them)
• Weird Interview Questions
• What Not to Say (during an interview)
• Salary Ranges
• How to Handle Illegal Interview Questions