Preparing for a job interview can be stressful. Your goal is to make the best possible impression and get the job. However, try to keep your cool. Rather than stressing, that same energy can be channeled into preparing yourself for what’s to come.

Here are a few tips to prepare as good as you can.

Try to find out as much information as you can about the company that’s interviewing you. Find out all you can. Your resources include the internet, people you know that have worked there, and even articles about the company that you can find on different periodicals.

Try to be as clear as you can about the company, their products and services, and even their mission.

Do a few mock interviews for practice. If you are offered to go interview with a company you don’t intend to work for, go anyway and take advantage of the practice.

Develop a list of questions that you can ask during your interview. Questions could be regarding company philosophy and goals, enrichment and education programs for employees, outlook and future projects, or anything else that you can think of that is pertinent and intelligent.

Dress the part. If you can, go to the location of your interview and see what employees are wearing. Then dress in a similar fashion, but one step up. If instead you don’t have the chance to go and see ahead of time, a simple suit with clean lines and few classic accessories will work out just fine.

Prepare the night before by making sure your clothes are ready. Get any information you’ll be taking with you, such as a copy of your resume, ready. Practice your smile, eye contact and handshake (first impressions are important).

During a job interview you should appear knowledgeable, neat and not exceedingly nervous. When you use the six steps outlined here, you’ll have gone a long way to ensure that you’ll do well in your interview.

Before your interview, if you have a case of the nerves, take three deep, belly breaths to calm yourself down. Stop in the restroom before you announce yourself and check your look in the mirror.

Take a honest look and see if everything is in place (make-up, hair and clothes). Smile and practice standing up straight. Find your confidence and go for the gold.

During your interview, ask questions about the company (without interrupting), and use positive body language sit up straight, use good eye contact and lean slightly forward to show interest. Don’t panic immediately if you find yourself stumped on a question; rather, take your time and formulate the best answer you can come up with. Don’t hurry your answer and try to reply as good as you can.

After your interview, be sure to thank each person you met, including the receptionist, and wish them a nice day. Job interviews can be nerve-racking, but with some preparation, you can ace the interview and feel confident about the results. If you don’t get the job, keep looking and move on to prepare for a job interview with another company.

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