Interviews can be a stressful and unenjoyable experience for a lot of people, for both the person having the interview and the people running it. But it doesn’t have to be. Making sure you put your best foot forward and deliver the right perception to the interviewees can help you to stand out as the successful candidate. To make sure this happens, there are a few things you should try and get right:

Know Your Audience

Making sure you know who’s going to be in the room and what their role is in the company is a must. By knowing who will be in the room, you can target your answers to suit the people interviewing you. It also shows that you’ve done your research before the interview. Not sure who will interview you? Take the initiative and ask the company directly.

Make Eye Contact

This shows your confidence, even if you don’t really feel that way inside. It’s best to avoid staring directly into someone’s eyes and not blinking, as this can make you appear a tad on the crazy side. Relaxed and natural eye contact, just like you would with your partner or friends, is perfect. If there is more than one person in the interview, make attempts to look each person in the eye as you give your responses.

Practice Makes Perfect

Jumping online a few days before your interview and researching questions that may come up is a great way to prepare yourself for an interview. Work out your answers beforehand and practise delivering them. You can either do this with a friend or you can record yourself. Don’t overdo it, as too much practice can have the effect of being robotic in the interview. But if you do enough so that you’re ready for the big questions that will surely come up, you’ll put yourself in the perfect position to stand out from the rest.

Dress Appropriately

Making sure you make an effort with your appearance for an interview is a must if you want to land that job. Even if you’re applying for a job that may mean you wear shorts and a t-shirt, going the extra mile to wear a shirt, dress pants and good shoes to the interview will demonstrate that you are serious about the role you’re going for. Remember, this is your first impression so making it a good one is essential.

Remember, They Asked to See You!

It’s completely normal to be nervous or anxious before an interview, so remember that you’re there because there was something about your application that caught their eye. An interview is a chance to talk about yourself in more detail and what you can bring to the role. Remembering that they are the ones that have a position and that they need someone to fill the role will mean that you are in a position of power. It’s as much an interview for a role to be filled as it is an interview for a company you might want to work for.

At the end of the day, most people conducting interviews are prepared for people to be nervous and anxious. They take that into account with your responses and only want to get to know you and what you will bring to the role they have. And no one knows you better than you, so be sure to be yourself, follow the steps above and you’re certain to give yourself the best possible chance of landing the job.