We talk a lot about loyal employees on this blog. Awarding fine work and dedication with awe-inspiring crystal, glass and marble awards accounts for a sizeable portion of our business, so it only seems natural to talk about topics like, ‘Making the proper choice when giving an executive gift’ or ‘Types of Employee Recognition Programs’. While these, and many others, are tremendously helpful articles if you’ve been working for a company a while – chances are you could care less if you’re currently looking for a job.

Chin up! We can help there too. We can’t find you a job – and sorry we’re not hiring, we can save you some time by trudging through dozens of blogs and articles with titles like, “Top 21 Interview Tips” and “How to Interview like a Pro!”

After the trudging (do I really mean drudgery?) …

After the drudgery of trudging through poorly articulated interview advice and hyperbole we uncover the actual good advice (sometimes only one or two of the 21 reasons) and made a concise list for you.

So, in no particular order (what, you thought we were going to prioritize them for you too? That’s somewhat presumptuous, don’t you think?) here’s a list of the best interview tips.

• Practice. Familiarize yourself with the most commonly asked interview questions. Answer them in the mirror, to yourself  – or have a friend quiz you. Remember, people really DO ask the “What are your strengths/weaknesses?” question.
•  It’s all about that first impression. The interview starts the moment you walk through the door, so gather yourself and save the pep talks for the bus ride over. Here’s an article from Lifehacker that talks about your body language during an interview and how to enter a room.
• Ask your share of questions too. Usually question time for the interviewee is saved for the end of the interview, but if you can fire of the following mind bullet (that’s weird) before the interview gets cranking you’ll score some major points: “So what are you looking for in a new hire that will make them successful in this role?” This allows you highlight skills and assets that fit into the description they provide and displays your ability to be proactive.
• Follow up. A short email after your interview, thanking the company or organization for the opportunity and another follow up to check in if the scheduled time to ‘let you know’ has lapsed.
• Research, research, research. Find out as much as possible about the role being offered the organization. Try to research similar roles at other, possibly competing companies as well. And hell, as long as you’re googling – do a quick search for yourself. Maybe that shot of you at Lake Havasu two summers ago should be pulled down. You know the one…
• Relax. Ok, this is kind of stupid to tell someone, but if you truly do relax during an interview you’ll come off personable and adaptable. While people realize that interviews are stressful, rising above causes reactions like “well, she seems to deal with stress really well” or “if that’s how she handles an interview, she won’t have any trouble with our clients.” Try to remember that while you may think this is the best job for you – there are other jobs out there and maybe this isn’t the right one yet.