Making the best first impression during an interview is of vital importance and requires significant preparation and practice to create.

Dress to impress, arrive 10-15 minutes early to demonstrate punctuality, and be ready for any question that comes your way. Rehearsing responses for questions will help ensure you appear confident in any circumstances that arise.

Be Prepared

Preparing for a job interview, whether in person or via video conference, is of utmost importance. Without copies of your resume and references handy, you’ll look unprepared. Make sure you bring along a pen as well – anything distracting like candy wrappers or phone chargers could lead to unnecessary confusion during an interview session.

If asked why they’re interested in this role, prepare an effective answer. Demonstrate that you genuinely care about the company and its mission, values, and goals by using an easily recallible framework such as the STAR method or PAR method to structure and concise your response.

Have some thoughtful questions prepared to ask the interviewer that demonstrate enthusiasm and curiosity, then when the interview ends reaffirm your interest with a firm handshake and send an email reiterating any points made during the interview or outlining your strengths and qualifications.

Be Honest

Be truthful when responding to interview questions. Employers will easily detect when you’re not being truthful, which could put at risk your chances of landing the job.

As part of your interview preparations, it’s also crucial that you ask questions of your interviewer. Prepare some in advance and think about what information would be of most use prior to the interview – just be wary about asking any personal or discriminatory inquiries, such as age, sex, race, national origin or religion-based inquiries.

Use body language during an interview to demonstrate that you’re interested and engaged, such as nodding, making eye contact or leaning forward. Smiling can help as well, and good posture is important; distractions such as fiddling with hair or tapping legs should be avoided to show that you’re paying attention and are on board with what the interviewer is discussing. Your interviewer will appreciate this effort to connect and stay in the moment!

Be Enthusiastic

At an interview, it’s essential that you convey enthusiasm about the position and company. Body language communicates your interest; therefore it is best to maintain eye contact, smile throughout and have positive posture throughout.

Responding to interview questions should focus on highlighting your skills and experiences that make you the perfect candidate for this role. Communicate these accomplishments confidently while supporting them with real-life examples from real experiences. However, you should avoid appearing too self-important or aggressive as this could make hiring managers suspicious of overconfidence or your tendency to say yes to everything- this may signal that you do not respect their boundaries or limitations.

As part of your interview process, it is also vitally important that you ask questions of the interviewer about the company and job. But you must distinguish between asking genuine inquiries that demonstrate genuine enthusiasm for this opportunity, and those designed simply to enhance your appearance. A series of inquiries about how the company is progressing or their next major project can demonstrate strategic thinking while planning for success.

Be Flexible

Being flexible during a job interview can set you apart from other candidates. Being adaptable is a desirable trait because it shows you can adapt to change and consider new perspectives; being adaptable also benefits team dynamics and morale at work, such as when your boss asks you to adjust your schedule or work style; being open-minded could even come in handy during interviews; you might even need to adapt how you present yourself depending on what the company expects of candidates.

As part of a job interview, it’s essential that you’re prepared for whatever may arise – such as difficult questions or delays in meeting. If there are delays, be prepared to inform and apologize to your interviewer quickly. Likewise, try your best to maintain positive body language during an interview by greeting receptionists/security promptly and keeping cell phones off/in your pocket – this demonstrates your confidence, respect, and attentive listening abilities.

Be Polite

Politeness in an interview demonstrates your respect for their time. Greet them upon entering and maintain eye contact throughout. Even small gestures like greeting them as you arrive will create an impactful and memorable impression of you and make a good first impression on an employer.

Encourage your interviewees to ask you questions throughout and after the interview, but also be mindful of setting the right atmosphere by speaking only 20% of the time and listening 80%.

At the conclusion of your interviews, thank your candidates for their time and confirm how they should expect to be contacted about next steps. This helps create what The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development calls a psychological contract; making sure its details are accurate will prevent candidates from becoming disillusioned later if they accept your job offer.