Most people feel that job interviews are inherently stressful and intimidating. You may have stories of dramatic moments that'll leave you smiling. Or you can share another horrifying experience. But, the idea is the same: job interviews can be a bit nerve-wracking! Yet there are ways to stay calm, cool, and collected while remaining confident. Whether you're looking to brush up on your interviewing skills or you're feeling completely unprepared, this post will help you get ahead of the curve and help you ace that interview.

Be yourself

You've got a job interview coming up. That's great! But now what?

The first thing you need to do is make sure you're ready for the interview. You don't have to be perfect, but you should be as prepared as possible. Make sure you've done your research on the company and the role, and know what questions they're likely to ask. If there are any gaps in your knowledge or skills, make sure you spend time filling those in before the interview so that you can confidently talk about them during the meeting.

Then, when it comes down to it, be yourself! You'll want to make a good impression on your potential employer—but don't try too hard. Act naturally and comfortably in the hiring manager's office. Try not to worry too much about saying everything correctly; just focus on being yourself and having fun!

Don't be afraid of silence

Don't be afraid of silence. It's not a bad thing, and it doesn't mean that you're doing anything wrong. Just because there are no words coming out of your mouth doesn't mean that you have nothing to say or nobody is listening. It's just a natural pause in the conversation, which happens sometimes when people are thinking about what they want to say next. If you're in a job interview, especially one that has more than one person interviewing you, it's totally normal for there to be periods of silence during the conversation.

Don't worry about them! It's totally fine if they happen—and they'll probably happen more often than not!

Ask relevant questions

When you're interviewing for a job, it's important to ask questions. You want to know what the company does, how its culture works, and what your day-to-day responsibilities would be.

What kind of questions should you ask?

The best questions are ones that will give you insight into the company's work culture or what the position is really like. Work hard to come up with some insightful questions that will help you decide if this is the right job for you.

You can also use these questions as a way to show off your knowledge of the industry and the field in general. It's always good to demonstrate that you know what's going on in your field!

Talk about yourself and your interests

Interviewers are looking for people who are not only qualified for the job but also have a solid understanding of how to communicate effectively. If you can't talk about yourself and your interests in an engaging way, you won't make a great impression—and the interviewer will be less likely to want to hire you.

There are three things to remember when talking about yourself: be brief, be specific, and don't forget to smile!

First off: be brief. Don't give an entire life story; just give an overview of who you are and what makes you unique. This can include anything from hobbies and interests (like reading or running), to experiences that shaped your life (like volunteering abroad or being raised by two moms). You can also talk about any academic achievements or professional accomplishments that may help set you apart from other applicants.

Next: be specific. It's not enough for us just to know that you're a runner—we need to know what kind of runner you are! Did you run marathons? Did you run cross-country? Do you do it recreationally or competitively? Did you win any races? Asking questions like these helps build rapport with our audience while also giving them insight into what kind of person we are.

Lastly: don't forget to smile. Smile when you walk in, shake hands firmly and look people in the eye when they speak to you, and speak clearly and authoritatively without being overbearing—these things will help set the tone for an engaging conversation that shows off your personality while demonstrating professionalism at the same time.

Show that you're excited about the job

You're excited about the job, right?

You should be! It's a great opportunity for you to learn and grow, and you'll be working with people who are passionate about what they do. And if you know what you're getting into, why not let that excitement show?

There's nothing wrong with being enthusiastic about the position—in fact, it's a good idea to show that you're eager to start. If you can't get yourself excited about the opportunity, how will your new employer know that they can trust you to take initiative in their company?

It's also important to let your excitement come through in your answers during the interview process. If you have questions about what it would be like to work at this firm, ask them! Your interviewer will appreciate knowing that you're interested in learning more about their organization as much as they are interested in learning more about yours.

Dress for success

When you're interviewing for a job, your appearance matters.

You can't control what other people think of you—but you can control how you dress. Dressing for success is about more than just showing up looking nice. It's about making a great first impression.

Here are some tips for how to dress for success:

1) Dress professionally and appropriately for the job you're applying for. Don't wear jeans and a t-shirt to an interview at a law office, and don't wear a suit to an interview at a tech startup.

2) Wear clothes that fit well and make you feel good about yourself. If they don't fit well or make you feel good, don't wear them!

3) Use conservative colors like black or navy blue (unless it's specifically requested in the job description). These colors tend to look more professional than bright colors like pink or yellow.

4) Choose an outfit that looks neat and clean—no stains or holes!

Takeaway:

Overall, job interviews are a two-way street. Employers want to see what you can do for them, and you want to see whether or not you would enjoy working for them. With a little preparation and practice, both parties should walk away from the process satisfied that the right decision was made.