Congratulations, you’ve landed that all-important interview! You’re one step closer to your dream job, but you’re probably wondering – what’s next? Don’t stress (as impossible as that sounds right now), because we’re here to share our expert advice on how to prepare for an interview and ensure you make the best impression – whether it is in person or virtual.

1. Research! You must do research and educate yourself on the company you are interviewing for a position with. What’s the first thing you do before you go on a date? You do a quick Google search, check out their Facebook and scroll back to 2009, and have to pretend during the date that you don’t know the exact day of their Aunt Debbie’s wedding vow renewal. Well here’s your chance to put those investigative skills to good use! Look online for basic company information, as well as old and new articles about product launches, events, or big hires they have made. This will show your interviewer how invested you already are, and surprise them with how much you know. Make sure to do the same thing for the person who is conducting your interview. Look them up on LinkedIn to check out their professional background and pop their name into Google –you never know, you may have studied at the same university or have a shared passion for a volunteer organization.

2. Know your resume. Most employers will ask you to walk them through your experience, and nobody should know you better than you do! Remember the points you listed, but provide them more details on duties you had that are relevant to the position you’re applying for, and be able to talk about what brought you to apply for their open role, including why you left your last position.

3. Be Enthusiastic! LIVE YOUR LIFE IN ALL CAPS! Okay maybe don’t take it that far, but there’s nothing more contagious than positive energy. When you genuinely love the company and want the position, don’t be afraid to show your passion for it. It can be hard to convey those same emotions over Zoom, but an easy trick is to keep eye contact with the lens of the camera rather than the interviewer’s face on the screen – you’ll look more engaged and interested in the interview.

4. Ask questions. At the end of any interview, your interviewer will ask you if you have any questions. In this case, the phrase “no question is a stupid question” literally means that not asking the interviewer any questions is a mistake that could come off as disinterest, and cost you the job. It’s best to prepare a few intelligent questions beforehand that you can ask about the job or company. After all, an interview goes both ways, and asking questions is a great way for you to get information about a career change that will impact nearly every aspect of your lifestyle!

5. Make a great first impression – dress the part! Our recruiters are your best resource when it comes to deciding what outfit makes sense for the client. But to sum it all up, know the company culture of where you are interviewing and make sure your outfit (or your top-up in a virtual setting) embodies it. Personality is key, but a killer outfit is worth a thousand words! Clean and styled hair, a classic makeup look, and trimmed facial hair are also important details to take care of.

6. Don’t talk about compensation. It is always best to let your recruiter do all negotiation on salary and overall compensation package. You don’t want to pigeonhole yourself or get stuck saying the wrong thing. Remember, we are on your side and here to help get you everything we can!

7. Be yourself! We know it’s easy to get nervous, but take a deep breath and remember that they chose to interview YOU for a reason. Don’t try to be someone or something that you are not, because being confident and honest is the best thing that you can do. At the risk of sounding like a cheesy motivational poster with a dramatic landscape in the background, you’re perfect just the way you are. Now’s your chance to share that with a potential employer. We know you’re going to rock it!

Good luck!