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Going into an interview without a plan is like committing employment suicide. There are several things that you can do to prepare for an interview that will make a lasting impression in the interviewer and make your skills stand out from the crowd.

Once you get a call to go in for an interview, your number one priority becomes PREPARATION. You can never be *too ready* for an interview. The more prepared you are, the harder it will be to make mistakes. Here are several things that you can do to prepare for an interview.

* Know Your Contact

When you do get a call for an interview, ask the name of the person or persons that you'll be talking to. It's a nice edge to be able to greet your interviewer by name at the beginning of the interview without waiting for them to introduce themselves. It's the first indication that you*re on top of things, and have prepared beforehand.

* Do Your Research

Before going to the interview, make sure you do some research on the Internet. First try to do a search to see if the company has an established website. Read about their products or the services the company offers. Also do more research on the search engines to see if there are any articles that come up mentioning the company. You be amazed how many information you can find out from search engines. While you do your research and learn about the company you can prepare your questions to take to the interview. It is ok to ask questions and it will show that you have a genuine interest in the company.

* Practice Your Responses

If you*re the overly nervous type, it's best to practice your responses to the questions that you may be asked by the interviewer. You should practice your wording and the tone of voice that you plan to use. You can also role-play with a friend or family member. Try keeping your responses as brief as possible and do not mention any of your personal information. An interviewer is only interested in your work experience not your personal life.

* Dress the Part

*Dress for success* is a phrase that I*m sure you have heard a thousand times or more. Never has there been a truer statement. It really does matter what you wear and how you*re groomed. Again, we get back to first impressions. As soon as the interviewer sees you, he/she is already forming an opinion about you simply by the way you*re dressed and groomed.

* Get Organized

Make sure that all of the things that you'll need for the interview are laid out the day before. Make a checklist of the things that you'll need if you have to search for them.

* Attitude & Body Language

There are many things that you can do to focus on the interview. Keeping your body language under control is at the top of the list. It's not just the words that come out of your mouth, but often the mannerisms that you use that will give the wrong impression. Moving around in your chair, playing with you hair, tapping, crossing your leg and swinging it or any other thing that you do out of nervousness will be distracting to the interviewer and he/she will notice.

* Show Your Confidence

You'll need to put yourself in the right frame of mind before entering the interview room. Attitude and confidence count and you need to have the right amount of both. You can*t enter into an interview with a defeatist attitude or lack confidence in your abilities. Again, you won*t come off as the professional that you claim to be.

Remember that during an interview, you*re a sales person. You*re there to sell your skills and expertise to your prospective employer. You want to market yourself in the most interesting and appealing way possible. Solid preparation for the interview gives you that advantage. A sales person that is knowledgeable, friendly and positive always closes the sale, remember that!