Your resume may be good enough to get you an interview for your dream job, but you still need to have a successful interview to land the job. The key to a good interview isn’t telling your interviewer what you think he or she wants to hear. Instead, you must prepare to be interviewed. So, how to prepare for an interview you might be thinking?

Well, just like you might rehearse for a role, you should practice for an interview. Plan ahead of time how you might handle open-ended questions and what messages you want to leave your interviewer. Standard questions include your current motivations and future plans, your strengths and weaknesses and your relevant experiences. Some interviewers will also throw in unexpected questions along the lines of “If you were a tree, what sort of tree would you be?” These questions don’t have a right answer. Instead, the interviewer is trying to find out whether you’ll be able to think quickly and to see your thought process. Answer simply and be able to reason out your response, and you can make these questions far less painful. Additionally, work on avoiding some classic interview mistakes: avoid monopolizing the conversation or implying that you already have the job.

You should also think about what questions you might want to ask your interviewer. An interview is a chance for you to decide whether you would fit at a specific company, just as that company decides whether you would be ideal for a job. You might have questions about compensation, or about the work environment, and this is the time to ask them.

Research your prospective employer before your interview, to help plan both your questions and your responses. A little research can help you find a use for your skills that your interviewer might not think of, just as it might lead you to questions you need to ask. Knowing a little more about the company can only benefit you. Information as simple as the dress code can help you better match yourself to the company’s requirements. If you know anyone who works for your prospective employer, you should start your research with him or her. You might also find information through the company’s website or through an Internet search.

In addition to high-level research about the general operations of the company, you might want to do some simple confirmation. Double check the time and date of your interview and find out if you need to bring any materials to corroborate your work history. Scope out the location and find parking ahead of time, or public transportation routes. (If the interview is offline) It is also worthwhile to check if your interview is at a heavy traffic time: you may need to budget extra time for rush hour.

Planning ahead can help you to impress an interviewer. It can also help reduce the stress that everyone experiences before and during an interview. If you know that you’ve prepared to the best of your abilities, you can be confidant. That confidence can raise your chances for a successful interview even higher.

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