You are looking for a job, you have applied and are set for an interview. Now what? The competition for employment nowadays is very tough. In fact, qualifying for an interview is an achievement in itself, hence such opportunity should never be wasted. The job interview is a decisive stage within the process of hiring an applicant. Therefore job seekers should leave no room for mistakes during this phase. Stepping in to the interview room for the meeting is just the first step. The most important part is, to use the occasion to impress the hiring staff you meet so that they chose you for the job.

When a time and date for your interview has been set, the clock has started ticking on this challenge in your professional career. So how do you prepare for this big event? Start with the basics - what to wear, what to say, how to act. Your demeanor during the job interview can either make or break your pursuit of the dream job. Preparation prior to this event can help you develop confidence in yourself, help prepare you to answer questions and practice body language that will hopefully impress the interviewer sufficiently to be offered the job.

As the saying goes, "you only get one chance to make a first impression, so make sure that you look good." Although the "dress to kill" approach can help you create a good impression, you do not necessarily need to spend a lot of money on you interview outfit. However, forward planning will help you decide and enable you to put together your best dress and accessories to wear during the interview. Some companies may not require you to come in formal attire, but remember it is more advantageous to dress up rather than down.

The safest choice for an interview is jacket and tie for men, blazer and skirts or slacks for women. They should be clean, pressed and carefully checked for missing buttons, or any other damage. Your clothing should fit you well because if it is too tight or too loose, then it can give the impression that you give little attention to detail. For the accessories, shoes should be well polished, wear only minimal jewelry and French manicure with muted colors is safe for the nail polish. For a pleasing scent, wear cologne or use a mild-scented perfume so as not to irritate sensitive interviewers.

In a job interview, a display of confidence always makes a good impression. As mentioned earlier, proper preparation can help give you self-confidence. When applying for a job, it is important to present all aspects of yourself correctly. Research information about the company that has the job you are applying for. Understand how they function and familiarize yourself with their mission, vision statements and goals. Having some knowledge about the CEO or the head of the company, may also help you converse more interestingly during the interview.

Most company's human resource teams use the 'Behavioral Based Interviewing'(BBI) method (a theory where everything that happened in the past indicates what is going to happen in the future). This is usually mixed with traditional questions, so ensure that you are prepared to respond to this style of interview. You can find many examples of BBI questions by surfing the net, so take some time to discover them and organize your potential answers accordingly.

Finally, carefully review the job description of the position you are applying for, so that you identify your own appropriate skills that can be offered to the company. Review your past experiences and highlight any actions that lead to positive results. Recalling these at the interview will give them the impression that you can also contribute to their company's success.