How do I prepare for an interview?

Interviewing can seem like a scary process, especially if you do not have much experience with it. When a job is important to you, whether it is just a way to make income or your dream job, the prospect of messing up in an interview can be very daunting. However, there is a lot you can do beforehand to give you confidence and help you land that position. If you follow these tips, you will gain confidence and avoid any surprises going into the interview. 

1. Know the Job Description - One of the most important things you can do is understand what the employer is looking for going into the interview. You need to be familiar with all of the qualifications and responsibilities of the job so that you can talk about it sufficiently in the interview.
2. Match Your Qualifications - Once you understand the job description, you can match up your skills to demonstrate that you are right for the job. You are selling yourself, so you need to be able to describe your qualifications and how they match up with the job description. 
3. Prepare Answers For Gaps In Experience - There will likely be a few items in the job description where you do not have direct experience. In this case, you can come up with a few responses. The first option is to explain how something you have done in the past is similar and will help you learn the skill. alternatively, you can explain that you are eager to learn and will work hard at it until you do. Ultimately, you do not have to be perfect, but you need to convince the interviewer that you are the best candidate for the job. 
4. Research The Company And Industry - Demonstrating knowledge of the company you are interviewing for is a great way to show your interest in the job. If you can talk about recent news in the company or industry, the interviewer will be impressed and understand your interest. They may also ask you your opinion on recent news, so you must be up-to-date as to not get blindsided by an unforeseen question. Additionally, you are almost guaranteed to be asked why you want to work for the company, so having an in-depth knowledge of the business will help you answer this question more impressively. 
5. Use The Product or Service Yourself - The best way to become familiar with the company is to become a user yourself. The company will be looking for you to add value to them, so being able to improve the overall business should be your main goal. By becoming a user yourself, you can understand the strengths and weaknesses of the company in the eyes of a customer. 
6. Research Company Culture - You also need to make sure that you are a good fit for the job. Even if it seems perfect, it might not work out in the long run if the company culture does not fit what you are looking for. You may be able to find some reviews from employees and other information on the internet before going in for an interview. If not, you can look through LinkedIn to find people you might have connections with and talk to them about their experience. If you do all of this and cannot find much, you should then prepare questions for the interviewer to get a good understanding of company culture. This is another thing that will demonstrate that you care and are truly interested in the position. 
7. Check Social Media - Using sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn can be a great way to figure out what is going on with the company. It will show you what the employees are talking about, and how they interact with each other. Their interactions will show how friendly and/or professional they are to help you decide if you will fit in. You can also pick up on their interest for conversation starters in your interview and down the road. 
8. Determine The Type of Interview - You are most likely expecting a standard interview as the format. This is most likely what you will experience, however, some companies may have alternative formats that include case questions or brain teasers to see you how you think. It can be very worthwhile to reach out to your HR contact within the company to ask about the type of interview you will receive. By knowing this information, you will be aware of what to expect and can feel comfortable with the interview.
9. Anticipate Interview Questions - The easiest way to prepare for questions is to research the most common questions online. You can then come up with responses and be ready for anything that might be thrown your way. Once you get these down, they will be easy to translate to other interviews in the future and may only have to be altered slightly.
10. Get Ready To Answer ‘Tell Me About Yourself’ - This is another question that you are almost guaranteed to be asked. This will likely be at the very beginning of the interview, so it can set you off with a good start if done correctly. The answer to this question is something you can rehearse and have down for each interview you have.
11. Know The Logistics - Lastly, make sure you know where the interview is taking place and what time it is. You need to map out the directions and figure out how long it will take you. Make sure to leave with plenty of time to spare in case any unforeseen circumstances may arise. Finally, make sure you have the contact information of the interviewer in case there is an emergency and you need to let them know you are going to be late.