Interviewing is the either the most stressful or the most enjoyable part of the job search process. With a little bit of preparation ahead of time, you will be able to go into the interview process relaxed and with confidence.

There are two main purposes in any interview:

1. A company is trying to determine if you are right for the job;
2. You are trying to find out if the job is right for you.

Since your time with the interviewer may be short, you can make a good impression and take advantage of the time you have by doing a little homework.

Get Some Practice Beforehand
Rehearse answers to common interview questions; get a friend to ask you the questions if you need practice. Prepare a short list of questions you can ask the interviewer either about the company or about the position itself. Memorize these questions, don't read them off of notes, this way you will appear more spontaneous and conversational.

Dress Professionally and Comfortably
A good rule of thumb is to dress one step above how the employees dress there currently. If you are working with a search firm on a particular interview, go with the dress recommendations of the search firm, as they know how the client company wants to have prospective employees dress for interviews.

First Impressions Do Count
Arrive early on the day of the interview to fill out any application materials, forms or tests. Have up to date interview material with you when you arrive; resume, references, samples of work, portfolio etc. Make a strong first impression with everyone you meet at the company, giving a firm handshake, looking everyone you meet in the eye, smile a lot and be sure to introduce yourself. Experts generally agree that people form an impression about you within 30 seconds so make those opening moments count.

Research the Company
Far too many people focus only on the first step of the job-hunt: earning an interview. All too many fail to prepare adequately for the interview itself. Find out as much as you can about the company and its products. The more you know about the company, the better you will appear in the interview. There are many sources of information on the Internet, especially if the company is publicly traded. Use any of the popular search engines to locate information, local business magazines websites or local newspaper websites to see if there are any articles on the company. If the company is publicly traded on the stock exchange, any of the free online quote services can link you to news, stock reports, press releases, analyst opinions and more. Know what is going on in the industry you are interviewing in and what the competition is doing. In real estate it’s location, location, location in interviewing it’s Preparation, Preparation, and Preparation.

Most interviews follow a pattern
First you answer questions about your experience, background and qualifications, then you ask questions about the job and the company. Remember that the interviewer is wondering how you can help the company. Your answers to his or her questions should illustrate how you can help the company achieve its goals. Think of your answers as painting a mental picture, can they "see" you in their mind's eye doing the job and doing it well.

Find out about the job and the company when it's your turn to ask questions. Ask the questions you prepared in advance. Feel free to ask for specifics about whom you would report to and the duties and expectations of the position. Save questions about salary and benefits for negotiations after a job offer has been made. Also avoid any types of controversial questions until a second interview.

Let Me Introduce Myself
When someone asks an open-ended question, such as, "Tell me a little bit about yourself," nothing can lose a listener’s interest faster than an over-detailed, rambling response. A well-prepared and practiced introduction is likely to capture an employer’s attention and leave them wanting more. Use descriptive statements that relate to your skills and achievements. Whether in an interview or just networking, a good initial presentation will set the stage for a positive and pro-active conversation.

Don't Talk Too Much
Being long-winded during an interview makes you sound chatty and unprepared. Avoid this common mistake by keeping your answers to about 60-90 seconds or so during an interview (unless the answer really calls for a lot more detail). You can perfect this by practicing answers to typical interviewing questions ahead of time. Not only will you sound intelligent and polished, but you’ll also be less nervous knowing that you were prepared.

Body Language is Important
During a job interview, what you convey non-verbally may be just as important as what you communicate verbally. Interviewers typically take note of a candidate’s non-verbal cues as they evaluate their skills and qualifications. Facial expressions, hand gestures, posture, and tone or inflection of voice all indicate a candidate’s level of confidence and overall interest in the role. Prior to an interview, have someone you know ask you "mock interview" questions, then have them offer feedback on any non-verbal habits that may be distracting or unprofessional

The Interview is a Sales Process
The key is to sell yourself by highlighting not only the knowledge, skills and abilities you could bring to the company, but also your accomplishments. As you answer all interview questions, make sure you are in a sales mode. Is the interviewer (the buyer) getting the information they need from you (the salesperson) to make an informed decision to buy from you (offer you the job)? Don't forget to close the sale by asking for the job!

Take Control of the Interview
Sometimes you will get an interviewer who is more of a screener than an interviewer. Typically these people are not skilled at asking the questions needed to draw out your background and abilities. If you run across an interviewer like this, be prepared to successfully guide the interview for them. Your overall objective should be to clearly and concisely communicate your skills and abilities to the employer, and feel confident that you have done so when the interview closes. You can strategically control the direction of the interview by asking targeted questions and offering additional information. Never leave an interview until you are certain you have fully promoted your abilities to interviewer.

Close the Sale
Interviewing is about selling your self to a prospective company. At the end of the interview, reiterate how your skills will benefit the company, and let the interviewer know that you are interested in the position. If an interviewer has a choice between two equal people and one says they are interested in the position at the end of the interview and one doesn't, whom do you think they will call back?

Closing the Interview
What’s the last thing that needs to happen in an interview? Close the sale! Ask the interviewer what the next step is? Look for buying words or phrases from the interviewer, like: “want to get you in to meet so and so”, or “when could you be available” and even “do you have any pre-paid vacations coming up that we need to know about?” These types of phrases are buying and hiring phrases. Look for them and you will know how you did in the interview. Don't forget to thank the interviewer.

The Thank You Letter
The interview is over, but there is still more you can do to make a good impression. Always follow up an interview with a thank you letter or an email. This gives you a chance to reiterate how you would be a great fit for the company and to reiterate your interest level as well. Especially important is to draw on something from the interview that you both agreed upon, this will re-confirm in the interviewers mind about your "fit" for the company.

Never Turn Down an Interview!
There are many reasons as to why you should never decline an interview with a potential employer or recruiter. Not only do you have the opportunity to practice your interviewing techniques, but you never know what kind of valuable contacts you may develop from the encounter. Maybe the current job opening isn’t "the one for you", however, a few months from now, the ideal position could become available. Making favorable impressions and networking with various people is an important part moving your career in the direction you want.