Once you get called into that face-to-face interview, it can feel like you’re already past the most important hurdle. They selected you from your resume, so you can feel pretty confident about your chances of getting the job. But, there are some challenges in the interview that, if you’re not prepared for them, may cause you to miss out on a great opportunity.

Here are four steps you have to take to prepare and ace your next interview.

1. Do Your Homework.

One of the biggest mistakes candidates make before stepping into their interview is not researching the company. You should never have to ask what a company does, and it will be looked at as a red flag. You should at least review the website to see some key information about who the company is and what they do. But you can also review sites like LinkedIn and Glassdoor to learn more.

2. Dress for the Job.

The advice is “dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” This means you need to put your best foot forward when it comes to selecting your interviewing wardrobe. Always err on the side of professional. Men, wear a suit and tie. Even if you skip the jacket, don’t skip the tie. Women should wear a suit with either a skirt or pants and keep accessories to a minimum.

3. Know Yourself.

You may think that recalling important information about yourself is easy in an interview, but it can be more difficult thank you think. Most importantly, review your own resume ahead of the meeting so you can make the connections between the key points of the job description and your experience. This will allow you to draw the interviewer’s attention to these items in your answers.

4. Be On Time.

Finally, make sure that you arrive on time to the interview. If you can, learn the directions ahead of time and even make the drive before your appointment to see what traffic and conditions are like. Arrive at the interview 10 minutes early so you can observe the office culture before your meeting. If you are going to be late, call immediately to let them know.

Are you ready for your interview? Contact Harvard Resource Solutions, now hiring for jobs in Southeast MI, to see how we can help you today!