Recent changes in the economy have sent many people looking for new jobs and even new careers, but with positions in such high demand, having the right resume just isn’t enough. After your experience wins you an interview, the next serious issue to consider is how to ace that interview and win your coveted position.

It All Begins with Attitude

According to Sherry Mirshahi in her post at Positivity Blog, the most important thing in acing an interview is to have confidence. She recommends walking into the interview as if you already have been hired, and explains how to create this winning image. Sherry also adds some important thoughts for if you don’t get the job, to keep up your hopes and confidence for the next interview.

Eli Davidson, in her article at the Huffington Post, “How to Get a Job: 10 Tips to Ace an Interview,” agrees with all of Mirshahi’s basic points. She advises interviewees to give off confidence, claiming that prospective employers can “smell” how confident you are – or are not. She also suggests doing your homework on the company and the specific people interviewing you, by checking them out on Google or looking them up on Facebook, Linked In, or any other social networking site. These and other important reminders are followed by a checklist of ten items on how to ace an interview, beginning with getting to the interview early and ending with having questions prepared for the interviewer.

What Not to Do

Most sites tell us what to do before and in the interview; the article at Top Sales Jobs, “Good Interview Advice Lies in What Not to Do: 10 Ways to Sabotage Your Job Search,” takes a twist by going into how not to self destruct “under fire.” Common mistakes include: name dropping, answering a question that was not asked – which shows poor listening skills – and rambling, rather than choosing your words economically.

For additional no-nos, see this article at About.com, which gives advice on what not to wear to your interview. The author stresses the importance of making a great first impression, and addresses everything from visible underwear and killer cologne, to sneakers and tattoos.

How to Follow Up Your Interview

Now that you know how to ace an interview, the next important thing is to provide a follow up note that thanks the interviewer and scores you additional points. This article, “Following up after an Informational Interview,” suggests what this note should aim to do, such as show the interviewer that you have already acted on his or her advice, and further develop one or two ideas that arose in the conversation.

In addition, here at Quintessential Careers, “Job Interview Follow-Up Do’s and Don’ts,” you can find a plethora of ideas on how to keep yourself favorably on the interviewer’s mind.

And finally, if all this interview talk is stressing you out, take a little time off with “43 Things Actually Said in Job Interviews,” which includes “What are your weaknesses?” answered with: “I often oversleep and have trouble getting out of bed in the morning,” or the person who asked, “If I get an offer, how long do I have before I have to take the drug test?”

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