6 Tips to Ace Your First Job Interview

A little prep can go a long way.

If you're worried about striking the wrong note, a little preparation beforehand can ease your anxiety. Here are six ways to ready yourself before the interview.

1. 1. Get to know the company
   Before you head into an interview, it's essential that you've done your homework and know a thing or two about the company. For example:
   • What's the company's mission?
   • Who are the key players in the organization? Who's going to be interviewing you?
   • What's the company's reputation? Has there been recent news about the company?
   • What kind of skills, experience or knowledge does the company value most in its employees?
   • What products or services does the company sell?
   • What's the culture like?

Some of this information can be found on the company's "About Us" section of their website but it also helps to broaden your research.

Try a Google news search to see what the company's been up to lately. Check sites like Glassdoor to see what current and former employees have to say about the company. The more you know, the better prepared you'll be to answer questions and highlight what makes you a desirable candidate.

2. 2. Get to know the job
   Beyond getting the scoop on the company, you also need to drill down on what the job itself is like. Some things to research here include:
   • What duties, tasks and responsibilities the role involves.
   • What a typical day looks like.
   • Who someone in your role would report to.
   • What skills or experience you're expected to have.
   • What kind of salary and benefits you can expect

Again, sites like Glassdoor can give you insight into these questions. You can try Salary.com or Payscale for details on wage rates for different positions. Job search websites like Indeed are also useful for checking salary ranges.

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