A + A's Interview Tips

1. Practice Beforehand. Before your interview you should look up frequently asked interview questions and start answering them. This helps you get more prepared for the actual interview and it helps avoid the evil "umm's." Here is a website that has 40 sample questions!
2. Know Your "Elevator Speech."  The first thing employers always say is, "Tell me about yourself." While we as humans love to talk about ourselves, this never fails to be one of the most difficult questions to answer.  Prepare A brief summary about yourself and some of your best accomplishments. Be brief, be smart, and be enthusiastic!  Check out this YouTube video  for an idea on what to practice.
3. Research the Company. Do a little research on the company you're applying for. Some interviewers ask about your thoughts on the company or what attracted you to the company. Plus, it's always good to know a potential workplace.
4. Bring your Resume. It is always good to bring additional copies of your resume for the interview. The interviewer will be able to have your resume on-hand and it shows that you're prepared. This will also make it easier for you to reference specific points. 
5. Review Your Resume Beforehand. Of course bringing your resume is a must but what if you slightly exaggerated on a few things? Remembering this before you step into the interview will be beneficial when they look over your past experience. We are not encouraging you to lie on your resume or in your interview, but make sure you can back up your "proficiency in excel" or "fluency in Spanish" before you meet with the company.
6. Clean up Your Social Media. Companies often come across great candidates but once they see what pictures these candidates are "tagged" in they sometimes choose to go with a different person. So, keep your social media professional or private (although you must keep in mind, many companies find ways around "private" profiles -- scary, we know!). 
7. Dress for Success. Make sure you dress for the company you're planning on working for (this also goes with researching the company). For example, if you're interviewing for a job at the Gap, dress in Gap-like clothing. If you're interviewing for a job at a Fortune 500 company, you may want to dress in professional clothing. 
8. Wear the right shoes! While your high heels are extremely cute they might not be practical   when trying to make a great first impression.  Many recruiters have told stories of ladies who end up tripping all over  themselves or simply do not look professional when trying to pull off heels  that are not typically suitable for work.  Try some fats or a low heel!  Here are some fabulous options!
9. Walk in 12 Minutes Early. Why twelve? Because 15 is too eager and 10 is a little too late. Twelve minutes is the perfect amount of time to let the company know you mean business. Remember to look up the location ahead of time so you know the route, get there 15 minutes early, rest in your car for 3 minutes, and then walk in with confidence!
10. Ask Questions. Asking questions helps you get a better sense of the job you're applying for and it shows the interviewer that you are genuinely interested in the position. Example questions would be: What are challenges I will face with this position? How would you describe the culture of the company? What is the next step? 
11. Follow up With a Thank You Note. Yes, a snail mail "thank you" card. While this may sound silly, especially in a world surrounded by emails and text messages, a thank you note will go a long way. It is personal and friendly. Plus, it shows that you went out of your way to make sure they knew how much you appreciated their time.