Preparing for a job interview is important for success, and there are many ways to do this.Michigan State University Extensionrecommendsresearching the organization,dressing for success,coming up with questionsyou want to ask the interview committee and practicing answering questions.

Practicing your answers forinterview questionscan be one of the best ways toprepare for an interview. You will feel more confident in your answers, you will look like you know what you are talking about and you are less likely to be surprised by any questions. No matter if this will be your first interview or your 50th, everyone can benefit from some preparation ahead of time.

There are many lists of interview questions available if you search online. Michigan 4-H has compiled alist of sample interview questionsthat are very typical among many career paths. Some job interviews will also ask technical questions about the specific job you are applying for, but you can prepare for the majority of your interview by reviewing these questions.

One way to practice your answers is to write down a short answer for each question. Think through what you want the employer to know about you and write out two to five sentences that would convey your skills and abilities. You do not need to memorize these answers, but the act ofwriting them downwill help you remember what you want to say when you are asked that question in real life.

Another way to practice your interview answers is to ask a trusted adult to do amock interviewwith you. This may feel awkward at first, but going through the experience of sitting across from someone and answering the questions out loud will help you prepare for the real thing. Ask for feedback from your mock interviewer about your answers as well as your overall presentation (posture, eye contact, clarity of speech). Make sure you also practice yourbusiness handshake.

Thinking through your answers for typical interview questions will help you feel confident and able to showcase your skills in a real interview. You can find more职业公关eparationresources on theMichigan 4-Hwebsite.

Michigan State University ExtensionandMichigan 4-HYouth Development help to prepare young people for successful futures. As a result of career exploration and workforce preparation activities, thousands of Michigan youth are better equipped to make important decisions about their professional future, ready to contribute to the workforce and able to take fiscal responsibility in their personal lives.

To learn about the positive impact of Michigan 4-H youth职业公关eparation,money managementandentrepreneurshipprograms, read the 2016 Impact Report: “Preparing Michigan Youth for Future Employment.”

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• Prepare for interviews by researching the organization