With senior year going by quickly it is about time to start searching for real life jobs. I have seen a lot of people posting statuses about interviews and their perils and successes. Personally, I have been fortunate with my interviews, but that is not simply because of luck. I have 7 things I make sure I do before and during every single interview:
1. Research.
Simply Google the company’s name and read every recent article you can find about them. Find out who is on their Executive Board. Find out as much as you can about the person interviewing you. Learn about the department you are applying to work in.
2. Research.
No, this is not a typo. You NEED to research as much as you possibly can about the company you are applying for. You should feel comfortable answering any question they toss your way. Figure out who the competitors are and how they differentiate themselves as well.
3. Dress Well.
You would think this is a given but it really isn’t. Iron your shirt and pants. Don’t wear scuffed or beat up shoes. WEAR A TIE. Don’t wear ridiculous colors (no fusia or magenta). Make sure your tie and shirt match. Make sure your belt matches your shoes.. 
4. Establish Eye Contact
As soon as you walk into your interview establish eye contact with the person conducting the interview. Introduce yourself and shake his or her hand. This sends off vibes of confidence and success.
5. Answer All Questions.
If you get flustered, do not panic. Compose yourself and just answer the question to the best of your knowledge. It’s okay to say you don’t know. Companies like to see how you perform under pressure and I have heard of people getting a Rubik’s cube put in front of them and being told to solve it. No one expects you to solve it, they just want to see how you handle that situation.
6. Ask Thought Provoking Questions
This ties into points 1 and 2. The amount of research you do will determine how good of a question you can ask. An example of a bad question is “How much will I be getting paid if I get hired”. An example of a good question is “I noticed that you recently hired a new CEO. How do you think that will affect company culture”.
7. Follow Up
This is a great way to remind the person of the positive points of your interview. Thank the interviewer for their time, mention something you learned and let them know that if they need any additional information from you that you would be happy to provide it. Being polite goes a long way.
For everyone with interviews coming up good luck! Remember, even if you don’t get the job it’s not the end of the world. Opportunity is always around the corner.