After You Land the Interview, How Should You Prepare For It?

You've worked hard to put together a professional resume, cover letter and portfolio and now it's time for the big interview. Here's a short list of "Do's and Don'ts" of interview preparation, execution and follow-up.

Before the Interview
Use your network - look for friends and colleagues who are competitors, partners, vendors or customers of the company you're interested in. You can learn about the organization and discover valuable information to have the competitive advantage.
Use social media - find common connectors. Being more knowledgeable will help you to relax and sell yourself during the interview instead of trying to calm your nerves.
Rehearse the Act - if you know contacts, do a practice interview. Remember to send a thank you note if you do, though!

The Interview
Appearance matters - clothes and accesories should be conservative. If you look and feel good, they're likely to feel the same way about you.
Watch your body language - have good posture, shoulders back and head up. Also, remember that eye contact and smiling translates to confidence, enthusiasm and energy.
Give a good handshake
Watch the voice and volume of your speech
Utilize your vocabulary - your word choice reveals your communication skills and ability to interact with others.
Don't use "non-words"
Avoid grammatical errors - don't slur your speech or drop the endings on words.
Speak slowly - it will help you avoid these problems and give the interviewer more time to process what you're saying. Don't be afraid of silence.
Avoid "weak speak" - "hopefully," "perhaps," "I feel...," "Kind of," etc. all convey that you're not confident. Instead use words like "I'm confident that," "I recommend," "My goal is," etc.

So, Why Should We Hire You?
What they're really trying to say is: "What can you do for this company?" Use this question to summarize your accomplishments but make sure that you also tell them what makes you unique and how your specific skills and experience will help their company. Think of yourself as the product - Why should they buy you? Market yourself as the solution.

Do You Have Any Questions?
You should! Remember to ask questions at this point - but make sure they're insightful. Recruiters are looking for candidates with good questions in order to learn more about their analytical skills. Questions are a sign of enthusiasm and intelligence. Avoid generic questions.

Think of Your Interview as a Compelling Conversation
Prepare to relax - this may sound contradictory, but the more knowledgeable you are about a subject, the more conversational and smooth you'll sound.
Never memorize or have "canned" answers - if a question stumps you, take a minute to answer and admit that it's a difficult question - don't just make up an answer to fill the silence.

Remember to Send a Follow-Up Letter
Sending a professional follow-up letter will definitely set you apart if the employer is currently trying to make a decision. Even if you don't get the job, you never know when you might need them or someone they know in the future. Don't burn any bridges - a well-written letter could never hurt.
Other Resources:
Interviewing Articles From Monster.com
100 Potential Interview Questions