You’ve done it. You’ve worked and studied hard and have been rewarded with your diploma. What’s even better is that you’ve been lucky enough to land a choice interview with a company you’d give anything to work for. You’re nervous…and you should be. Because despite how stellar your resume may look and regardless of what your GPA was, the decision to offer you a job depends a great deal on how you present yourself in an interview situation. The following is a list of job interview techniques that will help you put your best face forward when it counts the most.

Do come prepared

When you meet with an interviewer, make sure that you know something about the company and the work that they do. The Internet can be a great resource for looking up information on a company or business. Take notes and study any information that you think is relevant. If you fail to do your homework, you risk looking like someone who doesn’t really care what they do or where they work. In showing up for an interview you should also, of course, come with several copies of your resume and a list of references that they can call if they decide to pursue you as a viable candidate.

Do arrive on time

Not only does this mean don’t be late, it also means don’t be too early. Your interviewer most likely has a tight schedule and needs to stay on track. Arriving late will only make you look immature and irresponsible and arriving too early will make you appear overeager and puts pressure on the interviewer to accommodate you. To make sure you arrive right on time, map out your directions well in advance so you know exactly where you’re going and how to get there. Give yourself an extra 20 minutes, just to be on the safe side, and if it turns out you arrive too early, take that time to read over your notes and compose yourself.

Do speak up

A job interview is not a cross-examination. Speaking only when spoken to will only serve to make you more nervous and your interviewer uncomfortable. Think of a job interview simply as a conversation. Ask questions when applicable. Offer information about yourself when appropriate. If you just sit in your chair quietly the only thing you will accomplish is to make yourself look unprepared and uninterested. Just remember, this isn’t just their chance to interview you, you should also be interviewing them.

Do present yourself professionally

Unless you’re interviewing for some radically "alternative" company, this is not the time to get creative with your look. Even jobs within the arts or other creative fields will still appreciate and expect you to arrive for your interview appropriately dressed. If you’re truly unsure as to what to wear, a good rule of thumb to remember is to dress slightly more dressy than casual, (i.e.-shirt and tie for the men; skirt and dressy shoes for the ladies; no sneakers, open toed sandals or jeans ever). But putting on a professional face means more than just the way you dress. You should also keep in mind the following examples of appearing unprofessional during an interview: never chew gum or mints while talking; take out any visible piercings; if you use perfume or cologne use a light touch; don’t smell of cigarette smoke or alcohol; keep accessories, jewelry, etc. to a minimum. Now believe me, this isn’t said in an attempt to squash your individualism. It’s simply that when you are meeting with someone for the first time, you don’t want your interviewer to be distracted by things like your cell phone ringing halfway through the interview. This is the time when you want your talents and your accomplishments to take center stage, nothing else.

Do practice being "natural"

Job interviews are nerve wrecking under the best of circumstances. Don’t be surprised if your otherwise eloquent tongue betrays you into when you need it the most. Take some time to rehearse what you want to say. There are always some basic job interview questions that you will be asked. Such questions include "Tell me about yourself"; "What are your greatest strengths? Weaknesses?" "What are some of your greatest accomplishments?" Take the time to think about what questions you would ask if you were in the interviewers shoes then make sure you have prepared your answers so you don’t find yourself tripping over your words at the wrong time. Also, remember to make a conscious effort to make eye contact and smile. Interviewers fully expect that you will be nervous to some extent and will be willing to cut you some degree of slack. But don’t sit in your chair like a deer caught in the headlights, or else your interviewer will only be looking for the quickest way to end the interview.

Do follow-up

Nothing is more frustrating than waiting for the phone to ring. Make yourself feel better by taking back some control. Right after the interview you should always thank the person who interviewed you for their time. If calling them directly seems a bit too intimidating, then writing a quick email or thank-you letter is fine. This is also a good time to offer any additional information you may have left out or to clarify a point you feel may have been misunderstood. Again, people are busy so it’s not uncommon to not hear back immediately from an interviewer. If, however, a week has gone by and you’ve had no contact, it’s entirely acceptable to call and ask the status of the hiring process. The worst-case scenario is they may tell you they’re still interviewing candidates and have yet to make a decision. The best-case scenario is that they will admire your assertiveness, which could be the one thing that puts you head and shoulders above the other candidates.

Successful job interviewing, like so many other things, requires practice. So don’t kick yourself if you make a mistake. Just try your best to rectify it and move on. The most important thing to remember is be natural, be professional, and most of all, be yourself.