This article originally appeared on DiversityInc.com on December 01, 2004

Clammy palms, a sweaty brow, a dry mouth...all symptoms of anxiety. One of the worst times to suffer from these symptoms is during a job interview. What's the best way to prevent an anxiety attack? Prepare meticulously. You'll be far more confident and have a much better chance of landing the job.

"In job interviewing, only three things matter: preparation, preparation, preparation," said Jon Rosen, president of Impact Communications, a consultancy based in Greenwich, Conn.

And the No. 1 way to prepare for an interview is to research a company and the job for which one is applying.

"It's surprising how many people come to an interview and don't know anything about the company," said Marna Hayden, senior vice president of human resources for Nazareth Bank and owner of Hayden Resources, both based in Bethlehem, Penn.

Hayden conducts many interviews for Nazareth and the applicants who impress her most are those who know Nazareth specializes in mortgage loans. Knowing the products and services a company provides is expected of applicants who can then link their skills to a company's mission. So prior to the interview, conduct a Google or Yahoo! search on the prospective employer to learn what has been written recently. Don't only look for information about the company but information about the sector in which it conducts business, its competitors, and its status within its industry, added Rosen.

While scheduling an interview, an applicant should ask who will be conducting the interview and what the supervisor is looking for. Then, research that person's history at the company, Hayden said.

Reaching out to the contacts who work at a prospective employer also is a smart choice, said both Hayden and Rosen. It's important to get the insider's point of view.

Research begins, however, with the corporate Web site where an applicant can read a publicly traded company's financial statements. The applicant also should take into account the pictures on the corporate site to see if they include diverse people and look for the company's statement on diversity. For any applicant, whether they are obviously diverse - as in gender or race - or not, learning a prospective employer's stand on diversity issues will reveal the company's support of all employees and their needs.

Rosen suggested that applicants learn if a prospective employer has a dedicated diversity specialist before going for that interview.

"To have someone dedicated full-time, that would indicate that the company takes diversity seriously," Rosen said. "I would also love to be able to talk to recently hired minorities as well as minorities who have been with the company more than five years to get that longer-range perspective."

One's demeanor from the point one is on company property is extremely important.

"I always tell people the interview started the minute you walked on the property," said Hayden. "If they meet the maintenance guy in the hall, as far as I'm concerned, he's part of the interview. I want someone who is genuinely nice to everyone."

Hayden also suggested that applicants think about their answers to questions such as "What are your strengths and weaknesses?"

Listing one's weaknesses is the tougher of the two tasks. So think about them days before since it's almost certain those two questions will be asked. Weaknesses listed should not include personality traits, even if one says, "I'm an over-achiever, so I get irritated with people who are lazy." Listing personality traits as weaknesses is not advisable because it indicates an inability to get along with others, said Hayden.

Weaknesses should be skills, such as using Excel, which can be corrected with training. And an applicant should indicate how he or she has been proactive in correcting weakness.

"Whatever they say as a negative, they should have a positive to correct it," said Hayden.

Articulating one's strengths is not always that easy either, added Rosen.

Rosen suggested that applicants put themselves through mock interviews in which a person plays the role of the interviewer and the applicant must answer questions. Practice makes perfect, which is why applicants should treat the mock interview as the real thing, engaging in eye contact, sitting up straight and leaning forward a little to indicate one is an active listener.

The person who can affectively talk about their accomplishments will be the one who will get the job. "Be able to articulate your personal and professional accomplishments," said Rosen.

When articulating professional accomplishments, be as specific as possible. Details make any story memorable. Rosen also advised applicants talk about accomplishments outside of their professional life, such as community involvement, which will indicate one is not against extending oneself. Extracurricular activities that involve team work also demonstrate an ability to work well with others to achieve a common goal.

A best-case mock interview also would include a video camera so the applicant could correct minute mistakes that could prove devastating. The video would reveal if an applicant listens attentively, pauses to think about an answer before blurting it out, or interrupts the interviewer to interject one's point.

Practice making, "sure your brain is in gear before you engage your tongue - think before you speak," Rosen said.

Rosen also suggested applicants practice with a leather-bound note pad so they can jot down ideas as the interviewer speaks. The note pad prepares the applicant to write down anything the interviewer would like.

Being prepared with a note pad also allows applicants, who did not ask what the supervisor was looking for when they first scheduled the interview, to ask that question at the outset and jot down a note so as to remember the skills the supervisor seeks. Toward the end of the interview, the applicant should indicate that he or she has the skills for which the company is looking without reminding the interviewer those skills were mentioned earlier, said Hayden.

Finally, both Hayden and Rosen said applicants should smile to settle the anxiety and dress impeccably, in somewhat conservative clothes, so one's attire doesn't impose on one's total presentation. Rosen suggested that if an applicant plans to buy new clothes for an interview, the applicant wear the new clothes at least once to familiarize his or her body with the clothing.

He pointed out that there's a reason we reach for comfortable clothes when we get home and an applicant wants to be as comfortable as possible during an interview.

Anxiety's clammy palms, sweaty brow and dry mouth should be mere unpleasant memories, once an applicant is properly prepared.

All of this research should spill over into an applicant's list of questions for the interviewer. A thorough job of research will prepare the applicant to sell himself or herself.

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