Believe it or not, but studies have shown that around 85% of people applying for a job eliminate themselves in a basic way. They apply for the wrong job, have typos in their resume, use generic cover letters, show up late for the interview, and more. This fact is actually good news for you! You’d only be competing against the 15% that do things right. It takes nothing more than a little time and effort to get things right, but it makes all the difference when landing a job.

Research: Conduct intensive research about any company in which you have an interest before attending an interview.

• Read past press coverage. – Learn about its products and/or services.
• Get some basic knowledge about the industry and learn their trends.
  
• Read customer feedback about its products, and learn about its strengths and weaknesses.
  

Editing: Have your resume and cover letters triple-checked, and then check it again. Nothing is more unprofessional than a misspelt word, or a grammatical error on your application.

Rehearse: Before an interview, think about what you are going to say.

• Grab a friend and have him/her play the role of the interviewer.
• Rehearse and practice your answers.
  

Dress: Always dress to impress! You always want to look, at least, 10% better than the person who is interviewing you, regardless of the position for which you are applying.

Post Interview Follow-up: Always send a thank you email, or letter, after an interview.

With a little bit of preparation and follow-up, you will be better off than the 15% of your competition!