Do you want to get that role or job you’ve been applying for but failed due to a bad interview? If you want to get ready, here are eight suggestions.

1.   Do your homework about the field and the firm.

The interviewer may inquire how you regard his company’s standing in the industry. He may ask who you see as the company’s main competitors, what sets the company apart from the competition, and what direction the company should take going forward.

It is why it’s not a good idea to try to learn everything. There is to know about a dozen different markets at once. Instead, narrow your search to a select few fields.

2.   Think ahead to the questions and doubts the interviewer might have.

Whenever there is a job opening, there are far more qualified people who want to fill it than opportunities available.

Therefore, interviewers try to exclude unsuitable candidates.

Consider the reasons why they might not hire you (“I don’t have this,” “I’m not that,” etc.) from their point of view. Then, be ready to defend yourself by saying, “I know you may be thinking that I might not be the ideal fit for this role because [of their reservation].”

But that’s something you already know, so [the interviewer] shouldn’t worry too much about it.

3.   Get your questions ready to ask the interviewer.

Prepare thoughtful questions to ask the interviewer to show that you’ve researched the firm and are genuinely interested in working there.

Always be prepared with at least two questions to ask the interviewer, as they will inevitably ask if you have any.

They may interpret your response of “No, not really” as a lack of enthusiasm for the position or the organization. The question, “If you could construct the ideal candidate for this position from the ground up, what would he or she be like?” is a great all-purpose inquiry.

Some of the questions you’ve prepared can be used across multiple interviews with the same employer.

After that, attempt to develop a couple more during each interview.

4.   Repeated exercise is necessary.

To be ready with a well-thought-out response to a query such as, “Why should we hire you?” is one thing. Speaking it out with assurance and conviction is an entirely different problem.

No matter how rational your thoughts are, your initial attempt will sound cluttered and disorganized to everyone else.

If you repeat that process another ten times, you’ll notice a considerable improvement in the quality of your speech.

However, you shouldn’t rehearse with a recruiter while “on stage;” instead, you should practice beforehand. What is the optimal method of practice? Using a “round robin” format, have two friends take turns acting as interviewers and criticizing each other on their performance.

One person plays the role of observer. Play four or five cycles, exchanging parts after each round. One alternative (albeit a poor one) is to record oneself giving the response and then listen back to it to identify areas of improvement.

Talk out loud as much as possible when you’re practicing. You can’t get by with just mental rehearsals of your response.

5.   Join forces with the interviewer.

Interviewers often have a negative attitude toward the process of an interview. A candidate’s role is to try to coax an offer out of the interviewer, and the interviewer is to keep it. Your mission is to shift the dynamic of this “tug of war” into one in which you and your partner are both winning. Something as straightforward as, “I’m glad to have the chance to learn more about your firm and to let you learn more about me so we can determine if this is going to be a good match or not,” would do the trick. For me, the worst possible outcome is being hired for a job that isn’t a good fit.

6.   Do not forget to bring a copy of your CV to any interviews you go on.

Bring a printed version of your CV to each interview. You can save the interviewer a lot of time (and potential embarrassment) if you bring an extra copy in case they lose theirs throughout the conversation.

7.   Communicate effectively by using your body.

Wear suitable attire, create direct eye contact, deliver a firm handshake, stand tall, speak clearly, and avoid using scented products.

Interviews are sometimes held in cramped, poorly ventilated-rooms. If the interviewer is wearing Chanel No. 5 and the candidate before you was doused with Brut, you may create a toxic gas that causes them to pass out and overlook your qualities for the job.

8.   Stay strong!

Don’t lose up if you’ve had a hostile interview but are still interested in a position that you believe would be a good fit for you.

If you fail to convince the interviewer that you are a suitable fit for the position, you should follow up with a letter, email, or phone call. Restate your qualifications and express your desire to make an impact at the organization.

This approach’s success in landing a job depends entirely on the firm and your skills. If you don’t even try, you have no chance at all. We recommend giving this strategy one last go because we’ve seen it succeed.