There are few moments in life more nerve-wracking than being sat opposite someone who holds your future in their hands. A job interview is one of those things that we all have to go through multiple times in our lives, but it never really seems to get any easier. However, there are a few simple things that you can do to make any employer desperate to hire you.

Make a great first impression

As the old saying goes, you never get a second chance to make a first impression, and few first impressions count more than the one at a job interview. Of course, the first thing you should do is make sure that you’re on time, if not a little early. When the interview itself actually starts, offer a firm handshake. If they offer you a glass of water, accept it. For one thing, this will show a degree of confidence, but it’s also just useful because your mouth is likely to dry out pretty quickly during an interview.

Make yourself stand out

There’s a good chance that the interviewer has seen dozens of people that day. Which means that the pressure is on you to make yourself stand out, to show them what makes you unique. Now, there’s almost certainly something about you that is unique and stands out, the key is just being able to communicate that fact to them. The only real way to be able to do this effectively is to practice and prepare as much as possible.    

Remember that you’re there to solve their problem

There’s a strange idea that many people have when it comes to job searching that all of the pressure is on you to impress potential employers, who are the ones holding all of the power and you’re just desperately trying to get them to hire you. And yes, it is definitely your job to demonstrate to them why you’re the right person for the job. But there’s one thing that far too many people forget when they’re being interviewed. That employer had a problem, and they’re looking for a solution. They want to find the perfect person for the job. If you go into the interview with the mindset that you’re the solution to their problem, not only will you be able to communicate the things that they want to hear more effectively, but it’s going to be a huge boost to your confidence as well.

Now, doing these things isn’t going to take all of the fear out of an interview, though they will certainly help. If you’re feeling incredibly nervous, then remember that there are plenty of different ways to relax yourself. Deep breathing can be incredibly useful, as can doing as much research in advance, so you’re fully prepared. There are a lot of ways to stop yourself being nervous, but the key is simply to present yourself as confidently as possible. If you appear like you’re in control, then any employer is going to pick up on that.