Separating yourself from the crowd is a critical component in the hiring process. As you most likely do not know who else has applied for the open position, you want to paint yourself in the best light possible. Throughout our research at JobCommander and speaking with hundreds of hiring managers, we have found that the five below components can help you in nailing your interview and getting that job offer.

1) Arriving 15 minutes early for your scheduled interview

Arriving late to an interview is a great way to immediately get yourself disqualified for an open position. But how early should you arrive? Arriving too early for a job interview can put unnecessary pressure on the interviewer to rush through their normal day-to-day duties and tasks.

Research shows that arriving anywhere from 10-20 minutes early for an interview is the sweet spot that shows your punctuality, but not overzealousness.

2) Dress to Impress

Depending on the position you are interviewing for can determine which outfit you should wear. As in most situations, it is better to overdress than underdress. Undressing for a job interview can show lack of interest or lack of professionalism in the workplace. The best course of action, however, is to always overdress.

3) Research the Company AND the position you are applying for

Possibly one of the most important pieces of the job interview process is to do your research on both the company AND the position you are applying for. If you can also find out who you will be interviewing with and doing some research on them prior to the interview can also prove to be a benefit in trying to stand out during the process. Being prepared for the interview, understanding what the company does, how the company operates, the company’s competition, and what the job title typically does are just a few ways to prepare for your interview.

4) Practice your answers

Generally speaking, many interviewers ask similar questions. “So tell me about yourself.” “Why should we hire you?” “What are your strengths/weaknesses?”

Knowing how to properly answer these questions, and many more common questions, can help show your preparedness in an interview. Another topic in practicing your answers is to know your resume like the back of your hand. Your resume will almost certainly come up in the interview. You should know every detail on your resume.

5) Ask unique questions

Most everyone knows that asking questions at the end of your interview is an essential part of the interview process and will show the interviewer that you have some interest in the company and the position. But asking the right questions can help you differentiate yourself.

The most common and forgetful questions asked in interviews are

“What does your company do?”

“How much does this job pay?”

“Who are your competitors?”

The best questions to ask in an interview typically come from the actual conversation you’d had with your interviewer. You should think of an interview as a conversation, and the best conversations invoke interest and intrigue in one another.

Other great questions to ask are:

“What is a typical day like at your company?”

“Where do you see the company heading? Next year? 5 Years? 10 Years?

“What are some of the paths that follow after a person is in this role?”

“How would success be measured in this position?”

“What skills/experiences would make a great candidate?” OR “Is there anything on my resume that sticks out to you negatively?”

There are many ways to stand out in an interview, but if you master these five above skills, you will already have a leg up on the competition.