Congratulations! You’ve just landed an interview for a job you really want… but now comes the hard part. Generally considered the most daunting stage of the entire job search, the interview experience can be overwhelming, nerve-wracking, and completely unpleasant, quite frankly, especially if you haven’t done the prep and practice.

Lucky for you, we’ve narrowed down the top three things you need to do to stand out in a job interview. You can thank us later when you get the gig.

Don’t prepare, prepare to fail

You’d be surprised how many people fall at the first hurdle if they don’t even bother looking at the company’s website beforehand. Amateurs.

In fact, it is one of the most common reasons why candidates are rejected because they have little or no knowledge of the company they want to work for. Before you do anything else, do your research.

Look at the organization’s website and social media presence and get to know the company’s history, client base, mission, vision, and other aspects. In fact, pay attention to the items that really resonate with you and your experiences, and smartly incorporate them into the conversation.

Tell them a story about yourself

To really stand out from the crowd of candidates requires more than prep work and practice. If you want to get hired, you need to come up with your own story and tell a compelling story about why you’re the perfect person for the role.

If the interviewer says, “So, tell us about yourself…” don’t ramble off what’s on your resume – rest assured, they’ve already read it. Instead, use this as an opportunity to tell them who you are, what you value, and how both of these align with the larger mission of the team or organization.

Personal stories are a powerful way to grab the attention of any audience and make sure you’re remembered for the right reasons.

Ask thoughtful questions

“So, do you have any questions for me?”

You’ve reached the pointy end in a job interview where the interviewer is done with their questions and is now turning the table – this is when you don’t want to be caught off guard, but want to shine instead. It’s important to have a plan for how you’ll respond, and a list of questions specific to the occasion.

Here are some good examples that you can personalize.

1. What are your expectations of me in this role?
2. What is the most important thing I need to accomplish in the first 90 days?
3. What are the biggest challenges I could face in this position?
4. Can you tell me which team I will be working with?
5. What metrics or goals will my performance be measured against?

Now that you’re interview ready, here are three great positions to apply for right now.

Mid Level Software Engineer (Remote), Roomex, Dublin, London, Berlin

Roomex is on a mission to build the leading platform for companies to book, manage and pay for all their staff travel. You work as a Mid-Level Software Engineer, as part of the Roomex engineering team, on a product that is used by thousands of companies worldwide. You will work on exciting challenges that impact the customer and have the opportunity to gain state-of-the-art skills in a fast-paced startup environment. You are the kind of person with a passion for building, learning and refining code/projects. You are a creator and problem solver, who sees what others don’t. And you enjoy being both a team player and independent. If this sounds like the job for you, you can read all about it here.

Data Analyst, Octopus Energy, Brighton

Help Octopus Energy make a big green dent in the universe. It’s on a mission to drive the global renewable energy revolution, and it needs more people to turn its vision into reality. Octopus Energy is looking for a well organized Data Analyst with excellent analytical skills to join the growing team in Brighton. The focus of the role is to own the creation and development of reporting, provide insight to enable informed decisions, and enable engineers to deliver the outstanding level of customer experience expected by Octopus Energy. Sound like your ally? You can apply here.

Internal Audit Manager, HelloFresh, Berlin

HelloFresh wants to change the way people eat forever. Over the past 10 years, it has spread its mission around the world, exceeding its wildest dreams. Now it is a global nutrition solutions group and the world’s leading meal kit company, operating in 18 countries across three continents. It is now seeking an Internal Audit Manager to join the Global Internal Audit Team in support of the Chief Audit Officer, Audit Committee and Board of Directors and executives. As part of your responsibilities as an Audit Manager, plan, conduct, report and track audits to assess internal controls, reporting systems and compliance processes. If you are interested in this position, you can find more information here.

Check out the House of Talent Job Board today for more opportunities across Europe