how the candidate fits into the organization. Learning about goals, values and other corporate culture can help the candidate express his or her own values in terms that are parallel to the organization's (Crosby 14).
Interviewers expect candidates to be nervous, and can be particularly forgiving when candidates are interviewing for entry level positions. However, candidates who are confident in the interview are likely to be scored higher than candidates who are fumbling for answers or who are clearly uncomfortable (Smith, personal interview). One way to gain confidence during the interview itself is to practice interviewing ahead of time (Crosby 14). Friends or family members can ask questions and the candidate can respond; "standard" questions such as "Tell me about yourself" or "Tell me about your accomplishments" can be prepared for ahead of time, as can questions about the candidate's strengths and weaknesses. Candidates do not want to over-rehearse to the point that they sound as though they are reciting "canned" answers to questions, but they do want to be prepared to answer most questions without undue hesitation.
Many candidates create poor first impressions before they even meet the interviewer, and they may have no idea that they have done this. Punctuality is critical for the first interview because it can indicate to the interviewer how seriously the candidate views commitment, and how serious the candidate is about the position in hand. Generally, it is a good idea to arrive early in order to fill out an application or other paperwork. Arriving early also gives the candidate the opportunity to relax prior to beginning the interview and to check his or her appearance. If the interview is in a location with which the candidate is not familiar, it can be helpful to go there prior to the actual day of the interview so that traffic tie ups or construction does not delay arrival when the interview actually occurs...