Interview success depends on many factors. Even the best qualified candidates need to be prepared to stand out, put their best foot forward, and land the position they want. Acing a job interview — in person and online — is a learned skilled, and you can get better with practice.

12 Tips to Nail Your Next Job Interview

1. Be prepared — know job requirements, interesting organizational details, and three reasons why you should be hired.
2. Dress appropriately.
3. Connect with the interviewer.
4. Develop a tailored, compelling story.
5. Anticipate and fully answer questions.
6. Demonstrate active listening.
7. Use suitable language.
8. Ask the right questions.
9. Be aware of body language.
10. Appear eager, but not desperate.
11. Manage pre-interview jitters.
12. Follow up with same-day thank you e-mails.

During the pandemic, many candidates felt like fish out of water when they needed to perform on Zoom, Skype, Google Meet, GoToMeeting, and other platforms with which they were unfamiliar. As soon as you find out on which platform an interview will take place, make sure you are comfortable with it and practice in advance, if necessary.

It looks like remote interviews aren’t going away in the near future, especially for initial screenings, so it’s worth investing your time in polishing these skills. There now are many resources to succeed during Zoom and online interviews.

One of the most important areas for you to cover during your interviews is how goals are set and managed. You may need to adopt existing goals, or you may be asked to be part of the goal setting and management process. Asking questions about goals is key to figuring out if a position and organization could be the right fit for you. Here are some suggested questions about goals that you can adjust for each situation and your style.

Don’t leave nailing your next great opportunity to chance. Consider these tips, and practice regularly to improve your job interview skills.