Regardless of your experience, job interviews can be as nerve-wracking as meeting the in-laws for the first time. But with these five tips, you'll win over the interview panel (and the in-laws)

Getting an interview is tough enough, let alone transforming that interview into a job offer. And no matter how experienced we are, it's inevitable that the nerves will kick in at some point. But why?

As the interviewee, we're in a vulnerable position. In those pre-interview hours we carry the unconscious knowledge that we're going to be judged as adequate or inadequate. We wouldn't be human if this didn't trigger nerves. But it doesn't have to be this way.

There are a number of things you can do before a job interview that give you the advantage. When you're well-prepared, you can walk in confidentially and put your best foot forward. These five interview preparation tips will show you how.

The obvious – thoroughly research the organisation

Researching the company would be the first piece of advice that any recruiter would give you. We're stating the obvious but you would be surprised at how many people think that a five-minute scroll of their website is enough. If you want to stand out, you really need to know your stuff.

Dive headfirst into their website – take note of the language it uses and the values it expresses. These are indicative of the company culture, so the more you can understand that culture, the more you'll be able to find some common ground. Read a selection of blogs – you'll gain an understanding of the business and their clients.

Also turn to social media. From LinkedIn and Facebook through to Twitter, Instagram, YouTube and beyond, you'll get a strong feel for what they do, how they do it, who they do it for, and possibly even how well they do it. This is where you'll also see the 'heart' of the company via social and charitable initiatives. Do you do similar fun runs or morning teas? This can be part of your general conversation to really strengthen your synergy with the interviewers.

Pre-interview assignment: Thoroughly research the organisation online.

Go back to your application and analyse the job description

Comb through the job requirements. Look at everything in detail do some mental analysis.

What department is it in? This will tell you where the role fits into the overall business structure.

What are your main deliverables? Make notes of how you've fulfilled similar duties and tasks in previous roles. Where possible, think of some project examples where you've delivered a positive outcome.

What are the required skills? List your competencies and a sentence for each that outlines how they'll enable you to meet the requirements.

Pre-interview gig: Thoroughly analyse the job description and cross-reference against your resume. Make notes so that you can refer to it as you practice.

Develop a list of potential questions – and role play

If you were to hire someone for the role, what would you want to ask of them? Think about both behavioural and role-specific questions. Write them down, and then ask a friend to role play with you. Better yet – ask a colleague to develop the questions so that you'll be forced to think on the spot.

Another winning tip is to have a third friend (or family member) to video the interview. You'll be able to see exactly what your body language reveals in particular situations. Check your mannerisms – do you scratch, avoid eye contact, fidget, slouch, mumble, or cross your arms? If so, keep working on it until you're happy.

Pre-interview assignment: Have a colleague develop interview questions and video the interview. Use it to undertake a post-interview analysis and really look into how you can improve your body language to give off a confident, positive presence.

Revise your online profile

You're researching your potential employer online – it makes sense that they'll do the same to you!

In fact, employers now use social networking sites to gather various types of information on prospective employees. It gives them an idea of your personality and what sort of a cultural fit you may be. For interviewers, perhaps someone who trains for competitive sports is assumed to be dedicated and have good time management skills. But the flip side is also true – someone posting distasteful or offensive material can similarly be judged as unsuitable. So be aware of what you post, and what your friends tag you in.

Pre-interview assignment: Revise all of your social media profiles, including photos and videos.

Review your achievements… and watch your language (but not how you think!)

Go back and review past projects that would be relevant to the role requirements. Make note of the deliverables, any challenges you faced, and how you addressed those challenges.

And this is the important part – think about your language. As humans we're taught to be modest, so we often underplay our roles in group situations. This means that our natural impulse is to lean towards team-based or generalised responses. Instead, focus on your role.

So instead of 'We put together a project plan for…', you would say, 'My role in developing the project plan was to…'.

Similarly, instead of 'In this situation I would usually…' you would say, 'An example of how I effectively solved a similar problem was…'.

Out internal unconscious bias is a challenge to address, but worth its weight in gold if you do!

Pre-interview assignment: Analyse the role and write down past projects that illustrate your ability to fulfil the requirements. Be sure to focus on your role in the project.

Feeling more confident about preparing for your next job interview?

Even though you may be competing against candidates who have more qualifications or experience, performing well in an interview can give you the edge. The more you know, the more you can tailor the interview by asking relevant questions. The more you've researched, the more readily your answers can show off your skills and characteristics. And the better you're prepared, the more confident you'll be on the day. Guaranteed.

Over to you

Do you have any tips or questions on how to prepare for an interview? Let us know! We'd love to hear your thoughts and answer your questions.