Preparing for a prized interview entails much more than just knowing what to wear or where to go, looking neat and being on time. Beyond logistics and physical appearances, there should be constructive mental and psychological planning as well. Follow these steps to emerge a winner in your next interview:

Do some research. Learn as much as you can about the position, the company and the industry so you can assess and justify your suitability for the job. If the company has a website, check it out on the Internet. Be friendly and professional to employees you meet or speak with on the phone-they can be your allies in securing that coveted job.

Know your strengths and weaknesses. Review the skills, character traits and abilities you possess that can contribute to the company’s cause. Envision yourself in the position and think realistically of what you can do, improve or add to benefit the company.

Study your employment history so you can describe your work experience in detail. Get excellent references and bring samples of your work to show the interviewer. Practice enumerating your duties and accomplishments at each job.

Be familiar with the questions. Prep yourself for both the usual suspects (“Tell me about yourself.”) and tough-to-answer questions (“What are the benefits of hiring you over someone else?” Or “What can you do for the company?”) Think of questions from an employer’s standpoint and try to answer these positively.

Ask your own questions. Interviewers are not just after answers; they also want to know how you think and thus, are interested to hear intelligent, job-related inquiries from applicants.

Finally, try to imagine how the entire interview will go. Visualize yourself performing calmly and confidently from start to finish. Psych yourself up for anything that may happen, but always hope for the best. Good luck!