Interviews. The very word makes many people nervous. The concept is even scarier: sitting down with a stranger for a predetermined amount of time to try to convince them to hire you based on your answers to a list of tricky questions, all the while knowing that they have a clear idea of what they are looking for.

Moreover, marketing yourself is incredibly difficult, especially when you go into it knowing little to nothing about the person you wish to someday call your boss. You have to find some sort of balance between confidence and humility; you need to prove that you can be assertive and obedient, and that you can get along well with a group of people you have not met yet.

During interviews, it is all too easy to become overwhelmed by the pressure of the situation and forget about how you are presenting yourself. After sitting in on a number of interviews myself, I have composed a quick list of ways to present yourself in such a way that you come across as the confident, capable human being that you are. Enjoy.

1. Try to avoid saying filler words, like "like," "you know," and "uh."

When we get nervous, we tend to fill up time with filler words. During an interview, they make you sound uncertain and nervous. Try to eliminate them from your vocabulary.

2. Always give a firm, confident handshake.

Several people whom I interviewed gave weak, awkward handshakes. A handshake is your first official, physical greeting. It stands out when you can give a firm, confident handshake; you seem well-prepared and confident.

3. Maintain eye contact.

Staring at the floor during an interview makes you appear scared; staring all around the room while you are interviewed distracts the interviewer. Make sure to stare directly at your interviewer—it's respectful and polite.

4. Speak clearly; avoid mumbling.

Nothing is more damaging, in my opinion, than mumbling all of your responses during an interview. Your interviewer wants someone who is able to clearly express themselves in every situation.

5. Sit up straight.

Slouching in your chair gives a bad impression. Always try to sit up straight when being interviewed.

6. Avoid fidgeting.

It is so distracting when someone is playing with a pen or their clothing while you are speaking to them. Always avoid picking at the things around you!

7. Come prepared with some background knowledge about the company you are interviewing with.

You want to come across as well-prepared. Always have some idea of what the company stands for before you meet the person who will decide if you're the right fit.

8. Have a few (two or three) thoughtful questions for your interviewer. They can be about the position or about the company in general.

As I mentioned, you want to look like you did your homework.

9. If you don't understand a question, ask for clarification.

It's far better to ask for your interviewed to clarify/be more specific with a question than to fumble through your response.

10. Thank your interviewer for his or her time.

It's a sign of kindness and respect.