After years of working at home, I was forced to reenter the workforce when state budget cuts eliminated my work-at-home job. Here is how I landed one on the very first interview.

Getting a job in today’s economy is tough, especially if you have been out of the mainstream workforce for many years as a work at home mom. These simple steps helped me land a job on my very first interview, and here is how you can do it, too.

1. Print out plenty of resumes

You might expect that when you apply for a job electronically the employer would have a printed copy of your resume on hand when you arrive for the interview, but this is not always the case. Because I hadn’t been on a job interview for several years, it was in my nature to bring a few copies of my resume to the interview and thank goodness! There were three executives who met with me separately, and two of them asked for hard copies of my resume. It felt great to be prepared.

2. Practice common job interview questions

There are basic questions that almost every job interviewer will ask such as: Why do you want this job? What do you feel you can bring to this position? What are your strengths and weaknesses? Tell me about each position on your resume. By knowing the answers to these basic questions in advance, I was able to also apply them to all the other questions and present a well-constructed picture of the kind of employee the company would be hiring by giving the job to me.

3. Watch some television or a movie

The evening before an interview it’s important not to get stressed out or stray too far from your normal routine. This will ensure that you look and feel your best during the interview. One way to do this is to escape reality for a short time by watching a favorite television program or a movie where you can lose yourself for a while and not worry about your upcoming interview.

4. Get some rest

You may find yourself tossing and turning the night before an interview, thinking about what you are going to be asked and how you are going to answer. I find that a noise machine helps when trying to fall asleep fast. There are also CDs and downloadable ocean sounds, like Smart Noise sounds of nature, which you can use to help you sleep.

5. Be yourself

No matter what happens during the interview, always be yourself and be honest with your answers. Even though it may seem like the interview is not going that well, you will be surprised at how many employers will put on a straight face during the interview process even if they really like you. Just relax, be confident, and be yourself and you will be able to find a job in no time.