How to have a successful job interview

Successful interview strategies
They have called. You really want this work. Use the following five interview strategies to make you shine. After it is over, you decide if it is still your great work.

Establish a connection
Put yourself and the interviewer at ease. Build rapport. Start with an icebreaker, such as, "what a fabulous view," or, "I really like your artwork." Act natural.

Two candidates were shortlisted for an engineering position. On paper, Sophie was better qualified. In the interview, she was poised and polished and handled every question skillfully. She never paused to think, however, launching straight into reply mode. Her answers sounded scripted. It was like interviewing a robot. The other candidate, Jim, was less poised. He was nervous, but really wanted the job. He spoke with a lot of "ums" and "ahs," often saying, "Let me think about that for a moment." His answers sounded thoughtful and genuine. The interviewer could see this was someone he would like to work with. Guess who got the job?

Be an expert
Offer advice on an issue the interviewer has not thought of. For example, do the reporting relationships, structure, or scope of the role make sense? Do you have experience to share that shows a different way of thinking about the work? Are there challenges or trends that have not been considered? Offer suggestions generously. Your ideas will show your special qualifications. Sound thoughtful, not "know-it-all" or judgmental.

Be an equal
Speak to the interviewer as if you were a colleague or consultant, without sounding presumptuous. Ask about reporting relationships and where the position would fit in the hierarchy. Ask about challenges facing the organization. This creates an egalitarian exchange between you and the employer and sends the message, "I could be a member of your team." It also is a subtle way of showing your expertise.

Audition the employer
Once you have established that you are an ideal candidate, ask questions about the work environment, organizational culture, and challenges of the role. A useful line of questioning is: "Will I be replacing someone in this position? What happened to the previous incumbent?" If the previous holder of the job was fired, try to find out why.

Also ask questions that address issues that are important to your needs. If you are a lifestyler, for example, ask about flexibility of work hours. If you are a personal developer, ask about money spent on training. You know what you want from an employer, so query items important to you. If they are clearly interested in you, ask for a meeting with future staff or team members.

Know when it is over
Take your cue from the interviewer. They may say, "That is all the questions I have," or look at their watch, or start shuffling their papers. Close by summarizing your special assets. Restate your interest in the work. Ask the interviewer how long they think the decision-making process will be, what the next steps are, and when you will hear back. Ask if it is okay to call them in a few weeks if you have not heard from them. Thank them for their time. Shake hands as you leave.

Page 1 of 3 - Read page 2 to find out what to do after the interview

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Excerpted from What Next?, copyright 2009 Barbara Moses/DK Publishing. Used by permission of DK Publishing.

All Rights Reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced except with permission in writing from the publisher.