I have found that when the following suggestions are considered prior to an interview, job candidates perform much better and receive offers more often. No one should memorize all the suggestions or ask all the recommended questions. Rather, one should take in the flavor of the discussion and utilize those suggestions, which are best suited to qualities you already possess in one way or the other; if you did not, I would not be representing you. However, simple possession of these qualifications won't get you far. You must thoughtfully approach the interview with the intent of conveying these qualities to the interviewer.

1. Be at least ten minutes early to your interview. That way you are composed and can gather your thoughts before being introduced to the interviewer.

2. When you meet the interviewer, be polite. It is surprising how often one forgets this if he/she has other things on their mind. Greet the interview with a firm and confident handshake and maintain good eye contact. The interviewer's first impression of you will affect the entire interview.

3. Regarding dress: always wear appropriate clothing; a tie and sports coat for a man and proper business attire for women. The interviewer expects that you will be trying to make a good impression, so don't worry about being overdressed; Hair should be combed or brushed. If you aren't using a good deodorant, use one before the interview and the same goes for mouthwash. When someone doesn't know you, it's the little things they notice first.

4. Be prepared. Know as much about the client as possible. Look up their Web Page. Bring samples of your work. Bring several copies of your resume and a list of your working references. If the interviewer can not locate your resume, don't be offended; offer them a new one.

5. Be honest. Don't oversell your skills and abilities but don't undersell them either. A good rule is to slightly undersell your abilities, so when you are on assignment you exceed their expectations.

An interviewer wants to know many things about you and he/she has only a short time to learn what he/she needs to know. The interviewer wants to know:

A. Can you work well with others? When the interview turns to questions about your past job, interest, etc., the interviewer is trying to get a feel for your personality. It's not so much what you say, as how you say it. A person feels you are compatible with him if he perceives you as being interested in him/her.

B. Be a good communicator. Short answers tell very little about you. When you expand your answer, the interviewer learns more about you without having to ask you as many questions. If he has to "pull teeth" to get information from you he will quickly get the impression that you are hard to talk with.

C. Be a good listener. Often the interviewer tells you the answer to his question before he/she asks it. Don't get so caught up on what you want to say next. Listen!

D. Watch for body language. If the interviewer is hurried, move the interview along at a faster pace. If the interviewer wants to do the talking, let him/her.

E. Demonstrate your interest in the work and the company. During the interview, the interviewer will discuss the company and the project he/she is working on. It is up to you to indicate that you find the work interesting. The manager will not hire someone that does not show an interest in his or her project. Here are a few examples of questions that show some interest.

1. I'd be interested in hearing more about that, if you feel it is relevant?

2. What did you find most challenging about that?

3. Where do you see the company going with regard to this type of product? In what directions would you like to see this department go?

4. What kind of person are you looking for to fill this position?

F. Demonstrate technical expertise and potential contribution. The interviewer will ask specific technical questions as well as broad "tell all you know" type questions. These questions you should answer in detail: discuss all your relevant knowledge on these points, and suggest how you might be able to use it on their project. Approach the questions as though you were already working there. Consultants are often hired because in their interviews they often provided the manager with solutions to a problem.

G. Bring professional closure to the interview by summarizing the conversation, reiterating your interest for the position and asking for the job. This is one of the most important elements of the interview and unfortunately where most candidates blow it. Make your closing statements simple but direct. Such as, "I am interested in your project. This position looks challenging but I am confident that my skills are a close match for what you are looking for. I would like to be part of your team! When do you plan on making a decision?"

Reminders, you are being represented by IT Network and any discussion of compensation needs to be directed diplomatically back to IT Network.

Any interviewing suggestions you might have please email to sally@it-network.com.

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