1. Research the company you want to work for, including details regarding location, policies, work hours, pay scale, job responsibilities, and management personnel.

2.  List your strengths and skills. Be specific. Example: I’m organized, able to take the lead in tough situations, sensitive to the needs of others, willing to follow orders, and produce the desired result. Have two copies available–one for you and one for the interviewer.

3. Find out something special–if possible–about the hiring manager. Does he like fishing? Does she volunteer at a youth group? Such details will help you connect on a personal level. This will show the other person you are interested in him or her, not just the potential job.

4. Take time to get a hair cut, if necessary, and a manicure a couple of days ahead of time. Remember you only get one chance to make a great first impression.

5. Lay out your clothing and shoes before you go to bed the night before the interview. Get to sleep early so you’ll be well rested and relaxed.

6. Slip a bottle of water into your briefcase or purse to keep yourself hydrated. This will help you remain alert and focused.

Remember-people who care–prepare!  Take time today to list your priorities.  Plan for your future by carving out a nice chunk of time to get ready for the interview that could very well lead you to a new job–and a new you.

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For example, resolving conflict among subordinates is a good thing-but it doesn’t show how that ability affects the company’s bottom line.

So what do you do? Leave that skill off your resume? Absolutely not! Instead reword it so it highlights the benefit.

Here’s an example:

Sales Manager

Resolves conflicts among subordinates. Result: Less staff turnover. Company benefit: Money and time saved on training new personnel.

Administrative Assistant

Hired one fast word processor. Result: Eliminated two part-time word processing jobs. Company benefit: Saved department $10,000 in unnecessary wages.

Marketing Director

Split-tested two sales letters against each other for 30 days and found one to improve sales by 25%. Result: Added $20,000 per month in additional profit by switching to the new sales letter.

Give some serious thought as to how you can save money and/or make money for a particular company. At the end of the business day it’s all about bottom line results and what YOU can bring to the table.

There is a time to toot your horn and there is a time to blow it softly. A resume is the time to toot! Speak up for yourself when what you have to offer will be a benefit to the company you hope to work for. Follow the examples above and you’ll see an increase in the requests you receive for quality job interviews.

Job Interview Tip #1: Sprinkle some talcum powder in your pocket ahead of time and massage a little onto your palms before shaking hands with those you meet.

Job Interview Tip #2: Break the Barrier with a Sincere Smile

Franklin, a professional sales and marketing consultant shared with a friend recently that in this job-search climate he’s always on the lookout for such useful tips. Besides a warm, dry hand he claims a sincere and optimistic attitude, a smile, and looking the person in the eye, go a long way to break down initial barriers. Being friendly and forthright helps one relax and puts the hiring managers on your side.

You may even want to go a step further. Find out at least one unique detail about the person who will be interviewing you. For example, one job seeker learned that a woman hiring manager was crazy about cats. He mentioned his own cat in the discussion about the job. Her eyes lit up. They had something in common besides the opening in the company. Another job seeker discovered the man who contacted him for an interview was an opera buff. During a question and answer session, the job seeker mentioned how he liked to relax on a Friday night after work by attending the opera and even suggested the company purchase a block of tickets and sell to employees at a discount. This idea sparked an interesting discussion of how to provide cultural experiences for employees.

Job Interview Tip #3: You Can Be Personal AND Professional

Looking to add some sort of personal touch to each interview is bound to engage at least one or two hiring managers and could make the difference between being overlooked and being hired. Here’s an example of how to move the conversation in this direction. Take the lead. “I noticed in your company brochure that you take good care of your employees and as a result they have a high level of loyalty to your organization. In my last job I was in charge of the annual sales meeting one summer at a resort with an Olympic-sized swimming pool. I suggested we hold our session poolside. We then invited attendees to stay afterward for a swim and drinks on the company. We even provided bathing suits in assorted sizes for those who didn’t bring theirs. Employees talked about this event for months afterward.”

A conversation-starter such as this will provide so much more information and insight about you, your creativity, personality, and client relations than stock answers to typical interview questions. So make a plan now to be friendly, be confident, be creative, and spark the discussion with personal details that draw in the hiring manager.