What do you need to bring to an interview?

What do successful job hunters need to bring to interviews? The other day I was interviewing candidates for a senior position and, despite having interviewed hundreds of candidates, I was struck by the big, blatant differences between serious contenders and also- rans. The candidates worthy of consideration all shared certain characteristics:

ENERGY. Interviewers want a boost. They're stuck in a room for (usually) the whole day and they want to be excited and inspired by a candidate. It's far better to bounce into a room with vitality than to keep your cool. All tough jobs require a lot of energy and it's important that you show you have plenty.

AMBITION. It's the rare organization that wants only a safe pair of hands. Few companies actively seek daredevil risk-takers but everyone wants employees who will push a job beyond its natural boundaries. We're always looking for individuals who give us more than we asked for, who are ambitious for the organization and for themselves and can convince us that the two are aligned.

IDEAS. Most candidates come prepared with ideas that amount to little more than second-guessing. That is to say that they're careful, tame and pretty unadventurous. But it's a lot easier to reduce excessive creativity than it is to inspire it. So push the boat out. Don't second-guess; think for yourself! Very few bosses enthuse over people who can read their mind.

CONFIDENCE. I know it's possible to overdo this, but I've almost never seen anyone do so. Instead, most candidates come across as tentative, cautious, fearful. But to inspire faith in others you need to demonstrate some in yourself. This doesn't mean putting on a brash sales act; it does mean comfortably owning your achievements and talking about them with delight.

CURIOSITY. I've written before about how vital it is to be curious about the world around you - but in an interview, you need to make it show. You know you'll be asked whether you have questions. Come prepared with some that show you are sincerely inquisitive about the organization, the individuals, the culture. Don't leave this to chance, don't improvise. Think hard about questions that show you've done your research and want to know even more.

You'll notice that, in this list of attributes, I don't mention skills. That's because, if you've been chosen for an interview, your basic abilities are taken for granted. Interviews exist for employers to see what is not on the page. Make sure it jumps out loud and clear.