8 Practical Ways to Ace a Job Interview

You landed an interview. Congratulations!

Now don't screw it up.
I've interviewed thousands of people for jobs ranging from entry-level to executive, and easily three-fourths of the candidates made basic interviewing mistakes.

Did I still hire some of them? Sure -- but do you want to take the chance that your experience and qualifications will overcome a bad interview?

Here are eight real world ways to shine in a job interview:

1. Be likable. Obvious. Also critical. Making a great first impression and a real connection is everything. Smile, make eye contact, be enthusiastic, sit forward in your chair, use the interviewer's name... be yourself, but be the best version of yourself possible. We all want to work with people we like and who like us. Use that basic fact to your advantage; few people do.
2. Create a hook. A sad truth of interviewing is that later we often don't remember a lot about you. In a meeting we may say, "The guy with the alligator briefcase," or, "The lady who ran a marathon," or, "The guy who grew up in Costa Rica." When a number of candidates are in the running you may be identified by hooks -- whether flattering or unflattering -- so use that to your advantage, too. Your hook could be clothing (within reason), or an outside interest, or an unusual fact about your upbringing or career. Hooks make you memorable and create an anchor for interviewers to fall back on.
3. Never start by saying you want the job. Why? Because you don't know yet. False commitment is, well, false. Instead...
4. Ask questions about what really matters to you. Focus on making sure the job is a good fit: Who you will work with, who you will report to, the scope of responsibilities, etc. Interviews should always be two-way, and interviewers respond positively to people as eager as they are to find the right fit. Decide what is important to you and ask; there's really no other way to know you want the job. And don't be afraid to ask several questions. Interviewers get sick of asking questions. As long as you don't take completely take over, the interviewer will enjoy and remember a nice change of pace.
5. Bring a project. Researching the company is a given; go a step farther and find a way you can hit the ground running or contribute to a critical area. If you have a specific technical skill, show how it can be leveraged immediately. But don't say, for example, "I would love to be in charge of revamping your Facebook and Twitter strategies." One, that's fairly presumptuous, and two, someone may already be in charge. Instead, share details regarding your skills and say you would love to work with that team. If there is no team, great -- you may be put in charge. If there is a team you haven't stepped on any toes or come across as pushy. Just think about what makes you special and show the benefits to the company. Interviewers are smart enough to recognize how the project you bring can be used.
6. Don't create sound bites of negativity. Interviewers will only remember a few sound bites, especially negative ones. If you've never been in charge of training, don't say, "I've never been in charge of training." Say, "I did not fill that specific role, but I have trained dozens of new hires and created several training guides." In short, never say, "I can't," or "I haven't," or "I don't." Share applicable experience and find the positives in what you have done. No matter what the subject, be unfailingly positive.
7. Ask for the job based on factual reasons. By the end of the interview you should have a good sense of whether you want the job. If you need more information, say so. Otherwise do what great salespeople do and ask for the job. (Don't worry; we like when you ask.) Share reasons you want the job based on what you learned during the interview: Explain you work best with teams, or thrive in unsupervised roles, or get energized by frequent travel... Ask for the job and use facts to prove you want it.
8. Reinforce a connection when you follow up. Email follow-ups are fine; handwritten notes are better. Best is following up based on something you learned during the interview: An email including additional information you were asked to provide, or a link to a subject you discussed (whether business or personal.) The better the interview -- and more closely you listened -- the easier it will be to think of ways you can make following up seem natural and unforced.

• The Sneakiest -- and Most Effective -- Interview Question
• 4 Essential Job Interview Questions to Ask
• How to Determine What a Job Candidate is Really Thinking