Interviews can be fun. If any of the following is in your memory bank already, jump to the next tip.

You are being interviewed to fill a need, and in order to do so successfully, find out what the need is.

Before you walk in:

Dress:

Men: It is safer to wear a suit and tie (especially if your prospective position entails responsibilities for others), or pants and a jacket. If the interviewer is in casual wear, you may ask for permission to remove your tie and open the top button of your shirt. It will make both of you feel more at home.

Women: It is safer to dress conservatively (especially if your prospective position entails responsibilities for others). Or wear something smart, to include a pants suit.

Walking in:

Wear a smile, look at your interviewers' eyes and extend your hand in a firm handshake. Introduce yourself, first and last name, then take the seat offered.

You are in, what next?

First: Check to see if the interviewer has a copy of your resume in front of him/her. If not, have one readily available and offer it to the interviewer.

Before the conversation starts, even if a question has been presented to you, it is a very good idea to immediately ask the interviewer the following question: "What in my background can be most helpful to you??"

The interviewer may or may not have read your resume just before you walked in. If he/she has not, you have already put one - with a smile - in front of him/her.

The question cuts to the chase. It gives the interviewer an opportunity to tell you about the project, the technology involved and what he/she is looking for, which gives you an opportunity to listen and learn, becoming informed about what would be expected of you. Many interviewers like to ask open ended questions (questions which require more than a "yes" or "no" answer), such as "what can you tell me about yourself?", or "what have you been working on lately?", etc. Since you are not intimately acquainted with their needs, you may respond very enthusiastically and expound about a part of your experience which is not necessarily within the realm of their prime interest or need. Time's wasted, and you lose their interest…

By asking the question, you are helping your interviewer get right down to the point without wasting the precious time allotted for the interview.

The interviewer will enjoy talking about a familiar subject, which is near and dear to him/her, and it will be an excellent ice breaker. It also shows the interviewer that your concern is about how you can help him/her.

Finally, it will get all those involved in the process comfortable, on familiar ground. You win, all the way around.

Concluding the Interview

At the conclusion of the interview shake hands again, looking into the interviewer's eyes, thank him/her for their time, and - where appropriate - tell him/her how much you enjoyed hearing about the exciting future of the company, and the projects involved.

Make sure you get their card, and leave yours. If there is more than one interviewer, get all cards.

When you get home, write a nice "thank you" note to each person you interviewed with. If each of the interviewers represents a different department, or a different project, it would be nice to mention the project you discussed.

If you feel that the interview went well, it is a good idea to mention in the "thank you" how impressed you were with the company/project/technology and that you are looking forward to become a part of the team. A little enthusiasm goes a very long way.

Naturally, there are more areas to cover. Many books have been written about interviewing tips and techniques. You may want to read "Sweaty Palms", The Neglected Art of Being Interviewed, by Anthony Medley (It sells for $7.16 at the Barnes and Noble web site). Try it, you will like it. I know I do.

Good luck!