3 Tips to Rock Your Next Interview

In a hiring market as quirky and challenging as this, you have to rock the interview to get the job you want. Every day we say what works, and most importantly, what doesn't work, in interviews across various industries and job families.

Here are 3 tips to nail your next interview:

• Have an Insider. Use social media (either LinkedIn's "6 degrees of separation" or Facebook's status update "anyone know someone at XYZ Media?) to find someone in your network's network that works at that company. Buy them lunch or coffee. Ask 10 questions about the culture, values and present-day challenges. Then send a well-written thank you card in the actual mail.
• Cyber Stalk.  No really, find out everything you can about the company. One tip that I love is to follow the company on LinkedIn. Analyze the current employees, particularly the recent hires, and notice if there's anything they share in common that you don't have listed on your resume. Share that in the interview. Or conversely, is there any special skill-set, experience or certification that they're missing in house that you bring to the organization?
• Ask Really Good Questions. Inc Magazine ran a great article on 5 Questions Great Job Candidates Ask. Read them. Ask Them.

And back to that thank you note. Send an email that day, and a written one in the mail. Sure fire way to stand out in a crowded hiring market.