Hello All -

First, let me say thank you for your service to our country. I'd like to share some of the insights I've gained after hiring, being hired (and being fired) over a 20+ year career. This is advice that was given to me in 1991 (in the heart of a recession), and it still holds true today.

Relax

It's the word you don't want to hear and it goes against every fiber in your being. You want and/or need that job, and you just want to make it happen. Here's what you need to understand: relaxing isn't about making you feel better, it's about making your interviewers comfortable. If an interviewer is uncomfortable with you, you've shot yourself in the foot. Relax and be yourself, but do it for the person on the other side of the table.

Lame interview questions

You're going to get these, it's inevitable. Inspiring and probing questions such as "why should we hire you" or "what are your strengths and weaknesses" or my personal favorite, "where do you see yourself in 5 years". Trust me, these are all lame questions and only serve as time-fillers in meetings. Here's the truth: you will never distinguish yourself based on good responses to these questions, but you can certainly get yourself excluded with poor responses. So what's the secret? It's not what you say but how you say it. Give the stock answer that you've prepared, but follow it up with a question: what's the best answer you've ever heard to these questions? Get the interviewer talking off-script and you've probably aced the interview.

Your personality matters more than your attire

Of course, dress for the job you want and be respectful with your attire, but understand that your personality and competence (and how you present yourself) is usually the difference maker. It's the same thing as saying "be comfortable in your own skin." Don't try to be someone your not for the sake of the interviewer -- chances are that your assessment about what that "someone" should be isn't accurate. Be yourself -- you have far greater odds of success.

Be objective

When assessing your interview performance, take emotion out of the picture. Yes, it's challenging to do so; do it anyway. How you feel about an interview is about as important as how you feel about the speed of a race car -- the car is slow or fast regardless of your feelings. You need to honestly and accurately assess what you're good at, and what you're not compared to others with whom you're competing.

Be prepared

Sounds obvious, right? You might be surprised how often candidates haven't spent the slightest amount of time preparing themselves for an interview. Think about it -- an interview is a chance to sell yourself. Don't sabotage your chances -- make sure you do EVERYTHING to prepare for the interview. What I look for in candidates:

• Thoughtfulness about the business, and a desire to understand the metrics that define success for both the company and the role
• A strong understanding of their capabilities and where they excel
• Competency in their particular discipline, if that applies
• Interest level in our conversation. If you're bored in our meeting, you're not interested in the job.
• Flexibility: what happens when you're out of your element? Not everything is in your sweet spot, which is OK -- I just want to know how you deal with that situation.

Keep on keeping on

Interviewing is a skill and it takes effort to become good at it. Nobody wants to be a good interviewee; we just want to interview well enough to earn a job. You will fail more often than you will succeed, but that's how you grow that skill. Take this advice: no matter if you feel you bombed or nailed an interview, keep doing them -- as many as you can. If you've done well recently, then keep up the momentum! If you've been doing poorly, then keep swinging until you get it right. Don't let up.

As a final word: this advice is best served with a few grains of salt. My standard caveat is your mileage may vary.