Finding a new job is difficult. Its even harder when you currently don't have a job. You can make your search easier by consistently following an intelligent, well thought out process. As you complete each interview, you analyze and revise the process to more nearly insure your success in the future.

Anticipating and meeting your needs during the interview is the one thing you can do to minimize that sense of "I forgot something" that sometimes precedes the interview. Preparation can take on a new depth if you approach your job search seriously. Find a nice briefcase. If you don't have one, go buy one. Stock your briefcase with interview supplies. Here's a list of ideas:

• A clean, fresh manila envelope containing extra copies of your most recent resume.
• An envelope containing copies of your references.
• Two working pens.
• Two pencils. Sharp.
• A notebook.
• An envelope to hold company research information. This will initially be empty.
• A spare tie in the event that you accidentally spill on the one you are wearing.
• Your day timer.
• A local area map.
• Cel phone (if you have one).
• Guys: a comb; Gals: a brush.

Battle dress: You must wear a suit to your interviews. It displays your respect for the interviewer and your acknowledgement of the seriousness of the interview situation. If you are going to play the game, you must put on the uniform.

Get out your suit(s). Make sure it is clean and pressed. Keep a dress shirt clean and pressed at all times. Inspect your tie for stains and get it dry-cleaned if necessary. Shine your shoes.

You may be asked for an interview with very short notice, so it pays to be prepared.

The evening before each interview, conduct a brief research session on the company. Visit the corporate web site. Familiarize yourself with the company's products and services. Find out who the company's biggest competitors are. If the company is public, note the latest trade price. print out your research and put it in your briefcase for the upcoming interview.

Even if you think you know a lot about the company, it never hurts to learn more. Every company changes. Fresh research helps you keep abreast of the company's most recent challenges and successes. Before each interview, add the following items to your briefcase:

• Phone number of your interviewer
• Directions to the interview location
• A copy of the cover letter
• Your research on the company interviewing you

Decide what you will wear. Even if the potential employer's work environment is casual, wear a suit and tie. It never hurts to overdress -- you can always trim back if necessary after you arrive. You can never build up dress that is too casual.

Make sure your suit is clean and pressed.

If you already have a job and plan to interview sometime during the day, don't do anything to tip your current employer off that you have an interview. Here are some common-sense ideas that may help:

• Don't discuss your career plans with your peers and co-workers. If you do, your boss will find out.
• Wear a subset of the outfit you will wear for the interview, e.g., pants and shirt. If your work environment is more casual, put your tie and jacket in a suit bag and place it in your car taking care to avoid wrinkles. If the weather is cool, put on a sweater. You can switch for the tie and jacket in the parking lot at the interview location.
• If anyone asks where you are going, simple say that you have an appointment. If someone presses you for details, say that its personal.

Be sure to plan enough time for travel so that your arrive in advance of your scheduled interview time. If you are not sure about the location, get directions or consult your map. Be sure that you know how to get there beforehand.

If you cannot avoid being late to an interview, call the interviewer and let them know as soon as you realize you will be late.

When you arrive at the interview location, make your presence known - if there is a receptionist, introduce yourself and let them know you have arrived for an interview with the person in question.

Be polite and positive toward everyone you meet. Astute employers sometimes ask the receptionist for an opinion about each candidate. If the receptionist has a poor impression, it can end the candidate's chances of getting any job with the employer.

If you arrive early, as suggested earlier, you will probably be told where you may wait. You have two choices while you wait: 1) review your research on the company or 2) look at your surroundings and find materials to help you learn more about the company.

When the interviewer introduces themself, be positive, smile, shake hands and say thank you for the chance to interview. Your interviewer may ask you if you want something to drink. If you can't avoid spilling on yourself, you should politely decline.

As the interview unfolds you will encounter questions, activities and issues that have never arisen before. Here are some common sense tips to help guide you when the going gets tough.

• What if: Hypothetical questions are difficult because they often are ambiguous. You can eliminate areas of confusion by asking questions. Rely upon your experience to help you ask the right questions. As with your resume, be honest.
  
  Don't worry about appearing foolish. The interviewer expects you to ask questions and may consider your reluctance to do so a weakness.
  
  Sometimes what if questions hint at issues the employer might be having with an existing employee. After you provide your initial answer, gently ask why you are being asked that question. The interviewer may volunteer an answer. If so, don't hesitate to use the new knowledge to revise your answer.
  
  
• Career aspirations: You can prepare yourself for this question in advance by thinking about where you want to be in your career one, three and five years in the future. Be honest. At the end of one, three and five years, have a job title or position in mind that you will have achieved.
  
  
• Why did you leave your last job? -or- Why are you leaving your current job?: This is a very common interview question. It is surprising how many applicants don't answer this very well.
  
  Most people don't want to answer this question because they are afraid that it might reveal a weakness. The irony is that most people have job terminations that occurred under negative circumstances. Here are a few principles to consider:
  
  Do:
  • Be honest
  • Stick to the facts
  • If you would rather not have to explain why you were terminated its perfectly ok to say that it wasn't working out for both you and the employer and you decided to part ways. If the interviewer presses you for details, be honest and stick to the facts.
  
  Note: never omit a job from your resume, even if you only worked it for a month. The employer will perform a background check, learn about the job and conclude that you lied.
  
  Here are some don'ts:
  • Don't become angry
  • Don't make negative or disparaging remarks about your former employer
  • Don't in any way imply that it was the employer's fault
  
  
• Why should we hire you?: Even if the interviewer doesn't ask this outright, the underlying tenor of the interview is to get the answer to this question. There is no single correct answer. It will depend both upon 1) what the employer needs and 2) what you bring to the table to satisfy that need. You cannot answer the question without knowing both of these. Happily, you already know the latter; what you must discover is the former. As the interview progresses, the interviewer should be communicating at least some of the need. As he/she does, try to ask questions that help put a fine point on the need.
  
  There actually are some wrong answers to this question:
  • Because I'm a hard worker
  • I don't know
  • I'm good with numbers
  • I'm a fast learner
  
  Answers like these will not get you the job.
  
  The best way to answer this question is to ask it of yourself before the interview and to have a plausible answer prepared. Once in the interview, and with new information, you can revise your answer as appropriate.
  
  
• Thought problems: This type of question is often asked of technical customer service people and is intended to 1) place a little pressure on you and 2) test the your ability to think through and solve a problem on the fly. For the majority of these questions, the correct answer isn't usually the most obvious one. The most important aspect of getting to the answer is to ask questions. Consider your interviewer as a resource or expert on the subject (i.e., a coach). Your best avenue, especially if you get stuck, is to ask questions that will help clarify the issues and help crystallize your thinking so that you can arrive at the correct answer. Often these types of questions aren't so much about the right answer, but more about your ability to ask intelligent questions as you consider the various aspects of the problem.
  
  Once you have asked some questions, begin to visualize the problem. Imagine stepping through scenarios -- out loud. If you misstep, the employer may inadvertently help you by correcting you.
  
  
• What questions can I answer for you?: This question is deceptive. At first blush, it appears as though the interviewer is preparing to conclude the interview. Not so. This is a test to see if you have been paying attention and whether or not you have any interest in the job.
  
  Here are some good questions to ask...
  • How many candidates besides me are you considering for this opening?
  • How do I rank compared to the other candidates? Why? If you think this question will put the interviewer on the defensive, you are correct. Your job, therefore, is to disarm them and get an answer. Be sincere. Let them know that they can tell you without any risk to themselves. Phrase your encouragement in terms that say "you don't have to worry about taking back what you say later." For example, if you say, "Don't worry about hurting my feelings. Truth is truth." You can also ask "what could I have done better during this interview?" If you encourage the interviewer to take the role of coach, you can disarm them and get the information you need.
  • What is your hiring process like? What's the next step?
  
  Here are some bad responses:
  • I don't know.
  • Can I get back to you on that?
  • I can't think of any right now, but I'll call you if I think of anything.
  
  These answers display a lack of interest in the company and reduce your chances of getting the job.
  
  

"It ain't over until the fat lady sings."

After your interview there are some things to do to reinforce your positive impression and to prepare to continue your job search.

Follow-Up Letter: Send a hand-written note to your potential employer. In it, review the important, salient aspects of the employer's business that they felt were important enough to take the time during the interview to tell you about. It will help them realize that you heard what they said and that you took it seriously. Here are some ideas for other things to add to your note:

• Thank them for the opportunity to interview with them.
• Tell them you look forward to hearing from them.
• Ideally, you should write this note the same day that the interview takes place.
• If the interviewer touched on personal issues during the interview, be sure to ask about them in your note.

Don't try to write the letter before the interview.

Self Assessment: After the interview, Write down what you thought went well and what didn't during the interview. For each item that went well, think of and write down ways to make them a habit in future interviews. For things that didn't go well, write down three ways you could have handled the issue different and/or better.

Example: If it was something physical, like a forgotten extra resume, take the necessary action to be sure that it never happens again. Go to the local copy store and make copies of your resume. Put them in a manila envelope and then put the envelope in your briefcase. Leave the envelope in your briefcase until you have landed a job.