1. When you get there and get introduced to the manager it helps to break the ice a bit. A couple of suggestions are...
   a) Notice a picture or something else in the office that you can strike up a conversation about.
   b) Humor is fine in an interview.
   c) Flattery - such as "I've really been looking forward to this meeting."
   d) Discuss some recent industry information pertaining to the position you are interviewing for.
   
   
2. One typical question is "So, tell me something about yourself?" This is kind of a trick question. The easiest way to answer this is "I'd love to, where would you like to start?" This allows the employer to state what is most important to them. If they start with your family you know they are a family oriented individual. They will do the same for you if you begin the conversation. What you want to do is get them to give you a starting point.
   
   
3. When interviewing you need to be yourself. You want to use action words when talking about yourself. They will want to hear:
   - I planned
   - I created
   - I organized
   - I initiated
   - I implemented
   - I developed
   - I conceived
   - I formulated

   They will want to see leadership skills such as:
   - I organized
   - I lead
   - I supervised
   - I directed
   - I was responsible for
   - I guided
   - I managed
   - I presided over
   - I coordinated
   - I built
   - I gave direction

   They will also want to hear result phrases such as:
   - Lead to
   - Contributed to
   - Demonstrated that
   - Saved
   - Reduced
   - Collected
   - Achieved
   - Provided for
   - Increased
   - Shot holes in
   - Evaluated

Things to rehearse:

• Short synopsis of your story. How did you get to where you are now.
• Be prepared to dissect the individual jobs/responsibilities you have had at a specific company.
• They will sort of quiz you technically. Here you will want to show your technical qualifications.
• It helps to do this...on a legal pad write the short synopsis about yourself. Do this two times. The first one you probably will not like. The second will be OK. Keep it to one page but be complete. Read this a number of times for practice. Practice on the kids, your spouse, etc. It sounds silly but it really will help when they ask you to do it. You will be surprised how you will not stumble. You do not want to stumble in an interview.
• Do the same for each of your individual positions. With this one you will want to pay particular attention to what you are doing and have done and how that would relate to a programming job now. It works well to create a T account and write down new job responsibilities and similarities to a previous job.
• One thing to keep in mind: Don't mold your skills to the job, mold them to the truth.
  
  
  At the end of the interview they may ask if you have any questions. They may have answered everything you had but here are a few just in case:

1. What are some major short and long term objectives the company has.
2. Characteristics that the company feels are attractive about itself.
3. Industries or outside influences that effect the company's growth.
4. Areas that the company excels or has limitations.
5. Common denominators in successful employees.
6. What areas of the company need polishing or development (be careful here).
7. Where do you think I can contribute effectively (this is more appropriate in a second interview unless you can tell things are going really well).
   
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