Here again, this approach works especially well in jobs where the employer is looking for someone who has a lot of expertise and experience in a particular area – where they expect the person they hire to be able to “hit the ground running.” In the interview they want not only to “hear” about how you have dealt with their types of problems in the past, but to also to “experience” how what you know might be applied directly to solving their current problems.

3. Start working for the company before you are hired

One of the most powerful techniques you can use to position yourself as the best candidate among many hopefuls is to be wiling to invest your time and effort to start working for the company before you are hired, or even before the first interview. Let me explain. I am not referring to offering to a company that you will “do the job you are applying to for free” for some initial period of time. In fact, I believe this can work against you – as it can lessen your value in the eyes of a potential employer if you are willing to work for nothing, or make you appear desperate. Let me explain, via example, what I do mean:

Examples 1, 2 and 3: Working before the first interview

Tim was competing for a sales position with three other, more experienced candidates and was highly motivated to distinguish himself in the interview process. So during his job interview he demonstrated that he had already started working for the company - by researching and bringing with him a list of sales leads and contacts.

Jason was competing for a senior level marketing position in technical company specializing in voice recognition products. Prior to his first interview he researched the company’s products and spent time brainstorming ideas for new product applications. He then presented his product ideas in a professionally put together presentation during his initial interview and was hired on the spot.

Jennifer was brought in to interview for a position as a technical writer of product manuals. She knew that she was competing against several other candidates and would need to do something special to showcase her abilities. During the initial interview she asked several detailed questions regarding exactly what type of manuals she would be working on if hired, what problems the company was experiencing with its current manuals, and the characteristics and expectations of the manual readers. She also asked for, and was given, examples of the current manuals she would be asked to revise if hired. With this information, and drawing heavily from her prior experience, she put together several mini-sample sections of a revised manual to highlight the types of improvements she could make, and sent her samples back to the supervisor who had initially interviewed her. She was called back for a second interview and was hired shortly thereafter.