Job Interview Advice: The Very Best Way to Stand Out

Candidates always want to know the ONE thing they2. If you ask it at the first of the interview, you get to
can do in the job interview that's going to be the mostsell to that point throughout the rest of the interview. 
impressive to the hiring manager.  And there really isThis isn't just for sales jobs.  The interview itself is a
one answer.sales process, no matter what industry or job you're
There are a lot of other pieces that go into ain.  The interview is about you "selling yourself" as the
successful job interview, but the number one thing youbest candidate for the job:  you're the product, the
can do in the interview to make a great impression ishiring manager is the buyer, and the cost of the
to ask questions.product is your salary.  You're selling, trying to get that
When you ask questions, you demonstrate yourmanager to say "Yes, I want to buy" so that you get a
knowledge of the job through those questions.great job.
One of the most important questions to ask is at theSo, the number one thing you can do is to ask those
very beginning of the interview:  "What exactly arevery pointed questions, find out
you looking for?  If you saw the perfect candidate for- exactly what they're looking for,
this job, what would he/she look like?" Or, if it's a team- what their process is,
you'll be a part of, ask, "Who's the best person on the- who is the best hire they've ever made,
team?  What makes them the best person on the- What is the greatest challenge for this particular role,
team?"etc?
There are a couple things that happen when you askThese kinds of questions demonstrate a lot to the
these questions:hiring manager, and what you do with that information
1. The manager's impressed, because most peoplethroughout the interview as you communicate who
can't "keep it together" enough during the interview toyou are to the hiring manager, will really impress him
ask these kinds of pointed questions, so right off theand set you apart from other candidates.
bat you're making yourself stand out.