The face-to-face interview is perhaps the most complex part of the job search process. It is the first (and perhaps the only) opportunity for the job seeker to really “sell” themselves as the best candidate for the position, and it requires them to think and react quickly under pressure.

This can be difficult under the best of circumstances, but if you are underprepared, it can be a disaster.

For most people, interviewing is stressful. Interview skills are not an innate ability that most people are born with. It takes a thorough understanding of the process and dedicated practice to master.

We’ve all heard the tired old interview advice: “dress for the job you want”, “practice interview questions”, “prepare your own questions”, etc. While these are all good pieces of advice, following these alone will not set you apart from your competition.

So, I’ve compiled six solid pieces of advice that will definitely help to position you above other candidates, and that you probably haven’t gotten from anybody else.

1. RESEARCH: The Position, Company, Culture, and Interviewer

If you are a professional who is beyond the entry-level point in your career, then you probably realize that it is necessary to do research before heading into an interview.

You know that you will need to be able to speak intelligently not only about yourself, but also about the specific company and position to which you are applying and why you are the best candidate for the position.

This is good! You are on the right track!

However, if you are only doing enough research to learn about the position and the company, you’re missing out.

The best candidates go even further in their research, to learn as much as they can about the company culture, and even the person with whom they are interviewing.

Company culture should be a HUGE consideration for you when applying for jobs. Hiring managers know that they can train the right candidate with new skills, but it’s nearly impossible to train someone fit in to an existing culture.

If you can demonstrate in the interview that your personality and work ethic align with the culture of the company, you will be much more likely to land the job than someone else with similar experience who does not (or cannot) do so.

A lot of the first impressions we make in interviews (as well as in our everyday interactions) are made subconsciously.

Researching the interviewer may be going outside your comfort zone

The more you can familiarize yourself with who the person is, what they like, and what they want in a candidate, the more you will be able to align yourself with those things.

And so long as you are only researching what is readily available to anyone else, you’re okay.

The key to being successful in an interview is to make them like you, so…

2. Be Likeable

 I’ve always been really good at interviewing. I think it’s because I’m what they call a “people-pleaser”. I’m good at making people like me – at least upon a first meeting.

Since I was a fairly awkward child and early teen, I developed the ability to read people quickly and adapt my personality to fit their preferences.

Of course, this isn’t something I do with everyone, all the time, but it is something that comes in handy when I’m being thrust into unfamiliar or high-stress situations.

Being likeable is especially useful in interviews!

Much of what I said above can and should be used to make yourself more likeable in the interview. Again, the more you know about what is wanted of the person they hire, the more you can prove yourself to be exactly those things.

This may seem a little devious, and it would be if you were interviewing for a position for which you knew you were unqualified. But if you are genuinely interested in and qualified for the job, then maximizing your likeability is simply a smart move on your part.

3. Make Eye Contact and SMILE

 For me, the theme of interviewing is just what is stated in point number 2: Be Likeable.

And as I’ve already mentioned, a huge part of formulating first impressions and deciding whether or not you like someone is done subconsciously.

Making good eye contact and producing a genuine smile are two of the most effective ways to create a positive first impression when meeting someone new.

Professional Training Coach Nikki Shapiro talks about this in her blog post The Triad of Likeability: Smile, Eye Contact, Handshake. In this post, she says:

“Eye contact is fundamental to human engagement. Babies as young as 4 months old process faces almost as well as adults. Babies as young as 7 months old can differentiate emotions on their mother’s faces, and respond to them. Multiple parts of our brains have evolved to “read” expressions, even subtle ones, extremely well, even at a distance. We are looking at eyes and faces A LOT to understand the relationships in the people around us. In situations when we meet someone for the first time and we don’t see an expression of openness or positivity, we don’t build rapport with that person.”

That is the bottom line when it comes to first impressions. Understanding the importance of eye contact to human relationships and trust-building allows us to be more aware of how we come across to people, and thus have more control over the impressions we make.

4. Be Nice to EVERYONE You Encounter!

[True Story]

I was driving to work one day when I was about 24. As I approached the turn in to the parking lot, I noticed there was a car waiting to pull out of the lot who was sitting basically in the middle of the entrance/exit, and partially blocking the entrance.

Now, there was plenty of room for me and my tiny little car to turn into the entrance without any problem, but my 24-year-old ego still felt like his bad driving was an affront to my sensibilities, so I honked and flipped him “the bird” as I drove by.

I parked my car, went inside, and thought nothing more about it…for about an hour.

That’s when my office was called into a meeting for everyone to be introduced to the new boss. (Can you guess, yet, where this is going?)

Much to my dismay, it turned out Mr. New-Boss-Guy was also Mr. Bad-Driver-Guy, whom I had honked and flipped a middle finger at just an hour before. Luckily, he didn’t recognize me and this was not on my way in to an interview, but I think the lesson is the same:

Always be nice to the people you encounter in professional situations, even on your way to them!

Many people make the mistake of thinking that their interview doesn’t start until they are greeted by the interviewer and walked into the interview room. This is a dangerous misconception.

In many offices, the person working the front desk has a large amount of input into office operations.

They are often seen as a trusted advisor by the manager, and therefore have a high level of influence when it comes to hiring new people.

This means that they are likely watching you closely from the time you walk into the door to the time to go into your interview, and then again on your way out the door.

5. Use Mirroring

 Another key to likeability in an interview is to match the speech and body language of the Interviewer. This is called mirroring, and it can be a difficult task at first, but it really pays off! In fact, a CareerRealism article from 2014 states that mirroring is the #1 tip for acing an interview. In that article, Don Goodman wrote:

“[Mirroring is] subconsciously helping those in conversation maintain rapport through similarities observed from body language. There is a sense of ease talking with one another and a sense of the same mood. Establishing good rapport is vitally important during a job interview and it may make the difference between getting an offer or not. Remember, people hire people they like so, the next time you find yourself in a job interview, apply the technique of mirroring to help you get a better handle of the other person and to make everyone feel at ease with the conversation that is taking place.”

The important thing to remember is to be subtle when utilizing this technique. Don’t try to mimic the other person’s behavior, gestures, or speech.

Instead, subtly alter your body language or speech in such a way that it more closely resembles theirs. This will allow them to feel increasingly more comfortable with you throughout the interview process.

6. Be Sure to FOLLOW UP!

The #1 most overlooked etiquette tip for interviews is writing a thank-you letter. Many modern job seekers are neglecting this tool in their job search, to their detriment.

Most HR professionals will tell you that any candidate who sends a thank-you letter after their interview gets first consideration.

So, if you are looking to give yourself an advantage above the other job applicants, then be sure to follow up your interview by writing a letter showing your genuine appreciation for the opportunity.

Your letter should be written and sent within 24 hours of the interview, and sent to all people who were involved in the interview, or at least the highest-ranking interviewer.

While a hand-written letter is an extremely nice touch, sending through traditional mail takes far too long to be effective in today’s fast-paced world. If you cannot drop off the note personally within 24 hours, sending your letter via email is perfectly acceptable.

Writing to the employer is another way to showcase skills and competency in communication and your career. Make sure your letter is understandable, easy to read, and professional. Don’t be afraid to personalize the letter and let your personality come through.

It is also a good idea to mention something specific that you talked about in the interview, either to add more detail, or just remind them exactly who you are.

Interviewing is difficult and stressful, there is no doubt about that. But when you are appropriately prepared, it can turn into something at which you really excel.