I love interviewing.

To me interviewing is like flirting with a total stranger just so you can see your value. Just so you know that you still are an attractive option, if you were on the market.

The difference with interviewing is you seldom wake up the next morning feeling guilty, wondering what in the world were you thinking the night before. And you don't have to worry about explaining yourself to your significant other. Usually.

Anyhow, every job interview I've ever gone on I've been offered the job, except one. I'll get to that in a moment.

Here's what makes you stand out as the winning choice among all other prospective candidates:

1. Research the company thoroughly before stepping through the door. Know more about the company than the employees who work there. Maybe even more than the interviewers.

More than once I've interviewed at a company and brought up the company's objectives. The names of board members. Or some interesting tidbit about the company's history and tied in that's why I was considering working there. Sadly, the interviewers didn't even know those details.

The only time this backfired was with two interviewers at a tech company who said I knew too much. That I was too advanced for what they were looking for. I had already figured out before they spoke. I knew they felt threatened when they looked at each other during the final interview and one of the guys nervously laughed saying under his breath that I'd be ideal for the position either of them was currently serving in...and their positions aren't available.

!! Red Flag!!

A couple days later they reposted the position as 'entry level' and I got a letter in the mail saying 'over qualified'.

Who they hired I have no idea. Don't care either. I'd never work for a company where the existing employees looked down at the ground when officers of the company walked in the room.

Or that insisted on hiring people who were below the capability of the job. There's a saying that employees are promoted to their highest level of incompetence. Once they hit that ceiling in their career, that's the level they stay at. Hiring someone because they are incapable of exceeding a certain level is like choosing a dating partner based on a maximum level of prettiness or intelligence, and no more. That's dumb.

Avoid interviewing with any company that has such a warped view of your value. And if you happen to find that out during the interview thank them for their time and move on. You won't get the job anyways. In fact, you should be insulted if you do!

2. Practice scenario-based questions. You need to know the position thoroughly. You need to know the company. And you need to know yourself and your strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities and what you bring to the table to offer to the company. They don't want to hear about you wanting money or benefits or flexible schedule, they want to hear what's in it for them. How are you going to benefit the company.

Monster.com has a ton of scenario questions. Find the ones that best match the job you are going after. If you can't answer the questions even with practice, you may need to seek another job. You might not be right for the position until you get that experience.

3. Grab resources proven to help boost your value to your prospective employer.

When you go on a date, or when you used to still date, did you put on just any old rag of clothing? Or did you do everything possible to put your best foot forward?

I bet you tried to look and sound your best. maybe even got one or more other people to say some nice things about you too.

Well, you should do the same things when pursuing a career. Do everything possible to honestly and ethically put the best you forward.

There are two resources I found that can help with this. I'm associated with neither company. Just impressed with their work.

The first is "Resume and Cover Letter Secrets" from Kevin Donlin. It is available through his site at http://www.gresumes.com

The other is "10 Insider Secrets To Job Hunting Success" from Todd Bermont. It is available through Amazon.com and other online retailers.

Follow the tips in the article and I bet you'll learn to love interviewing too.