They want to know their search is over, so for length of interview, job is yours. You need to make most of it.

Having said that, first impressions are incredibly important. Be yourself right from start, turning up volume on those bits of you that most match job; turning down volume on bits that don't. However, never ever shut volume off entirely, as you will then be pretending to be someone you're not – a sure recipe for disaster.

Not a good idea to lie! You can be judicious with truth, but lies have a tendency to return and bite you in bum! Even if they don't know you've lied, you will be giving out signals that are a give-away that something is wrong.

Being put on spot can feel very uncomfortable, and it's easy to fall into a defensive posture. If you're not sure of answer or feel boxed into a corner it's all right to buy time – including saying 'I need some time to think about that.'

No matter how nervous you are, you do need to look after people interviewing you. Show that you know how to communicate and relate to people: ask surprising questions.

Have a stockpile of anecdotes of past triumphs (and even a few disasters, as long as their funny or humorous side is apparent). This is not just a list of what you can do, but some personal examples that paint whole picture.

Phew! Got through that; anything else I can do?

At end of your interview, if you haven't been advised, ask when they think they'll be making their decision. At least then you'll know how long you’ll have to wait before you hear.

Many places don't automatically let people know if they haven't got job; so one follow-up call is allowable. More than that and it can feel like badgering.

No matter how badly you think interview went, if you want job, always send a follow-up letter. Since most of us think of clever things to say after fact, include one or two of those, referring to something specific from interview.

Use phrases such as:

1)'I've given a lot of thought to our interview and...' 2)'Something you mentioned got me thinking...' 3)'What you said about _______ really struck home...'

If you don't get job and you're curious why not, phone up and get some feedback. It may help you for next interview.

If you'd like more advice about career issues click here to look at 'Career Action' page on our web site

Or if you want to speak to a real person give us a call on 020 7226 1877

Happy job hunting!

Read other articles to do with interview skills and career development in personal section of Factory Gate @ www.impactfactory.com

If you are interested in talking to us further about our work on interview skills and going for a job, please phone 020 7226 1877 or e-mail: enquiries@impactfactory.com

Jo Ellen Grzyb is a Founding Partner of Impact Factory, a training and personal development company specialising in making work a better place to be.

She spent 20 years in the arts, entertainment and corporate sectors in development work on both sides of the Atlantic, before setting up Impact Factory with Robin Chandler in 1991.

3. Block time out during lunch for a telephone call to one you love. A warm message or a listening ear can be great to lessen stress of morning work and grueling commitments.

4. If you make a commitment to attend an event with your special one, don’t break commitment. This example doesn’t strictly fit “lover” scenario, but Sean Penn, winner of a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in Mystic River, missed 2004 Golden Globe Awards because he had promised his daughter evening out. He wouldn’t break that promise. Producer Clint Eastwood accepted award for him.

5. Don’t take your time together on weekends for granted. Plan something special neither of you will want to miss: a trip to museum, park, a movie, zoo, beach…

6. Include your lover in routine activities but do routine activities in a playful mood. Cooking a meal together becomes a fun event if it is peppered with lively conversation. Start this way: “Tell me something funny that happened to you today.”

7. When you are together, be there -- mentally as well as physically. There is nothing worse than looking loving in your sweetheart’s eyes and finding a distant look.

8. Hire people to give you more time to share love. There are great time benefits to hiring help with yard work, house cleaning, dog walking, buying gifts, etc.

9. Use reverse scheduling technique: plan when you need to leave work to have time for your lover. Estimate time it will take to do each item on your to do list, then plot your time backwards from time you want to leave work.

10. Remember to close door on your professional life when you leave work. Open door to your personal relationships: enjoy time with your lover.