Begin by studying job description and candidate profile. This will enable you to identify company's particular needs and demonstrate that you possess skills required to meet them.

Find out all you can about company's products, services, history, and culture. Make a special effort to identify any areas where your skills and experience may be of particular value.

Familiarize yourself with company's website and be prepared to comment constructively upon it if asked.

Prepare a list matching your accomplishments to company's stated requirements. Keep this list in front of you during interview and refer to it at every opportunity.

Specify and quantify your accomplishments, e.g. 'increased sales by 35%' or 'reduced overheads by 27%'.

Interviewers are keen to hear about relevant challenges or problems you faced in workplace, specific actions you took, and measurable results you achieved. They seek to identify key competencies such as communication skills, analytical skills, teamwork, drive and initiative. Be prepared to give examples of how and when you have demonstrated these key competencies.

To get feel of being interviewed over phone, compile a list of probable questions and ask a friend use them in a simulated phone interview. Prepare your answers carefully, using key words and phrases from job description and candidate profile. Do not attempt to write out your answers in full or they will sound wooden and scripted.

Decide what types of benefits are important to you. A compensation package might include: flexible work schedule, option to work at home, relocation expenses, pension and insurance plans, company car, holidays, stock options, profit-sharing, training opportunities, etc. By evaluating these beforehand, you can concentrate on bargaining in negotiation process.

It is important to know your market value. You can do this by consulting professional associations, job advertisements, business and trade periodicals, employment agencies, executive search companies, career-related websites, and on-line salary surveys.

Since salaries often vary according to location, you should research comparable positions at similar companies in your geographical area. Investigate your prospective employer’s track record for making offers.

To strengthen your negotiating position, try to ascertain how urgently company needs to fill post. It also helps if you have another offer to consider.

When completing application forms, say that your salary requirements are "negotiable" or "competitive." Don’t state a specific figure on your resume.

Don't be first to mention salary during job interview. Let employer introduce salary first. If interviewer insists on a specific figure, ask for details of company’s customary salary range for that type of position. Stress that you are confident you will be able to arrive at a mutually agreeable sum.