One of the most frequently asked interview questions I get when talking to a group of students is "What's the correct answer to this question?" I can only respond with a smile.

People are trained through high school and college/university to respond with certain answers, to already know what the interviewer wants to hear before the question is asked. If this were true, than the interviewer need not ask a single question, the applicant should simply read off their sheet of prepared answers to the questions that they already know will be asked.

On second thought, why not cut out the entire interview in the first place and simply send in an audiotape entitled "The answers I know you want to hear"? It would save time and man-hours! The reason being, you don't know what the interviewer wants to hear, unless you listen to this: YOUR ANSWER. Not someone else's, not a text book quote, but what YOU actually think of the question.

I have heard the comment "But, what if my answer is not what the interviewer is looking for?" Well then, you might not be the right person for the job, and that job may not be the right one for you, but better to find out now, than in two months when the Microsoft Word expertise you claimed you had is coming into question.

Here's a piece of advice I would like to share with you to calm your nerves during that interview; you are in the driver's seat. You have the final say. They offer the job to you. You have the choice to take it or turn it down. If a potential employer calls you to offer you a position, give yourself a pat on the back. You were the one out of an unknown number of people selected for the job. Also, if you are not sure if you want the job, tell them you need time. There are always situations where an immediate job is crucial to make ends meet, but if you can afford to wait a day or so to think about it, then do. It's a decision that will affect the rest of your life as well as the people close to you.

Another thing that no one seems to do, but could almost guarantee you a spot in the interviewers mind is to smile. Very simple, no rocket science here, just smile. A smile is contagious, like a yawn, but better. Have you ever seen someone yawn, then yawn yourself? Now pay attention. When you are smiling, I am sure someone else is to. A lot of the times in interviews, the interviewer is as nervous as you or tense or stressed out, so offer the natural relaxant of a smile. It makes it a whole new world. I could just be wrapping up a day of 22 interviews and you are number 23, but you walk in and show me your pearly whites, you'll stand out in my mind.

A trait that will give you the leg-up in the interview is self-confidence. If you have confidence in your abilities and skills, it will show in the interview. Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not saying be conceited. Walk into the interview knowing that you will give it your best, and walk out knowing you gave it your best, and you can do no wrong. Sit down thinking "You want me for your company" not "You owe me a job in your company." No one owes you a job, although you do deserve one. I have seen far too many people in interviews that sit there and react to questions like no matter what they do or say, I owe them the job anyway, so what's the point? That's the only logical explanation for people coming in depressed or with no attention span. Job hunting can be depressing, especially if after each interview no one phones. But remember it might be your 14th interview of the day, but it's your first with me. You know what they say about first impressions.

I remember being a naive college student, upset over the unknown outcome of the potential position I was applying for. I was saying to everyone "As soon as I'm in Human Resources, I'm going to write a letter of response to every resume I receive, and a personalized letter to every applicant that comes in." Of course, that was before I started receiving 200 resumes for each position. Calling or corresponding with someone if they have come in for an interview is manageable, but to write a letter, even a form letter, to every applicant is almost a full-time position. I know, I've tried to do it!