Have you ever wondered why some of your friends or colleagues always seem to nail their interviews and get the higher salary? Interviewing is a skill. It takes practice, confidence and focus. Negotiating your salary also takes great skill. Here are 5 of our top interview secrets on how to beat out the competition and how to land your next job.

1.  Your best skills.

Think about what makes you unique. Are you a great writer? Are you a great problem-solver?  Whether you have a strong ability to bring in new business clients or you have great leadership skills, focus on those skills and make sure you have examples that demonstrate those skills.

2.  The S.T.A.R. method.

Most interviews require you to apply your skills to a situation, the action you took and the result that occurred.  This is commonly known as the S.T.A.R. method. It is a great process to use your experience, apply the competencies you have mastered and outshine the competition during the interview.

3.  Accomplishments and results.

Refer back to your resume. If your resume does not display your accomplishments or results, then you will remain an average candidate. If you want to be the right candidate, focus on providing examples of your achievements from your previous jobs that are relevant to the job you are interviewing for. Achievements include increasing financial growth, saving the company money, implementing a new program or bringing in new clients.

4.  Be likeable.

An interview is about personality. If you are boring or dull, the interviewer will pick up on that. Use inflection in your voice, show enthusiasm and be actively engaged.

5.  Follow-up.

It is important to follow-up after an interview. Send a thank-you note to your interviewer. Show your appreciation and let the interviewer know that meeting him/her confirmed your enthusiasm about the job.

Need additional tips? Our interview coaching program will help you to prepare and practice answers to the most difficult interview questions in a mock-interview setting.