Practice. Rehearse in front of a mirror, with a friend, colleague, or on video tape. Is the impression you're making the one you intend to make? Body language is telling a story about you - body posture - positioning - facial expressions - make sure it's the right story.

Relax. Instead of focusing on the end result, learn to listen. The more you listen to what's being asked, the more discerning you will become about asking your own questions and judging the answers.

When all you can think of is whether or not this interview will end in a job offer, you miss out on an opportunity to explore. If you begin to think of the interview process as a conversation and relax, you will find out some interesting things about the interviewer and the company. You will also be in a better position to judge whether this is the right place for you. You begin to take control of the outcome.

Carole Martin, is the The Interview Coach (www.interviewcoach.com) a California-based consulting firm that trains people to successfully go after what they want

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