Learn About Your interviewer

Try to research up one or two things about her accomplishments, history with the organization, outside interests—anything that will help you break the ice and speak to her about things she's interested in.

For help in how to get the inside scoop on your interviewer, try some of these techniques:

• Ask people in your professional and personal network what they know about the interviewer.
• Conduct a search on the Internet using the person's name and company name.
• Read the company's annual report to learn about the company's directions and goals, including those that might involve the interviewer's department.
• Call organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, professional associations, and community groups that you think the hiring manager might belong to.

Create an Interviewer's Profile
Once you've uncovered some information about the interviewer, compile it in a profile such as the following. (The information on your interviewer's profile will be determined by what information you dig up.)

INTERVIEWER'S PROFILE
Name: Mr. Alfred Jones
Title: VP of Marketing
How long with company: 4 years
Number of people he supervises: Directly 3, indirectly 19
Reports to: CEO
Education: M.A. from UCLA
Salary: Don't have the exact figure, but I think somewhere around $95K
Management style: Known for being fair but demanding
Articles: Published in U.S. Marketing Magazine, April 2001
Outside interests: He's a jogger. He ran the Los Angeles Marathon the same year I did
Work ethics: They say he has a high standard and puts in about a 60-hour week
Career ambitions: Unknown, but I imagine he's aiming for a promotion to president
Personality: Jones is a friendly man, but a tough negotiator
Volunteer activities: Member of several organizations that focus on children's issues