With the economy so uncertain it is more important than ever to have strong job interview skills. With jobs harder to come by – and so many more people looking for work – you need to have the skills to stand out.

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For some, that might mean building up a strong resume. That’s important, but only to get in the door – a resume can make anyone sound good. Where you really need to set yourself apart is in your interview – it’s not only a chance to meet your (future) employer face to face, but to really show off your best.

As a job interviewee, I’ve had a good deal of practice, especially over the past few months. I’ve had interviews go incredibly well, and some that, well, could have been better. I’ve gotten offers (since rescinded for a variety of reasons), gotten immediate rejections (for reasons I’ll explain below), and gotten all the way to the final two of my own little “Survivor: Job Application,” only to be kicked out of the tribe at the last second.

It’s been a long, frustrating ride, but I’ve learned some tips along the way I think can help anyone in their own job search:

  1. Just Be Yourself: Everyone wants to impress during their interview, but don’t be someone you’re not. Putting pressure on yourself to flash or impress, whether it be with your dress or attitude, more often than not backfires. Overselling yourself might sound good, but most employers can smell the BS a mile away. Besides, if you somehow get the job on your inflated interview, how can you back it up?
  2. Don’t Hide Your Flaws - Now I’m not saying you want to broadcast every mistake or misstep you’ve made, but most (good) employers know, no one is perfect. There’s a reason many interviewers ask questions such as “Name one weakness you have,” or “How have you overcome adversity in the past?” Everyone screws up. What really counts is how you deal with those failures.
  3. Know the job you’re applying for: The only time I’ve ever gotten an outright rejection is when I was interviewing for a position that I didn’t quite understand. When I got to the interview, they started asking questions about topics I simply couldn’t answer well – I had applied for a technical writer position, never having done real technical writing before. I was wholly unaware of the many certifications and requirements that side of the industry requires, and because of my ignorance, I simply didn’t match up. Why am I sharing this? Make sure you know what you’re getting into.
  4. Hi-jack the interview: With this tip, I don’t mean interrupt, over talk or anything like that. What I mean is, it’s OK to break with rigid structure sometimes. I recently had an interview where the interviewer had a set list of questions to move through. If you’re familiar with the type of position, the industry or the company, you probably have a pretty good idea what questions are on that list. It’s okay to anticipate questions and answer them in conversation. It’s one of those things that shows your experience and knowledge, and it allows you to frame your assets in their best light. Assert yourself.

For myself, I’ve found it simply makes sense to fall back on my strengths – my experience working with web content, search engine optimization and persuasive writing. But those are very industry specific. Topics that transcend industry include showing how you are a leader and a team player – and yes, you can be both – and how you can work with a variety of people from clients to vendors.

In a nutshell, the successful job interview should not be a situation beyond your control. By being yourself, being honest and being knowledgeable about what you’re interviewing for, you can present yourself as a great fit for the job you want.