(1) Few people getting jobs paying more than $4,000 a year are employed at the first interview. So the first must be planned to lead to a second, and because the first is the hardest, it will be well to prepare yourself in advance. Get quiet within yourself; use prayer, and the recognition of God's presence. Let your mind rest for a few moments on the most peaceful scene in nature that you can recall.

(2) Recognize the responsibility of your interviewer to his company and himself, and don't try to rush him into a quick decision. If a snap-judgment is called for, his safest one is, "No." But do remember to keep your best foot forward, and remain at all times frank and tactful. Also remember this line from Shakespeare: "To thine own self be true and... thou canst not then be false to any man." Then, even if he must turn you down, your cooperative attitude will encourage him to suggest other possibilities, or leave the interview open to follow-ups.

(3) The technique of the "open-end interview" has proved .invaluable, not only in keeping the door open with your interviewer-of-the-moment, but in frequently leading him to become your "salesman" for other jobs. Let's take the worst possibility - you have been turned down cold. You make a graceful recovery by open-ending your interview in this manner: "Thank you for your time, sir. I do appreciate your consideration, and I want you to know that I realize every applicant cannot fit into your organization.

It's your job to tell me that I don't, and I'm grateful for the considerate way you did so. Just the same, in the course of our interview, while you came to know me well enough to realize I won't do here, is it possible that you know me well enough to know where I might fit?"

There is more in the above statement than meets the eye. The executive has turned you down, but by expressing appreciation of his consideration instead of resentment or disappointment - that would only make him feel guilty and want him to get rid of you the faster - you have demonstrated that you are a nice guy. He doesn't like to reject nice guys.

(4) Follow up your interview with a letter of appreciation. Whether your interviewer has turned you down, or left matters in the air, or referred you to someone else, you have put him through a few uncomfortable minutes. Though there were some good things about the interview - there always are - there were also some adverse, or not-so-good, or else you would have been hired. The adverse things are what the interviewer is remembering, if only to justify his action in turning you down or stalling

Your follow-up letter, which is really a thank-you note few executives get from job seekers, and therefore appreciate all the more, should also contain a condensation of the good things you got out of the interview. Not only does this make him feel good for having done you some good, but your letter, refreshing his memory with the more constructive parts of your conversation, serves to supplant with positive thoughts whatever negative thoughts were raised at your interview. In that mood he may begin to feel that possibly he had been a little hasty in reaching his first judgment.

Putting this advice into practice should lead you to your ideal job in a very short space of time.