A hiring manager wants to know many things about you and s/he has only a short time to learn what is needed. There are four key things s/he wants to know more than anything else. If you can respond positively to these four questions (a variation of the Four Vital Questions), the ground will be set for an offer:

1. Do you understand the job that needs to be done?

2. Can you do the job?

3. Can you do the job the way the employer wants it done?

4. Can you do the job profitably for the company?

No matter what the employer asks during an interview, the Four Vital Questions

are what he needs answers to. Without answers to these questions, an employer cannot make a responsible decision about hiring you. If he doesn't ask you these questions directly, then ask them for him and make sure you provide the answers. If you have to state clearly.

1. As I understand it, the work you need to have done is:

2. "Here is why I can do this work and how I would do it:

3. "It seems important to you that the job be done this way:

4. "I can make this job more profitable to your company by:

Having covered the Four Vital Questions elsewhere, we won't go into more detail here except to point out that they represent the foundation of every successful interview. We can't emphasize enough the importance of your communicating to the employer the answers to these questions. If s/he doesn't ask for this information and you don't provide it, you will experience one of several undesirable outcomes.

	You will not win an offer, because the manager doesn't know whether you can do the job.
	You will be put on a list of maybes-candidates the employer is not sure about-and you will wait while s/he interviews dozens of other candidates.
	S/He may hire you anyway, but you will wind up working for a manager who blames you for not doing the work the way s/he wants it done.

The Fine Points

While this foundation is being laid during an interview, the employer will be covering some finer points with you. These are the other questions an employer is asking about you:

1. Can you get along with him/her?

2. Do you communicate effectively?

3. Are you interested in the work?

4. Are you motivated and enthusiastic? Are you ready to tackle your work each day without much supervision?

5. Do you have the technical expertise s/he needs?

6. Can you make a significant contribution to his/her group?

7. Do you want the job?

You should think about each of these questions before you go on a particular interview. Don't get wrapped up in how to answer these questions, because all the answers are simple: yes. Together, these yeses represent your attitude about your work. Attitude is best communicated by your behavior. The key, as with the Four Vital Questions, is to demonstrate the answers.