Ryan recommends that job hunters use this tool early in the interview to answer the opening question: "Tell me about yourself". The 60 Second Sell is also the perfect way to close an interview, leaving your strongest reasons for being able to do the job fresh in the employer's mind as you depart.

The biggest salary increases come from quitting a job and moving to a new employer," Ryan added. She offers solid strategies to insure you walk away with the most money possible. Her biggest tip: never reveal what your old salary was--it is negotiation suicide if you do. Ryan recommends that every candidate ask if the employer can do better once they get a job offer. Amazingly, her clients have used her techniques and gotten thousands of more dollars than originally offered. In 60 Seconds & You're Hired! Ryan also advises:

Prepare thoroughly for the interview. Research the employer's needs, and prepare examples of how you've done that kind of work in the past.

- Do your homework and find out who you will be interviewing with. You are looking for job title, responsibilities, accomplishments, as well as anything else that impresses you about this person.

- Know as much about the company as possible. Look online for comments, discussions, blogs, forums, and additional insights. Look for challenges that the company is facing, and think about how you might contribute to their success.

- Write out the top 3 points you want to make sure you get across.

- Write down what makes you different or unique.

- Have a story/example for each bullet on the job description and each bullet in you resume. Include the challenges you were up against, the action you took to solve these challenges, and the results you achieved.

- Write down answers to questions such as your strengths, weaknesses, where you want to be in the future, etc. The questions that employers don't always feel comfortable asking. The same questions you don't always feel comfortable answering. Nevertheless, expect to be asked these questions anyway.

- Write down the answers to the questions you don't want to be asked. If you have a gap in your resume, have a good response for when you are asked about it. If you were fired, be prepared to tell the employer why with a positive spin. Don't shy away from these questions and hope they won't be asked. Expect them to be posed to you and have your answers mapped out and ready to go.

- Write down questions to ask the interviewer; three to five should do. Questions like, "What are you looking for in a candidate?" OR "What's the biggest challenge you are facing right now?" These questions may be answered during the interview, and other questions may come up as the discussion progresses, but these questions will give you a place to start.

- Write down an introduction; an opener that says who you are and what you do. Include your past title, the type of work you have been doing, why you are excited to be interviewing with this company.


• Prepare a list of impressive questions to ask the employer. Cover job duties and management styles but avoid asking about salary or benefits.

AT THE INTERVIEW

• DRESS UP! Keep in mind job duty questions impress employers, showing that you are really interested in their job. Display enthusiasm by maintaining eye contact and smiling--nonverbal behavior counts for a lot.

• - Be upbeat, passionate, and excited to be there.
  
  - Use your prepared introduction and introduce yourself.
  
  - Right after your introduction; say something flattering to the interviewer. Reveal what you like about the person or the company. Include what impresses you the most. Sincere flattery starts the interview off in a positive way.
  
  - Answer questions and ask them. Remember, it's a two way conversation, and an opportunity for both parties to see if there is a match. Don't forget to listen and let the interviewer talk.
  
  - Make sure you cover anything that was not discussed in the interview before you leave. For example, did you cover your 3 points? Did you tell the interviewer what makes you different? Did you handle all objections properly? Did you ask the questions you wanted to ask? Cover this now; afterwards may be too late.
  
  - Tell the interviewer again why you want the job.
  
  - Ask what the hiring process is, and when you can follow up with them again.

• Practice answering questions in advance and give examples frequently. To engage employers, job hunters must be positive, concise, and demonstrate their abilities in less than 60 seconds. This takes practice, as does answering questions like "What is your greatest weakness?" or "Tell me about a co-worker you didn't like or work well with."

•  

AFTER THE INTERVIEW

• - Send a thank-you note. Email one version and also send a handwritten version. Thank you cards work well here.
  
  - Include in your email anything you left out during the interview. Add credibility to your email by mentioning something specific the interviewer said that impressed you.
  
  - If you promised to follow up on a specific day and time, keep that promise.
  
  - Continue interviewing. No matter how great an interview went, no matter how many people told you that you are "the one," you do not have the job until you have formally been given a job offer in writing. Don't let everything ride on one job. Keep going until you are officially employed.

Robin Ryan has been called "America's Top Career Coach", by MSN, AOL, and the Boston Globe. Robin's advice has appeared in Money, Newsweek, Fortune, Business Week, Good Housekeeping, the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, New York Times, and Seattle Times.

She is the best-selling author of: 60 Seconds & You're Hired!; Winning Resumes; Winning Cover Letters, and What to Do with the Rest of Your Life.

Her newest book, Soaring on Your Strengths, published by Penguin Books, was released 2006.

Contact author Robin Ryan at 425.226.0414 or email: RobinRyan at aol.com

Review copies: Ann Day at 212.366.2078 or e-mail: ann.day at us.penguingroup.com

Signup for Robin Ryan's free career eNewsletter at: www.RobinRyan.com