Recently I have been involved in numerous conversations about interviewing. It’s wonderful that there seem to be more positions being posted and that organizations seem to be inviting candidates in for interviews. So, if you are a job seeker, the odds that you may be engaged in interviewing seem to be improving. And the burning question is… are you ready to be interviewed?

The best interviews are a conversation, a dialogue, an engaging exchange between two adults with a shared goal… to make a match with the best person for the role… to provide an opportunity for success in achieving the objectives of the organization and attaining professional success. The best interviews are planned thoroughly by both parties. The candidate and the interviewer should do their homework and make every effort to understand how to identify that ‘best fit’ match.

Some elements to keep in mind:

1. It is as important for a job seeker to thoroughly research and assess the organization as it is for the organization to research and assess the candidate. Reading every word and nuance of the job description is not enough… use all your connections and published information to learn about the organization, its values, its culture and its people. Read news releases and look for public speeches and appearances by the key managers in the organization. Determine if it is the type of organization in which you are likely to be valued and to find success based on the obvious and the not so obvious criteria.

2. Try to be flexible and responsive to the style and tone of each interviewer. They are after all subject to the same stresses and pressures that everyone feels on the job, to the same ups and downs of every day and every week. Not all interviewers will be equally skillful in moving through the conversation with candidates: in some cases you may want to take the lead and offer information. Do watch carefully for tell-tale body language and facial expressions to get a sense of whether or not this technique is welcomed.

3. Don’t be too quick to judge the entire organization by one interviewer. If you can met with multiple representatives in different roles and functions in the organization, you will be much better able to assess their ‘fit’ for you and they will have more information and encounters on which to base a decision about moving forward. More interviews are good for both parties.

4. Be prepared with good questions that demonstrate to the interviewer that you are truly engaged and that you are interested in the organization and what they do. Remember, the interviewers work there and the activities and objectives of the organization matter to them. They are probably assessing the degree to which you will invest your energy in the pursuits they value, so show them that you will. Be friendly, open and engaged.

5. Give the interviewer a sign that you want to work in the organization. As a hiring manager, I was always pleased when candidates were candid about wanting to be part of the organization. One of the most successful hires I have made was someone who told me that he had followed the company for years and it was a dream come true to be asked to come for an interview. Although his responses and questions proved his statement, that alone would not have made the decision if he had not been qualified… but it didn’t hurt.

If you prepare, remain flexible, welcome multiple interviews, ask good questions and let interviewers know you want to be on their team, your interviews are more likely to be conversations rather than interrogations. By walking the two-way street, both job seekers and interviewers have the opportunity to assess how close you both come to meeting the shared goal of making a good match, and we all know that two-way streets have a much lower chance of leading to a dead end.