Your cover letter and resume will get you in the door, but it's the interview that will make or break you. During these times of high unemployment when so many applicants are vying for the same position, an employer may want to see you two or three times before making a final decision. You need to separate yourself from the rest of the pack during this interview process in order to get noticed and be hired. Follow these tips to increase your chances of getting the job.

1. Make an entrance. Arrive on time and dressed appropriately for the position. From the moment you walk through the door, everyone from the receptionist to potential fellow employees will size you up as you wait nervously for the interview to begin. Be on your toes every moment during this downtime. You never know who your future boss may be and if they are watching.

2. Know the name of the interviewer and pronounce it correctly. Nothing can kill an interview faster than mispronouncing the name of the person who may hire you. If need be, call in advance and ask for the correct spelling and pronunciation of the interviewer. When introduced, repeat their name. Don't offer to shake hands unless the interviewer initiates the handshake. Then shake with a firm grip. A limp handshake is a big turn-off.

3. Know what the company produces or what services they offer. Doing research on the company you are interviewing with is crucial to having a good interview. Employers are going to ask why you want to work for them--you'd better have a good answer. Your knowledge that they are the number one seller of kettledrums in the state or that they have won the service award for the past eight years in a row will go a long way toward impressing the interviewer. However, you should not flaunt your knowledge at the interview. Reciting statistics to the interviewer to impress them with your knowledge can backfire. It only tells them that you studied up to get the job, nothing more. If you are knowledgeable about the company, it will come through during the conversation.

4. Get the interviewer interested in you. This is your chance to sell your personality to the interviewer. They already know from your resume what skills you have. What they want to find out in an interview is what kind of personality you have and whether or not you will fit into their company. Enthusiasm is the key no matter what the topic is. If you display sincere enthusiasm, the interviewer can't help but be interested in you. Imagine being the interviewer, asking the same questions to 10 different people and hearing 10 similar responses. How boring. Remember, you need to separate yourself from the rest of the pack. But, be genuine in your enthusiasm. Interviewers can read insincerity instantly and you'll lose all credibility.

5. Answer each question thoughtfully. Every question you are asked was asked for a purpose. Don't assume you're having a casual conversation and let your guard down. Every remark you make can be meaningful. Remember, the interview started the moment you walked in the door.

6. Know when to stop talking. When answering a question, do so concisely but fully, then stop talking. When the interviewer says nothing, many interviewees make the mistake of assuming the interviewer wasn't satisfied with the answer, so they ramble on, trying to fill the void. What is said during this time period can often play against you. Silence is a ploy used by many interviewers to see how you handle stress. If put in this situation, just sit quietly. Don't fidget and don't look around the room; look directly at the interviewer and wait. The silence won't last long because the interviewer has a time limit and a lot of information to still get through. If you're prepared for the silence, it will pass quickly. Be patient and a warm satisfaction will fill you as you realize you passed the test.

7. Have intelligent questions prepared. Sometime near the end of the interview, you will most likely be asked if you have any questions. Don't say no, even if the interviewer thoroughly went over the position and answered many of the questions you had before arriving. Show interest in the interviewer by asking them how they like working for the company and what they don't like about it. Getting the interviewer to talk about themselves is a way to get to know their personality, so you can decide whether or not you'd like to work closely with them.

8. Negotiate a salary with care. More people lose the job here than any other place during the interview. Talking money is tricky. If you price yourself too low, they may think you're not as good as you claim to be. If you price yourself too high, you'll come off as being "full of yourself." If the interviewer asks you how much money you want, you know they're at least interested in hiring you. But don't offer a figure unless you first know the salary range they're offering, or you may price yourself out of the job. For example, if you flatly state that you won't take less than $35,000 and they say their top dollar is $28,000, you can't change your mind and say "I'll take it" or you'll appear as a person who doesn't stand by their convictions. Instead of replying to the question, "How much money do you want?" answer with another question, "How much are you offering?" If what they offer is less than you want but you really want to work there, try to negotiate for a salary review in three months to the pay level you desire. If they're satisfied with your work, they'll give you the raise.

Remember, how you perform in the interview will determine if you get the job. Be sincere, enthusiastic and knowledgeable about the position to separate yourself from other potential employees.