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With employment on the rise, it's time to brush up on those job search skills that have been practiced since the economic downtown and finally put them to use. With the competition stronger than ever, there is one chance to make a remarkable first impression on a potential employer. Interviews are the key component that will make or break a chance for landing a position.

When an employee leaves an organization voluntarily, they are typically given an exit interview. It is usually a series of questions that asks the employee how their jobs could have been better and what could have been done to make them stay. These questions are either given in a survey form, asked in an interview by either a Human Resources representative or an outside consultant. The information is taken back and analyzed.

If it has been a while since your last job interview, you will find that there are some significant changes in the way leadership interviews are conducted these days, and what is being expected of the interviewee. To be effective, you must step into every meeting armed with your talent, knowledge, and the tools to present yourself as an exceptional leader and a valuable asset. If you apply the following strategies to your rich experience, you will surely “Ace the Executive Interview”.

Networking has always been a great way of finding out about job opportunities that you might otherwise not hear about. Some studies indicate that up to 80-90% of jobs are found through the hidden job market, so it's important to know how, when and where to network. Networking involves making contact with people and nurturing those relationships.

What talents and strengths do you want to be known for in your career? What kind of employer will be drawn to, connect with, and pay a premium for that?

Throughout the many years of my recruiting experience, I have collected feedback from employers and candidates alike. Fact: You will get hired because of the solid job you do during the interview. Remember: The interview is your opportunity to present yourself at your best. It is an opportunity to make a positive impression about you. How do you make your interview a successful one? From feedback as well as my own personal experience, please allow me to share with you a few of these elements of a successful interview:

The downsizing of the 90’s has resulted in too few people doing too much work. Now in 2006, retention is a key concern to busy workplaces. If you want to keep your staff, and make them feel appreciated, you may want to follow some of these guidelines.

The market for quality staff has become more and more competitive with demand exceeding supply in many areas of the economy – a trend that is expected to continue in the coming years as boomers retire.

In addition, the cost of hiring new staff (e.g. costs of advertising and training, productivity delays, etc.) has increased substantially over the last decade.

Here are some suggestions that your organization can implement to minimize the risk of your employees leaving, many of which are of low or no cost ideas to implement.