The best way to start an interview is to not start the interview. When you first meet whoever is interviewing you, get them to talk about anything except the interview. Instead, use those first moments to build a rapport with your interviewer.

Remember, they’re potentially interviewing hundreds of people and the ones they’ll remember are the ones that stand out for the right reasons. People want to work with people they connect with, and by taking just a moment to talk about something other than your potential job you’re helping show that you’re a nice, friendly and interesting person. Your ultimate goal with an interview is to have a good conversation with your interviewer and an easy way to kick off that conversation is by starting with an easy small talk opener.

Example topics can include the weather, a recent sporting event, the office, or anything else you can think of that is quick to discuss. Try to skip controversial topics and make sure that you don’t go overboard or ramble on for too long. It’s still an interview, after all!

[Tip]: Turn the tables and ask your own questions. A good interview is more than just you sitting in a room rattling off prepared answers to questions. It’s also an opportunity for you to learn about the job, the company and your potential role within that world.

a) Make sure to have a few questions prepared before you interview and find the time during the interview to ask them. b) Make sure they are thoughtful questions that help reinforce the idea that you’re the ideal candidate.

When you get the chance to ask your own questions, take the opportunity to "tailor" the questions as we have taught in other articles (see top 14 questions to ask in an interview). You want to show that you have the Qualities that the company puts a lot of value in, so utilize this opportunity to do so.

[Sidebar]: If you know that the company is big on “collaboration” as a Quality, you may want to ask a question like… “In my previous jobs, I’ve really thrived in an environment where I get to work with others and have found that using my abilities in a collaborative setting has really allowed me to add a lot of value to my team. Do you envision this role having a collaborative element and if so, do you think that this ability will help me succeed in this position?”