Unemployment is skyrocketing. Perhaps, you are part of that rocket, and currently looking for a job. Within two years, I was both: interviewee and interviewer. Here is my humble advice to everybody:

(1) Think of a job interview as a dialogue, conversation, or even better - a date.

You want to impress a person on the other side. And keep in mind, if you are invited, on the basis of your CV - your interviewers also want to impress you. So, what do you do on the date (let's think about it old-fashion way, shall we)? You talk. You ask questions. They ask question. You are curious who the other person is. They are curious about you. Perhaps, you heard something interesting about them, so you tell them, charmingly, that you want to know more. They heard something interesting about you, or find interesting about you...You get a point. It is not "they ask, you answer" format. It is not an exam. They are not your teachers. You are allowed to be on cautious-side with your manners, but you should still be you. After all, they are trying to get to know - you.

Just think how awkward would be to sit on the date where one person asks and other just answers...Simply, there would be no second date.

(2) Interview makes a difference

Do you think you are lacking some relevant skills or experience? Think again. A job advert is like a public description of celebrity crush. It describes a perfect candidate, a person they want to "date". Yet, they will settle for a "guy with blue eyes who makes them smile". Again, you get a point. If you are there - and you were more or less honest on your CV - you have skills for a job. You fall into "the type" category. Now, they just want to know whether you will get along with them and possibly "the friends and family". Simply, they want to know whether your personality would be a fit.

Ahead of my recent interviews, as an interviewer, I ranked CVs based on their technical skills. After the interview, my CV #1 - with the most skills and the most experience - sank in the ranking. Contrary, a person straight-of-university with mostly unrelated-job-experience jumped all the way to the top.

Interview makes a difference. Use it.

(3) Be honest

A relationship based on the lie does not work. During a date, you will most likely exaggerate your good and hide your bad sides. So much is expected, but you do not want to go beyond; if you deviate from the truth - tremendously - it will come to bite you. Also, honesty is a basic and very important skill. (Unless, the job you are applying requires you to lie or "bend the truth".)

If there is a deadline, I want to know whether you can meet it. If you cannot, I need to know you will tell me about it. Then we can discuss why or what is more realistc time frame. As one interviewee nicely put: "I would tell you that I cannot deliver at my best at provided deadline." --- This is getting you a job.

"I don't really know." "I've never really thought about it." "No, I've never heard about it - can you tell me more?"

Sometimes, the best answer is not having an answer. There are very, very few people who can wing their way out of question they've never thought about. Your safest bet is to think you are not one of those people. In terms of dating and relationships, think of it as answering following questions: "Do you want to have kids? (Or how many kids do you want?)" "Do you want to get married?" etc. Honestly (pun intended), the interviewers will forget most of your answers immediately after the interview. However, what really sticks with them is the impression of you. If they felt you were winging it, or you were dishonest, it is like a terrible good night kiss - it feels even worst after it's done.

So - if you are reading this - good luck and all the best!