Think the way they do.
Before the interview, think about what company problems you might be asked to solve. Write down 10 questions that you would ask a candidate. "Phrase them in 'situational' types of queries, like 'How long would you give a new VP of sales to hit quotas in a new market?' " says Colleen Aylward, president of search firm Devon James. Construct your own answers.
Do your research.
Find out how the company is structured and funded, the background of management, and information on competitors. Sites like Zoominfo, Hoovers, and Glassdoor.com can offer insights, as can interviews found on YouTube. Tapping LinkedIn connections close to the company can prep you on the people you'll meet.
Show up with stories.
Once you know the company's potential problems, come up with relevant anecdotes about what you did at another company. This way, you're less likely to be caught off guard.
Turn questions into conversations.
Keep up on current world events, industry news, and legislation and be prepared to relate them to the company. If asked, say, how you would reorganize a division to boost productivity, you can ask questions to create a more comfortable conversation. Says Aylward: "You could politely say, 'Do you mind if I ask you a few questions about this division? I noticed you had a plant in Ireland. Is your business affected by the political unrest?'" That peer-to-peer conversation tells the interviewer that you are thinking beyond the job.
Attack your homework.
Never decline any take-home assignments, and don't skimp on the time it will take -- even if you feel a company is taking advantage of your labor. It may be testing to see how much you want the job. The good news: Those assignments are typically reserved for the top three to six candidates.
http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2012/03/14/job-interview-free-work/
