Interviewing is a competitive sport. Play to win. I've placed well over 300 attorneys into inside counsel positions, and along the way my thoughts on what it takes to win in the interview process have crystallized.

Most importantly, decide beforehand that you want the job. Playing hard-to-get usually leads to a "no" from the employer before you get to make the choice. Interviewers respond well to candidates who express enthusiasm for their company. So, don't worry about coming across as overeager. A little eagerness beats cautious and unsure.

When asked an experience related question, be specific and avoid lawyerly persuasion. For example, let's say you are interviewing for a general commercial role and you are asked if you have experience with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Your interviewee gut tells you that the correct answer is "yes." Certainly, if the interviewer is asking about FCPA, then she is hoping you can offer this expertise. However, don't mistake this as a prerequisite to winning and trap yourself. If you have little to no experience with FCPA, the correct answer is "no."