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4. Be a good listener.

Avoid interrupting and let the recruiter complete his thought or question before you respond. Ask for clarification. Use open-ended questions. The more information you can gather, the better you can respond.

5. Maintain an open mind.

Work towards creating a partnership with the recruiter. Look for areas of agreement. Build on the positive. Find ways to help the recruiter explain why your candidacy will make the employer's job easier and make the hiring manager look good, says Bob Spears, president of Fortune Personnel Consultants of Charleston, S.C. This can help you create a "win-win" relationship with the recruiter, he says.

6. Think creatively.

Prepare responses to these typical interview questions:

·         What are you looking for?

·         Why are you looking to change?

·         Are you currently employed? If not, why?

·         What are your current earnings?

·         What are your salary expectations?

·         Are you willing to relocate? Change industries? Travel?

·         What are your strengths and weaknesses?

Kathy Rogain, corporate employee relations manager for Compuware, a global software development services company in Farmington Hills, Mich., believes candidates' past behaviors are good indicators of their future success. She encourages candidates to illustrate their skills with actual examples from their on-the-job experiences.

7. Write out your responses and practice reading them aloud.

This will help you to remember the response and sound natural when providing it. By knowing what to say, you'll seem more confident, in control, organized and focused, all qualities that recruiters seek in candidates, says Ed Crowder, president of Crowder and Co., an executive search firm in Birmingham, Mich.

Most candidates usually are asked about their salary expectations during screening interviews. Recruiters and employers usually have a salary range in mind, and while often unwilling to share it at this stage, they expect you to answer.

Your objective at this point is to win acceptance and be recommended for further consideration. Accordingly, you may want to avoid providing a direct answer to this question and reply instead by saying something like, "While compensation is important, other issues are also important. If they can be clarified, then the compensation issue won't be a problem."

These issues could include non-cash benefits and compensation, scope of responsibilities, work environment, job location, career advancement and others. It's OK to ask the recruiter what the job pays, says Mr. Spears, and can help both parties in the screening process.

8. Ask about the next step.

At the end of the interview, tell the recruiter you're interested (assuming you are) and want to pursue the matter further. Ask about the next step in the interview process as well as the hiring timetable. If you don't receive a positive response and you're sincerely interested, ask the recruiter if he or she has any areas of concern. If there's a misunderstanding about you or the recruiter doesn't seem certain that you're suitable, try to clarify the problem, then ask again about the next step and timetable. While a positive response doesn't guarantee you'll be considered further, a cooler response usually signals that you haven't been successful.

By using these eight tips, you'll be more likely to win the first five minutes of the screening interview, which is key to reaching your career goal.

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