Stand out from the crowd in job interviews

Wondering who you're up against for that job interview? Probably half a dozen other candidates.

A recent telephone survey of advertising and marketing executives found that the employers met with a lucky seven applicants on average before filling an open position in their department.

The poll, commissioned by the Creative Group and conducted by market research firm ICR, surveyed 375 marketing executives randomly selected from companies with 100 or more employees and 125 with advertising executives randomly selected from agencies with 20 or more employees.

The Creative Group, a division of staffing firm Robert Half International Inc., offers seven tips for helping job candidates stand out against the crowd:

Do your prep work: Visit the firm's website, search online for news articles and ask people in your network whether they have any insight about the company.

Put your best foot forward from the start: Be polite to the reception staff when you check in, and smile warmly with everyone you meet.

Be aware of body language: Subtle cues, such as your eye contact, facial expressions and posture, will affect how hiring managers perceive you. While practicing a mock interview, ask a friend for feedback on any distracting habits.

Have a good story to tell: Be prepared to provide memorable anecdotes about how you have helped solve business problems. Describe the challenge, talk about your actions and outline the final results.

Prepare to ask: Come with interesting questions.

Be yourself: A hiring manager wants to get to know a real person who he or she would be happy to see every morning at the office. Avoid rehearsed responses and interact in a way that's honest and genuine.

Stay positive: If you don't get the job but have developed good rapport with the interviewer, request feedback on what you might have done better. If you accept rejection graciously, you may even put yourself first in line for the company's next opening.