For me, getting the interview is the hard part.

I've never interviewed for a job where I didn't get the offer. I can't say exactly what works for me, but I can explain my process a bit.

First off, I go in confident. a lot of that probably had to do with my history with interviews, but that's the first part.

Secondly, I look at it as me interviewing the company. I want to know the company is right for me. To that end, I ask a lot of questions about the position and the team. I ask if they're looking to fill a hole or are willing to have the role reinvented.

Obviously, that last bit is for taking a unique role in the comment, not just as cashier number 23.

I am also clear that I'm not looking to remain in that position forever. I want to work at it a few years and move on, wither within the company or elsewhere. I won't bail in 6 months, but I also won't do the same job with no evolution for 10 years. My career needs to grow.

Essentially, I try to interview in a manner where they're trying to win me over instead of weed me out.

I'm my current job, I was relaxed, got the interviewers talking family and casually about the projects, started giving feedback on issues as if I was already on board, and essentially changed it from an interview to a group meeting.

It turns out I was asking for about 30% more than my competition, but they gave it to me anyway, and it all came down to making myself feel like a member of the team they wanted to hold onto rather than just someone looking for a paycheck.

And I'm absolutely there for the paycheck. I liked my old job a lot more, but I got like a 60% pay bump going to the new job.