Let's face it, if you have conducted any number of interviews, you know that all things being equal on paper, the face-to-face meeting with an applicant can be invaluable. For years, I advised job seekers on how to achieve the "fit-in factor" with an employer during an interview. Like it or not, this is often the ultimate hiring criteria. Will this applicant fit in with the corporate culture? Will this person enhance the cohesiveness of out "team" atmosphere? Will this individual grow with the company and contribute towards its goals and success? The fit-in factor! Or, from the applicant's perspective, the most important response to the question: "Why should I hire you?"

But how do you find that perfect match? Looking for the right employee is just like any other relationship; it takes commitment, creativity, an open mind, and time. Although the economy has forced many talented and capable individuals into the job-hunting pool, recruiting is still very much a mutual selection process. A good applicant is also sizing up your company for the "fit-in factor."

A strong interview not only provides you the insight into a potential employee, but affords you the opportunity to make a good impression, market your company, and set the tone for a possible employer-employee relationship. In the grand scheme, you do not want someone to take a job out of desperation only to leave you high and dry when the economy improves. Turnover is costly. While interviewing may at times feel like a chore, it can be a positive and rewarding task when you find that perfect match.

Here are some important considerations before you conduct that next interview.