A week after Labor Day and it seems that the haze of summer has quickly lifted and business is abuzz again. Newly minted college grads who took the summer to relax are now eagerly pounding the pavement and embarking on interviews. So what better time than the present to talk about how to prep, primp, and behave in a one on one interview.

Yesterday’s Dear Bev column featured advice on interview prep, with a focus on what NOT to do. But Saturday’s New York Times featured some subtle tricks you SHOULD employ to let your interviewer know you want the job and that you’re the right man or woman for it.

Phyllis Korkki put together the piece which emphasizes fitting into the company culture with proper attitude and attire. She mentions some of the same things we did such as dressing for success, making eye contact and using confident body language. “Confident but not cocky,” the article states. But aside from these basics of portraying the best “you” there is, Korkki goes into some more specific tricks to position yourself better and make a lasting impression on the interviewer.

She recommends thoroughly researching the company before hand (we said that too!) and coming armed with questions about the company that pertain to adding to its success, not just about you and how you’d fit in.

Another way to make an imprint on the interviewer’s memory? Establish something you have in common with him or her.

“Maybe you went to the same college or you pull for the same sports team, she said. During the interview, “leverage your referrals,” she said, finding ways to highlight the people you know within the company,” Korkki wrote.

I’d recommend this as long as you aren’t reaching too far. You don’t want to name drop and you certainly don’t want to mention someone who wouldn’t sing your praises or doesn’t know you very well. It’ll do more harm than good if the interviewer followed up with the people you named and they didn’t remember you.

The article also reminds to follow up afterward. While we recommended a paper letter, one person interviewed thought that when applying to a digital media company, an email is a better show of skill and savoir faire in the area.

Either way you choose to communicate, one great tip Korkki includes is inserting the names of people you met at the interview or specifics about what you discussed to show you were invested and intently listening. If you use a generic message, it will show.

Read the full article from the New York Times.