You want every hiring manager to remember and enjoy their interview with you. So figure out what you can bring to the table to stand out from the competition. By engaging the hiring manager, you will make a connection that will add serious "bonus points" to your interview.

When interviewing for a position, you will always be up against other candidates. Some of these people may be just as qualified as you are (if not more qualified!). So what makes the manager move towards one candidate and not the other?...Answer: chemistry.

No we're not talking about a romantic chemistry here. But we are talking about making some sort of a personal connection with the manager and standing out from the other candidates. This will happen if you can make the manager feel flattered, intrigued or, heck, even entertained.

Research the manager and find out about them prior to the interview (have they developed a product? ever published anything? do they have a blog? ever served in the military? ever run a marathon?). Learn one interesting thing about them and try to work this point into the conversation towards the end of the interview (using it too early makes you seem like you are trying to hard). If handled well, the manager will feel flattered that someone cared enough to find out about them and this will almost always strike up additional conversation.

Here are a few true stories:

...once I interviewed a women to come work for our company and she quoted my blog verbatim when we began to negotiate salary. I smiled immediately and we both began to laugh. Needless to say I hired her.

...once a candidate was meeting with a hiring manager who had just completed a release of a new software product. The candidate who was in this industry brought a few company names to the interview that he felt would be prospective buyers of this product. Even if these weren't new prospects, it was a thoughtful gesture and also advertised his knowledge of this Industry vertical. He was hired.

...once a candidate was meeting with a hiring manager that he found out was an Army general. When he was done with the interview, he said "Sir, I understand that you served in the Army and although I didn't serve, I want you to know I have the discipline and work ethic you are looking for and oh yeah I can do 10 one-handed push ups!" (which he proceeded to do). He got the job.

...once a candidate was going to an interview with a manager that she new just completed a marathon. She congratulated the manager and he began to tell her all about the race. They ended up talking about running and found they had something in common. She was hired.

Be creative and thoughtful about approaching any personal topics about the manager. Just make sure not to get too personal or do anything inappropriate. If you use your good instincts and sense of humor, you'll find yourself connecting with the manager in a way that most other candidates won't. This will absolutely give you a leg up on the competition!