With people throughout the U.S. about to stop receiving extended unemployment benefits, they will need to step up their job-search efforts.

OI Partners-Venturion (San Antonio), a global talent management firm (www.oipartners.net) offers the following advice that may help them land a job more quickly:

– Try to connect personally with an interviewer. “Chemistry is at the root of nearly every hire. Employers choose people who seem most likely to get along with others, and are the types co-workers want to be around,” said Don Huse, managing partner of OI Partners-Venturion (San Antonio).

– Display humor and a warm personality during the interviewing process. “Many job applicants are one-dimensional during interviews and are too focused on getting their talking points across. Don’t forget to show qualities that can be a plus in the decision-making process, including humor in good taste, warmth, and understanding,” said Huse.

– Show interest and excitement in the job opportunity.  “Companies are looking for people who are enthusiastic about working with them, and can motivate and inspire co-workers and direct reports. Communicate this in a variety of ways and express your enthusiasm for hitting the ground running,” said Huse.

– Make enough eye contact during interviews. “A good rule of thumb is to make eye contact about two-thirds of the time during an interview. Frequent eye contact signals that you are comfortable with, and sure of, yourself. Proper eye contact expresses confidence, sincerity, and interest, while looking away can be interpreted as discomfort, disinterest, and insincerity,” said Huse.

— Be sure to set yourself apart from other job-seekers.  “Answer the question, ‘Why should I hire YOU?,’ in enough detail, in cover letters and during personal and telephone interviews. You need to make the strongest case possible why YOU should be hired.  Address what impact you can have on sales, profits, costs, productivity, complaints, or other areas within the next three to six months.” said Huse.

– Focus on what the job interviewer is saying, rather than too much on what you want.  “Listen carefully and analyze what an interviewer is saying, translating this into what you can do to help them fulfill their needs. When answering questions, be sure to match the communication and personality style of your interviewers,” said Huse.

– Fully follow up after your interview.  “Your follow-up efforts after interviews need to be proactive and assertive without becoming irritating.  Establish during the interview what the next step will be, and when and how it would be appropriate for you to follow up – by phone, if possible. Send a follow-up note, or letter, or e-mail, within 24 hours of the interview – and to each person you saw who may have a vote in the hiring decision.  Personalize each follow-up to the topic of what was discussed with that particular person.  Do not send any form letters, or the same letter to each person,” said Huse.