Sell Yourself 
Make a list of your skills and traits that match the employer's requirements. The closer your skills and traits are to the job description, the better chance you have of landing the job. You should go to the interview with a clear picture of what you have to offer. 

This list is your sales pitch to sell yourself to the interviewer. The interviewer's goal is to establish whether or not you have the skills to do the job. Focus on those skills and only those skills. Practice doing a 60 second commercial about yourself, and use it to answer the interviewer's questions.

Let the truth set you free
If you don't know the answer to a question, or if you don't have skills in an area, don't lie. Don't try to fake out the interviewer. Follow truth in advertising rules when selling yourself. If the interviewer ever doesn't believe you, the interview is over, and you lost. "I haven't had an opportunity to program a Widget Interface, but I am fluent in C++ and Visual Basic, and I can adapt easily to new technologies."  

Listen is more important than talking
Don't talk too much. Listen to the question being asked and answer that question. Keep your answers short (three minutes at the most). When you limit your time, you tend to stay more focused. It is very easy to stray off the subject and ramble about things irrelevant to the job if your answer is too long. Watch the interviewer's eyes -- if they glaze over, you've lost them.

Don't let yourself give long answers to hard questions and they give short answers to easy questions. Mistake! That increases the proportion of the interview spent on weak points. Give Short answers for hard questions and longer answers for easy ones. 

You want the employer to picture you in the position, especially if your job history is weak, so spend as much time as possible discussing what you'd do in the new job. The mantra: Focus on the future, not the past.

Before your Interview, check out this book:

Be prepared for all of the questions
Always put a positive spin on your answers to difficult questions. If you lack a particular skill or don't know a certain computer program, be sure to emphasize how quickly you learn. Give an example of a time when you were able to get up to speed in a similar situation. Companies are interested in people who can hit the ground running.

Have ready answers to questions like "What are your worst traits?" or "What type of people do you not work well with?". Find ways to spin these types of questions back to the positive.

Ask some questions of your own
Sometimes an interviewer will ask you if you have any questions for them, sometimes they won't. Either way, you need to have questions ready to ask, and ask them. In the beginning of the interview, ask what the job is about, and ask a few detailed questions about the duties, equipment, etc... 

You are not only showing that you are interested, but you are also learning what the employer needs so that you can better explain how you meet those specific needs. 

The earlier you can ask these questions, the sooner you can start tailoring your answers to the employer's priorities. At the end of the interview, ask, "Based on what we've talked about today, I feel good about the position. Do you have any concerns about my ability to do the job?" Often, that gives you a chance to counter any objections.

Show me the money!
Try not to specify the salary that you want until you know what salary is being offered. If you are asked what your salary expectations are, say you would rather postpone that discussion until you have more information about the position. You can ask what salary range the position offers, but let the interviewer approach the topic first. 

Try to research what other positions with similar requirements in your area would pay. Remember, a position is worth the salary PLUS the benefits MINUS any unpaid extra time. Also, set a minimum acceptable salary for yourself. Just because a position is offered, you do not have to accept. 

References:
For your reference list, you want three to five people and their contact information. Don't forget to get permission to use your references' names, and while you're at it, ask how they prefer to be contacted. You should also send them a copy of your resume so they'll be aware of what you're saying about yourself.

Interview Questions to know:

Why Should We Hire You?
If you've prepared at all, you should have this question nailed. Refer to the "Sell Yourself" topic on the top of this page. Tell them point by point how you feel you are a match for the position.

Why Do You Want to Work Here?
The interviewer is seeing if you like the company, or if you just need a job. If you've done any research at all on the company (as you should), you should be ready for this one.

Good answers ideas: "XYZ Company is well known in the community, has a good set of core values, and has been here for twenty years..." or "I would like to be part of ABC, Inc, because I know that it is a progressive growing company..."

What Are Your Goals?
Your goal may be to take the job, build some experience, and then move on. Try to focus your answer on the shorter term goal. This makes the answer a combination of the above two answers. "My goal is to find a position with a progressive company, where I can use my training as a Network Administrator."

What Are Your Weaknesses?
This is the most dreaded question of all. Handle it by minimizing your weakness and emphasizing your strengths. Stay away from personal qualities and concentrate on professional traits. It is best to point out a weakness while also explaining how you had overcome that weakness. For example: "I sometimes get nervous when I have to address a group of people, so I recently took a speech class at the local community college"

Why Did You Leave (Or Why Are You Leaving) Your Job?
Keep your answer to this question positive. Never bad-mouth your past employer. It's not their fault, and it's not your fault. 

If you're unemployed, state your reason for leaving in a positive context: "After some changes in the corporate structure, technical support for this location was turned over to the corporate office, and IT staff was reduced locally."

If you are employed, focus on what you want in your next job: "My skills have grown beyond the needs of my current position. I would like to put my skills to work as part of a progressive team...."

When Were You Most Satisfied in Your Job?
The interviewer wants to know what motivates you. If you can relate an example of a job or project when you were excited, the interviewer will get an idea of your preferences. "I was very satisfied in my last job, because I worked directly with the customers and their problems; that is an important part of the job for me."

What Can You Do for Us That Other Candidates Can't?
What makes you unique? This will take an assessment of your experiences, skills and traits. Summarize concisely: "I have a unique combination of strong technical skills, and the ability to build strong customer relationships. This allows me to use my knowledge and break down information to be more user-friendly."

What Are Three Positive Things Your Last Boss Would Say About You?
It's time to pull out your old performance appraisals and boss's quotes. This is a great way to brag about yourself through someone else's words: "My boss has told me that I am the best designer he has ever had. He knows he can rely on me, and he likes my sense of humor."

What Salary Are You Seeking?
It is to your advantage if the employer tells you the range first. Prepare by knowing the going rate in your area, and your bottom line or walk-away point. One possible answer would be: "I am sure when the time comes, we can agree on a reasonable amount. In what range do you typically pay someone with my background?"