The priorities of today’s hiring managers have changed drastically over the past year to adapt to the challenging economy. They are no longer interested in increasing company capacity, introducing new systems and equipment, or spending money on new investments. Today’s hiring managers are focused on optimizing staff and systems efficiencies, eliminating unnecessary cost, and seeing an immediate return on their investments. As a result, today’s executive job seekers must pro-actively prepare for job interviews with hiring managers whose primary foci are the bottom line and profitability. How can executive candidates hope to land a job in such an aggressive job market? Here are 5 job interview tips that will prepare you to impress today’s executive hiring managers. 1. Nail Your Pitch: Develop a statement that articulates your value to the company, such as “My goal is to provide value to [company] and improve its profitability by offering [summarize your executive services and capabilities] with a clear focus on efficiency and cost-effectiveness.” 2. Push Beyond Surface Knowledge: Along with familiarizing yourself with the company’s mission statement, vision, and company culture, be sure to also review its annual philanthropic and financial reports. You should also conduct research in media outlets, such as online newspapers and magazines, to learn about the company’s public profile and reputation. 3. Identify Your Company’s Role in Its Industry: Demonstrate your knowledge of industry trends, the company’s top competitors, its consumer base, its leadership team, and its products. 4. Don’t Just Be Prepared—Look Prepared: When the job interviewer asks if you have any questions, view this as a cue to take out your folder, which should contain highlighted print-outs of company information in a well-organized format. This will communicate to your hiring manager that you are deeply invested in the interview, highly interested in the company, and cared enough to come prepared. 5. Don’t Assume the Hiring Manager is Disinterested: Your job interviewer wants to be impressed. He does not enjoy wading through dozens of executives looking for the best fit. When he shows you into his office for the interview, he is hoping that you will be right for the job so that he can introduce another capable executive to the team and resume focus on his other responsibilities.