Courtesy of Matt Mickiewicz
Matt Mickiewicz, cofounder of Hired.
"While other people within the organization - the HR or recruiting team, departmental team members, the CEO or another executive - will have input, the hiring manager generally has the last word on the decision to hire you," says Matt Mickiewicz, cofounder of Hired, a site for finding high-paying tech jobs.
"And because you will be working closely with this person, it's important to demonstrate to them over the course of an interview not only that you can do the job, but also that you will be a good coworker and will fit in with the cultural fabric of the company."
Luckily, there are some very easy ways to stand out from the crowd.
"Rather than trying to get overly creative in an interview, focus on mastering the basics," says Mickiewicz. "Few people do this really well, and you'll stand out if you are able to do these things well."