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Dear Shy:

Katherine Spencer Lee, executive director of Robert Half Technology, tells me the best way to nail an interview, aside from basics like dressing appropriately and showing up on time, is to prepare.

• Assess your skills and experience and be sure your résumé accurately reflects your strengths.

• Prepare specific examples of how you've contributed to your current employer's bottom line.

• Visit the company's Web site and check media coverage of the company, its competitors and its industry. Weave a piece of relevant information into the interview to show you did your homework.

• Have some questions ready: "What challenges does your company face and what role can I play in meeting them?" for instance, and "How do you see IT evolving here?" Don't ask about salary or benefits until you've gotten an offer, when you're in a better position to negotiate if necessary.

• After the interview, send a short handwritten note to thank the interviewer and confirm your enthusiasm for the position.

You can find more interview tips at www.compustaff.com/interviewadvice.htm.

Need the Sheepskin

Dear Sheepskin,

Although professional certifications can help ensure promotability, they're not a substitute for an academic degree, which is fundamental to most management and executive-level IT positions, says Dr. Dennis Anderson, Associate Dean of New York's Pace University.

If your schedule varies, you may need the flexibility of an online program; if you prefer the more conventional classroom approach and can find a convenient program, go for it. Some schools, such as Pace University, offer both online and on-campus instruction.

Key sites to visit when researching degree programs are Peterson's, at www.petersons.com, and World Wide Learn, at www.worldwidelearn.com. Given your experience, you may want to check out the National Technological University's Fast Track in Computer Science series, an accelerated program for those who do not have computer science undergraduate degrees but wish to pursue a master's in computer science or software engineering.

Send your questions to careercoach@nwc.com