Of all the job search activities, perhaps none is more critical than the job interview.

There’s an old saying worth mentioning here: “You don’t get a second chance to make a first impression.” For practical purposes, this means the better you do in the job interview, the better your chances of landing the job.

One of the most critical aspects of the interview is the “chemistry” between the interviewer and job applicant. Simply put, if there are two candidates with roughly equal qualifications, the candidate who makes the strongest “personal connection” with the interviewer will probably get the job.

So, how do you make that personal connection? The answer is … by being as much like the interviewer as possible.

With regards to the pace of the conversation, if your interviewer has a lot of energy and talks fast, he is probably an Extrovert and you should try to keep the conversation moving and answer his questions as quickly as you can.

On the other hand, if your interviewer’s energy is quite contained, she speaks slowly, and pauses before answering, she is probably an Introvert, and you should take your time, give thoughtful answers, and don’t overwhelm her by speaking too quickly, loudly, or being overly enthusiastic.

If your interviewer seems very interested in lots of specific facts and details, perhaps the dates that certain things happened and the sequence they happened in, she is probably a Sensor. You should provide as many specifics as possible.

But, if your interview asks more open-ended, future-oriented questions like: “where would you like to be in five years?” and he is more general in his questions, he is probably an Intuitive. With him, your answers can be more general.

If your interviewer is warm and friendly and tries to make you feel comfortable and has lots of personal items in his office, then he is likely a Feeler. The warmer and more personal you can be – while still being genuine – the better the connection you will make.

But if your interviewer is more business-like, and especially if she doesn’t make good eye contact, she is probably a Thinker. If this is the case, how she feels about you personally, will be less important, than your objective qualifications and competencies.

Finally, if your interviewer is more formal and serious, “buttoned down”, organized and time-conscious, she is probably a Judger. Don’t waste time with small talk – get right down to business. But, if your interviewer is more relaxed and laid back … perhaps his tie is not completely tied, his top button open, or sleeves rolled up … he is probably a Perceiver. With him, you can be a little bit more informal. Expect a lot of questions and try to be as flexible and adaptable as possible, as these people are likely to jump around from topic to topic or change gears quickly.

Paying attention to your interviewer and trying to get on his or her wavelength can definitely give you a leg up. Good luck!