Interview process getting longer.

• Position: Your Life - Survey by The Creative Group - Tips for job candidates facing multiple interviews

First impressions count when applying for a new position--and apparently so do second and third. Forty-four percent of advertising and marketing executives polled by The Creative Group, a Menlo Park, Calif.-based specialized staffing service that provides marketing, advertising, creative, and web professionals on a project basis, indicate candidates for staff positions typically participate in three job interviews before employment offers are extended. An additional 19% require four or more meetings.

"Arranging multiple meetings with promising candidates has become increasingly common as firms strive to avoid costly hiring mistakes;' explains Tracey Turner, executive director of The Creative Group. "This means a lengthier interview process for job seekers, who often meet with would-be beers as well as prospective supervisors." Turner notes that this hiring strategy puts applicants' interpersonal skills to the test. "Companies conduct multiple interviews not only to learn more about prospective hires, but also to assess their compatibility with coworkers. During these meetings, candidates must impress various personality types and adapt to their communication styles."

She offers the following tips to help job seekers manage multiple interviews:

Address individual needs. Emphasize qualities that are apt to...