Establishing rapport requires much more than simply dressing professionally, being polite and showing up on time. In order to make a positive impression on your interviewers, you need to find some sort of connection with them.

Sometimes you'll get lucky and you'll find out right away that your interviewer and you share a common interest or have undergone a similar experience. If not, you need to work on generating positive vibes and actively listening to the information he or she is presenting. You can do this through the following:

Engaging in empathetic body language. What you say during an interview is important, but how you act is equally essential for establishing a connection with your interviewer. Start by giving a firm handshake as you look your interviewer in the eye and smile. Once you sit down, make sure your posture indicates that you are open, attentive and respectful. Maintain good eye contact, but don't stare.
Mirroring the interviewer and providing appropriate physical responses. People feel comfortable when you do the same things that they do, provided that you aren't openly mimicking them. If your interviewers smile, smile back at them. If they make a joke and laugh, feel free to laugh with them. If they make a point you agree with, nod openly so they can see your agreement.
Ask well-placed clarifying questions. By doing so, you'll indicate that you're listening to your interviewer and are actively interested in what they have to say. Don't interrupt them in the middle of a thought, but once they've finished feel free to ask for clarification or further detail.
Ask open-ended questions. Doing this can allow you to gain a great deal of important information while also making your interviewer feel appreciated. Carefully craft these questions ahead of time to ensure that they accurately showcase your interest in the position and knowledge of the field. An example of such a question could be, "What are the greatest challenges a person filling this position will likely encounter?"

Part of establishing rapport is also just being yourself. Your interviewer is trying to determine if you are a good fit for the position and for the company, so it's important to portray yourself as accurately and appropriately as possible. You don't have to be best friends with your interviewer, but establishing a positive connection with him or her is your best chance of being considered seriously for the position.

Darlene Zambruski is the Managing Editor of ResumeEdge http://www.resumeedge.com, a leading online provider of professional resume writing services. The company's hand-picked team of resume writers specializes in 40 different industries and works to provide professional resume and cover letter writing services for people seeking employment in a wide variety of fields.