Consider the similarities between a job interview and an athletic competition. In both, participants compete for a coveted prize. Contenders usually draw on years of experience. Who wins often is determined by the individual's performance over a short period of time.

In athletic as well as corporate careers, possessing sufficient talent, skills and training is sometimes only half the battle. Success often belongs to those who gain a psychological advantage. Over the years, professional athletes and their coaches and trainers have developed several psychological techniques to hone this mental edge. These include preparation, mental rehearsal, affirmation, expecting success and "self-talk." Job hunters can draw on some or all of these techniques in interviews to help score extra points that will win the job.

Preparation is integral to both athletic contests and job interviews. It provides the means to excel and the psychological edge that spawns confidence.

Consider the experience of Buddy Melges, who sailed America3 to victory in the 1992 America's Cup. In "Sailing Smart: Winning Techniques, Tactics and Strategies" (1983, Henry Holt and Co.), Mr. Melges attributes his success to intense preparation. His groundwork encompasses all aspects of planning from the layout of deck hardware and rigging to perfecting "on water" drills in tacking, jibing and rounding marks. On the day of the race, he memorizes the numbers of competitors' boats so he can identify them on the course. During the race, he's free to concentrate on the wind, waves and strategy rather than his crew and rigging.

Job candidates can harness the power of preparation in the same way. "Successful job hunters do their homework and focus intently on the background information available," says Jock Seal, president of the HS Group, Inc., a human-resources consulting and recruiting firm in Green Bay, Wis.

In preparing for your job interview, research the hiring organization thoroughly. Gain a solid understanding of its products or services, financial data, competition and market challenges.

Also try to learn the selection criteria for the position. Information can be gleaned from a help-wanted ad, the library, the Internet and the company's employees. You should also ask the human resources department for a copy of the job description. The more you know, the better your chances are for a successful interview.

Choosing what to wear also is part of preparation. Athletes often speak about the excitement of putting on a uniform and the mental preparation associated with tasks such as lacing their shoes. "Suiting up" for your interview also can provide a similar psychological lift.

Affirmation statements put your intentions in writing and help you to focus on a goal. You may have stuck a note on the refrigerator or the mirror to help change your behavior or the way you think about yourself. "Affirmations imprint thoughts upon the subconscious mind," says behavioral psychologist and educator Gene Schirmer of Granger, Ind. "By nature, the subconscious mind accepts everything it's told by the conscious mind and serves as an automatic pilot in guiding our conscious behavior, sharpening focus and reinforcing commitment."

Former heavyweight boxing champ Mohammed Ali was a master of affirmation statements. He frequently declared he was "the greatest" and floated "like a butterfly" and stung "like a bee." Making these statements, the boxer compiled an impressive string of victories.

Following a defeat by Ken Norton in a 12-round decision in 1973, a detractor sent him a note: "The butterfly has lost its wings. The bee has lost its sting." The champ posted it in his gym. Less than five months later, he defeated Norton in a 12-round decision.

Job hunters can use affirmation statements in a similar way to help attain their goals. Prior to your job interview, write an affirmation statement to bring your objective into focus. For example: "My unique qualifications and solid experience have prepared me well to be the chief financial officer of Behemoth Baking Corp."

More than half a century ago, Dr. Edmund Jeffrey discovered imagined exercise stimulated human muscles the same way as physical exercise. Research on mental rehearsal revealed other remarkable findings. In one renowned experiment, a group of basketball players spent a half hour shooting baskets. A second group spent the same time imagining shooting swish shots. The group that imagined the perfect shots showed more improvement.

Olympic champions Mary Lou Retton, Bonnie Blair, Dan Jansen and Nancy Kerrigan are among world-class athletes who supplement their training with mental rehearsal.

You can apply the same technique to your job interview. Imagine how the interview will unfold with as much clarity and detail as you can muster. The preview will give an idea of what to expect. Imagine the likely scenarios. Whom will you meet? What are they apt to ask? Rehearse how you're going to conduct yourself.

Prepare your game plan and decide what to stress and what to ask. Picture the perfect interview and the warm farewell that ensues. Imagine the hiring manager's compliment as you part.

Rehearse the interview several times. Your rehearsal need not be long, but with each repetition you'll feel more as though you've done it before.

Brian Anderson of Park Falls, Wis., used this technique when he interviewed with Birdseye Veneer Co., a forest products firm in Butternut, Wis. "I had limited interviewing experience," says Mr. Anderson, who had just earned a master's of science in forestry from Michigan Technological University. "I imagined over and over again how the interview would come off. This rehearsal gave me a feel for the questions I'd be asked and provided me an initial advantage. I got the job."

Expectations have the power to become self-fulfilling prophecies. This phenomenon has been demonstrated in repeated experiments. In one experiment, half a class was told it would do well at the beginning of a school year. The other half matriculated under the normal process. The group informed of the high expectations did exceedingly well. The experiment has been conducted several times with similar results.

Gary Barnett, who became head football coach of the Northwestem University Wildcats in 1992, describes the expectancy phenomenon at work in sports in his book "High Hopes, Taking the Purple to Pasadena," (1996, Warner Books). When he took over, the team was a "Big Ten chew toy." In the previous 21 years, the Wildcats hadn't known a winning season and had won only 46 of 253 games.

Mr. Barnett coined the slogan, "Expect victory." This rallying cry may have sounded stirring or clever at many schools but at Northwestern it sounded absurd or even laughable to many skeptics. When Mr. Barnett was introduced to the students, he announced his intent to take the team to the Rose Bowl. A Rose Bowl banner was hung in the entrance hall. The athletic department displayed Rose Bowl tickets from 1949, along with a nylon rose in a bowl.

The reminders continued until Jan. 1, 1996, when Northwestern ran onto the field of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., as Big Ten champions.

In the same manner, you reinforce your commitment and sharpen your focus by imagining yourself in the job. The exercise will bring feelings of confidence and an air of self-assurance to the interview. Your bearing and manner will show you're not just a candidate but the leading contender.

Expect victory in your job interview. Think of how it would feel to land the job you're seeking. You can even make a mock business card with the new title.

Professional tennis instructor W. Timothy Gallwey recognized some tennis players often didn't play as well as they could. He discovered many were involved in an inner conflict in which their "Self 1," the conscious mind which acts as "teller," interferes with their "Self 2," the automatic and subconscious "doer."

After an error, our inner adviser is quick to inform us how stupid or clumsy we are. Mr. Gallwey found these messages tend to interfere with performance. When "Self 1" criticizes, "Self 2" chokes. In his book "The Inner Game of Tennis" (1979, Random House Inc.), Mr. Gallwey says that being less judgmental, recognizing the learning process and developing your concentration can help you to overcome this conflict on and off the court.

Think about how you'd handle a misstep during your interview. For example, copies of your resume slip out of your portfolio and slither under the interviewer's desk. Rather than becoming flustered, tell yourself, "This is a momentary setback that I will overcome by being the picture of poise."

You also can use such "self-talk" during the interview. For example, say to yourself, "I'm a good listener and will retain all the information that's significant. I'll remember the names of the people I meet."

All these techniques may not be suited to your temperament. Experiment with them prior to your meeting. Using one or more of these approaches may help you pull off a smooth and persuasive interview.

-- Mr. Erickson, a former human resources director, is a free-lance writer and consultant who creates individual and organizational development programs.