(MONEY Magazine) – Most hiring managers form an opinion of a candidate—for better or worse—within the first 10 minutes, according to a recent survey by recruitment service Robert Half Finance & Accounting. That's a lot of pressure for an already nervous job seeker. So how do you make those 600 seconds count? The people who do the interviewing have some ideas...

"It's cliché, but the handshake is still the first indicator. Have a strong, firm grip and look the interviewer in the eye—it says 'I'm interested, I'm not afraid.' A clammy, soft hand signals self-doubt and a lack of confidence." —Melanie Kusin, vice chairman of Heidrick & Struggles, an executive search firm

"Offer a quick sales pitch using your most recent work experience, but be specific. Use the problem-action-result model: Talk about a problem you had, the action you took, and what happened in terms of results, whether it was money saved, money gained, fewer complaints or greater efficiency." —Don Sutaria, founder of career counseling firm CareerQuest

"I'm looking for a conversation. I don't want two- or three-word answers or a quick sentence. If I'm asking about a specific technical skill, I want the candidate to say, 'Here's what I've done and here's how it fits with your work.'" —Mike Baron, recruiter for PricewaterhouseCoopers

"Refrain from talking ill about a previous employer, even if that employer was toxic. It gives the impression that you're difficult and never satisfied." —Mark Oldman, president of career site Vault.com

...Ask for more because nearly 60% of hiring managers leave room to negotiate in their initial offer to a candidate, according to CareerBuilder.com...