Finding the Right Boss

· A strong career of his own. You want a boss who is considered a rising star, Ryan said. "Ask around to see what sort of reputation he has within the company, as well as his field." Is he getting regular promotions? Does he have a strong internal network? "You really want to be near the movers and shakers, if possible," she said.

· Encouraging nonverbal cues. Was the person on time and attentive? Did she look you in the eye? Is her attention focused on you during the interview? If not, don't get your hopes up.

· A good hunch. A big part of finding the right job is pure chemistry. A job may seem great intellectually, but if you have a bad feeling about it, there's probably a reason, even if you can't articulate it. It's a mistake to overlook that, Pullen said. "We're not trained to listen to our instincts." And that's too bad, because our gut can often tell us when a situation is trouble long before our brains can.

Most important, you need to adjust your mindset during the job search. "You want to shift your perspective from desperation to something more equal," Pullen said. "You'll come across as more powerful, more professional."

And you're more likely to find a job you really love.

And . . . Action!

Have you ever stumbled into great career advice while kicking back to watch a movie? Whether it's a recent flick or a classic film, I'd love to hear about your favorite work-related movies and how they've inspired you in real life. E-mail me at slayterme@washpost.com . Include your full name and daytime phone number. No attachments please.

Join Mary Ellen Slayter for Career Track Live, an online discussion of issues affecting young workers, at 2 p.m. Aug. 21 athttp://www.washingtonpost.com.