This stuff is mostly consistent with what I've found to be effective. I would also really emphasize the effectiveness of learning about your prospective employe

This stuff is mostly consistent with what I've found to be effective. I would also really emphasize the effectiveness of learning about your prospective employer, not just the company but the actual individuals in it. Demonstrating that you're genuinely interested in the people you're talking with and the company they work for can really pave the way for you. The book How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie has a lot of good examples of how to get what you're after (in an honest, non-manipulative way) by focusing on the other person's interests before your own.