As an independent contractor, I spent plenty of time as the candidate looking for work.  Each time, I learned a little bit more about how to do it better, but I sure could have used some tips, especially in the early years.  Over the last year, I have been involved in numerous interviews on the hiring company's side of the table, and again I find that the first ones were rough and we probably missed some good candidates because we didn't know how to screen them well, but we have gotten better over time.

Whichever side of the interview table you find yourself on, the following articles may help you excel in the process:

In Fixing the Software Development Industry, Eric Wise discusses both sides, from discussing ways to identify the “dead wood” in the company (and how to not be one) to things the potential employer should ask and be on the watch for.  And in his follow-up article, Interviewing Your Employer, Eric provides several good tips for the interviewee.  And finally, Fast Company has an article on Cracking Your Next Company's Culture which is all about creative ways to decide if the company or position is right for you.  While not specifically about the software industry, many of the tips can be easily adapted to researching software positions.