Have you ever gone through a job interview and known for certain that you didn’t make the impression you wanted to? The person who interviewed you rushed though their questions, brushed over your accomplishments, and generally seemed uninterested in your answers. It has happened to all of us, but it doesn’t have to happen again. If you make an effort to connect with an interviewer, you immediately get more consideration for the job and have extra control over how you are evaluated. Here are four strategies to make that connection happen.
Observe and Imitate
The minute you meet your interviewer, begin closely observing their body language, mannerisms, speech patterns, and other qualities that are unique to them. Then try to subtly reflect those back. For instance, if the person is especially high energy, add some enthusiasm to your own demeanor. We are naturally attracted to similar people, so trying to mirror your interviewer invites their attention. Just be sure that you don’t take it to cartoonish level, or override so much of your own personality that the interviewer gets an inaccurate picture of who you are.
Ask Questions Throughout
Most interviews follow a similar question and answer back and forth until the end when the candidate is invited to ask questions. You can turn the interview into more of a conversation by occasionally and appropriately asking questions throughout. This helps you gain further insights about the company, demonstrates your enthusiasm and preparation, and slows down the overall rhythm of the interview. It also helps to put you and the interviewer on equal footing.
Find a Personal Connection
Try to find a point of connection between you and your interviewer. Perhaps you both have young children, went to school in the same part of the country, have a similar hobby, or love the same sports team. There are probably clues about the interviewer’s personal life scattered around their office, or buried in their comments. Find some common ground and highlight that connection. This not only helps you connect on a more personal level, it helps you stand out and remain memorable when final hiring decisions are being made.
Be Engaging
Responses to interview question are often dry, bland, and shot through with nerves. One of the most effective ways to connect with your interviewer is to simply offer responses that are interesting and engaging. If you can surprise and entertain your interviewer while also highlighting your professional credentials, it only makes sense that they will want to hear more of what you have to say.
Acing the interview is the final step in the process. But before that happens, you need to find exciting vacancies, fine-tune your resume, craft a compelling cover letter, and rise to the top of the candidate pool. Find resources designed specifically to help job seekers like you by contacting Selectek.
