Interviewers Lockerroom

The job market of today is an extremely competitive one. In order to truly achieve success in discovering the career of your dreams, you must not only have the educational and first hand experience that will allow you to perform the functions of the job, but you must also have the expertise of knowing how to build rapport and establish an impression when it comes time for your interview. Rupturing the interview process by not having the communication skills that are required to succeed in it can turn a career possibility into nothing more than a disappointment. Here, I will provide you with some techniques that can be used in order to build rapport during the interview process and will help you get the job that you want!

Understanding the Psychology of Job Interviews

The job interview is generally much more revealing than many individuals believe. While there is a constant flow and ebb of communication between two or more people during the interview process, it is possible to speak and say nothing at all. In the same respect, you can speak very little and reveal much. When you participate in a job interview, there are many different psychological aspects of your character being evaluated. Some of the main things that employers are trying to determine include the following:

·         Is this individual comfortable with themselves, and the skill set that they have?

·         Will this person require constant supervision, or are they a “self starter”?

·         Does this person take responsibility for their actions and mistakes?

·         Will this person be an asset to my business or will they hinder the overall growth of it?

·         How much does this person know about my business, and what makes them think that they can make a positive contribution?

 If you understand that there is such a thing as the “psychology” in a job interview, you are much more likely to understand the overall importance of building rapport and communicating professionally during the interview. If you don’t understand, I’m going help you out so keep reading.

5 Ways to Build Rapport and Get Hired

While there are many different ways that you can successfully build rapport during a job interview, I will share with you the top 5 which I believe to be essential for succeeding in not only getting the job that you want, but respect and value from the word “go”. The following 5 ways to build rapport and get hired has been used by many people, all around the world!

The Basics

There are many common ways to build rapport in an interview. Doing things such as maintaining eye contact with the interviewer, shaking their hand in a firm manner, and showing your appreciation for the fact that you have been considered for the position you are seeking are all outstanding means of building rapport. However, speaking in a professional manner and having a general air of confidence are also great strategies to use when building rapport.

You Listen - They Talk

Now, when at an interview, you will find yourself wanting to focus on areas that you deem as important. This is actually a sign of “human nature” in any conversation. People enjoy talking about themselves and things that are important to them. In a job interview, it is essential that you keep this in mind. Allow the focus to go from the things that you are interested in, and things about you, to things that interest the interviewer. In other words, don’t be so full of yourself that your ears are plugged up and your mouth is an example of an overflowing toilet.

Mimic Not Be a Robot

When being interviewed, it is important for you to mimic as much of the other person’s behaviors, physiology, and words as possible. This means if they lean slightly forward when speaking, you should do the same. When they breathe, you breathe in unison with them, if they use certain words such as “productivity” or “I understand”, you should do the same. Make sure you don’t look like a robot, so practice on someone who loves you without telling them to see its effect. Using these strategies are mostly psychological, but they are also effective in allowing the interviewer to become comfortable with you, and discover an interest in you. This may prove to land you the job that you want quickly and easily.

Research More Than Most

Prior to the interview, you should have done some research on the company that you are interested in. Many things should have been learned such as where the company has been the advancements of the corporation, as well as the future goals of the company. You may even wish to memorize the mission statement of the business. It is important that you inquire about these areas and offer input on how you can fit into the scheme of things. If an interviewer learns that you have placed this much effort into learning as much as you can about their company, they may deem you as a highly analytical, professional that will work in sync with their goals to achieve success. There are a number of places you can look for information like the library, internet, bookstores, etc. Don’t be lazy, just do it. It will pay off.

Ask Quality Questions

Do you know the part of the interview that ends with the question, “Do you have any questions for me”? Take advantage of this time to continue building rapport so you can get hired. Ask the interviewer if they enjoy working for the company, and the top benefits associated with employment. Do not be afraid to ask if they are content, and if they feel as if this is a rewarding position. Allowing a person to talk about what is important to them can really boost the chances of your getting hired tremendously. Many times, you may find that by the time the interview has concluded that they are literally “selling” you the job. I have always been impressed with a candidate when they’ve done this. Just limit it to one page of questions otherwise its overkill.