Source: zero2hired
In a world where job interviews are one of the most important factors of getting a job, first impressions are everything. But how exactly do we make a good first impression? Well, psychologist Amy Cuddy from Harvard Business School has been studying first impressions for a decade and more. With her colleagues, she had found that 80-90% of first impressions mostly rely on these two questions: “Can I trust this person?” and “Can I respect this person’s capabilities?”
Now, with that in mind, here are 6 ways we can be our best selves in job interviews, and get that dream job!
Use positive body language
Source: The Job Network
Body language means everything, especially for an interviewer who’s trained to read it. So keep your body language positive. Uncross your arms, maintain eye contact, using an enthusiastic tone of voice, and leaning towards the speaker to show interest are a few examples.
Let the interviewer speak first
Taking the floor and speaking first is a sign of dominance, and in most jobs, we don’t want that. So let them lead the conversation and speak first. You can always ask good questions later into the conversation once the interviewer brings you there.
Do some small talk
Research shows that starting meetings with just 5 minutes of small talk make better results. It helps build trust and eases the tension of the meeting. It may seem like a waste of time for you, but for the speaker, it plays an important role in checking your general attitude towards things.
Be an active listener
Active listening is, well, making sure you’re listening to what they’re saying instead of thinking what to say next. Keep a look of interest while they’re talking. Catch every single detail they say and respond to it. Ask insightful questions and give meaningful answers. This lets the speaker know that you’re truly listening and are making an effort to actively participate in the conversation, hence building their trust.
Put away your phone
You can never build someone’s trust by checking your phone on a regular basis, both in informal conversation and in job interviews. Even a simple glance at it will make it seem like you aren’t interested at all. So keep your phone away and focus on the conversation at hand.
Do your homework
People love it when you know things about them that they didn’t mention. And no, not the creepy kind like where they live or who their ex is, but rather, the simple facts from their LinkedIn page or company website like where they worked, what’s their job, and what they do. It tells them that you were enthusiastic enough about the meeting that you took the time to research about them during your free time, again building the trust factor. Also, when you’re applying for a job, it’s very important to do some research about the company you’re applying at, since it shows that you’re really interested with the job.
Source: mycareermatch
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