HOW TO MAKE YOUR INTERVIEWER LOVE YOU You only have a finite amount of time in an interview to successfully build a rapport with your interviewer. Susie Timlin, Group Head of Talent Acquisition and Global Mobility, shares 10 ways to make your interviewer love you. Susie Timlin Group Head of Talent Acquisition and Global Mobility
SMILE Make a conscious effort to smile when you are first introduced, when you say goodbye and regularly throughout the interview. This may sound like an obvious one, but it s interesting how many people don t. Given that nerves will be a factor, make the effort a deliberate one.
SHAKE HANDS Be the first to extend your hand for a firm handshake and to greet your interviewer. Again, it may sound obvious, but first impressions really are vital.
MAINTAIN EYE CONTACT Establish and maintain eye contact during your meeting. Too much eye contact is clearly off-putting, so look away regularly, but keep that contact. If you never meet your interviewer s gaze, you will come across as slightly shifty, nervous or disengaged entirely.
REMEMBER YOUR INTERVIEWER S NAME Make a conscious effort to remember the name of your interviewer (having made sure you ve heard it properly), and use it quite often and as you leave. It s an old trick that politicians use when establishing rapport with journalists who interview them, and it s surprisingly effective!
CREATE A 50/50 DIALOGUE Create a 50/50 dialogue in which you listen as much as you speak, and don t save all your questions until the end of the meeting. Show you are interested and listening by asking intelligent questions. You can also sometimes summarise or paraphrase something your interviewer has said, and repeat it back to them in question form. Again, it shows you are paying attention.
YOUR INTERVIEWER IS A HUMAN BEING Help your brain put things into perspective and keep those nerves at bay by remembering that your interviewer is just another human being, who may also be feeling anxious. This should help you break down the barriers.
MAKE THE INTERVIEWER FEEL IMPORTANT Do your research on the company, your interviewer and the role you are applying for. Nothing helps flatter and build rapport more than a little inside knowledge on the person you ll be meeting. Come prepared with some follow up questions pertaining to the interviewer to help build a stronger connection.
MIRROR BODY LANGUAGE Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery and mirroring body language can help the interviewer envisage you working with them. Mirroring could be anything from speech patterns and voice tone to gestures, but don t overdo it, obviously. Adjusting to the interviewer s demeanour and behaviour can also help you both feel a little more comfortable.
BE MEMORABLE SHOW THE REAL YOU Don t be afraid to let your personality shine through to help your interviewer see who you really are. Answer questions honestly and clearly. And remember, an experienced interviewer can easily spot the signs of a candidate who is trying too hard.
FOLLOW UP AFTERWARDS Follow up the interview with an email thanking the interviewer for their time and reiterate how much you enjoyed meeting them. Send this before the interviewer has a chance to forget you.
ABOUT HAYS Hays is a leading global professional recruiting group, the expert at recruiting qualified, professional and skilled people worldwide. With over 8,748 staff operating from 244 offices in 33 countries across 20 specialism's, last year we placed around 57,000 candidates into permanent jobs, and around 212,000 people into temporary assignments. haysplc.com