Thursday, July 9, 2009

6 Steps To Manipulating A Job Interview To Your Favor

In a job interview, or any social situation for that matter, the subtle art of persuasion is a powerful skill to possess. If you master it, it enables you to get whatever you want just by the sheer act of conversing with people. It allows you to have any social interaction go your way.

The 6 steps to successful persuasion: Research: To up your chances of success in attempting a persuasion, you need to lay down the foundation. Find out everything you can about the company that’s interviewing you, and if possible, information on the interviewer as well. Following particular decorum and dress codes to be observed is the first rule of job interview preparation. This shows that you’re a team-player – instant rapport.

During the interview itself, try to gain the interviewer’s trust. Show genuine interest in the person by listening intently to whatever it is they are saying – however boring or disinteresting it is. Getting a good night’s sleep helps, as you will be more aware and able to react appropriately. Be a bit friendlier than usual, in a level that makes the person more comfortable and amiable towards you. In general, just try to be a sincerely good and likeable person.

Make the person feel secure by agreeing with their opinions, or answering a couple job interview questions in way that’ll go well with them. Ask you build up your rapport, it will not be awkward to ask how they are doing, if they have a family: simple, non-invasive yet personal questions. This will make them feel safer with trusting you –which slowly builds the path towards the next step.

Closely mirror the person’s breathing patterns and tone of speech. In simple terms, imitate the subject very, very subtly. Speak as loud as they do and copy their attitude.

Now, mimic how the subject sits, gestures, talks, scratches their face, etc. Use the words they use, shake your head the way they do. Each of your job interview answers should be directed towards this particular goal.

Mimic nearly everything they do. But still practice subtlety. This is a really tricky part of persuasion –it’s tiptoeing through a mind’s backdoor, building subconscious trust and vulnerability in the person.

Finish the trick. Slowly stop mimicking the person; move on your own and watch them copy you. If this happens, your attempt is successful, and you may now ask what you need from the person with gentle suggestion and, well, persuasion.

Persuasive manipulation is a completely legitimate way of getting what you want out of a person. But the more you master it, the more you should practice it responsibly and not abuse the art. It’s different from threatening, bribing, etc. which are more anti-social – not likely to get you a job interview follow up.

Though the steps are simple enough to follow, the idea itself is harder to pull off in real life situations. Practice on the people you know, then acquaintances, then complete strangers, until you are sure that you’re able to pull it off cleanly and without consequence before you try it in an actual job interview.

Secret Job Interview Tips Revealed For Job Seekers

Simple Things To Remember When In A Job Interview

Often, when scheduled for a big job interview, we often take the simplest things for granted. After you’ve finished with all the background research you need to do regarding the company or organization you’re applying to, you’ll need to remember these few simple things that will help you seal the deal in an interview.

1. From walking into the room, maintain a pleasant outlook. Especially if you’re being interviewed in the morning, wear a simple smile on your face and just be friendly. Contrary to popular belief, not all interviewers are corporate sharks out to bite your head off. Maintaining a pleasant demeanor will likely be viral and spread a warm and positive aura across a tense and formal setup.

2. The first of the job interview questions will likely be a request to tell something about you: the perfect opportunity to lead the interview. The interviewer is asking this in order to 1) know more about you and 2) to know which direction the interview is likely to head.

By speaking confidently, surely, but not arrogantly about your intentions, strengths & weaknesses, preferences, skills, etc., you’re leading the interview into an informational conversation which is what the interviewer wants and needs.

3. Listen and speak sincerely. Never pretend to be something you’re not; you will just be found out and are likely to just look stupid. Your job interview answers should lead towards revealing more of what you are about and why you would be perfect for the job without your coming on too strong. This can be accomplished through intently listening and comprehending the questions, and answering as truthfully and articulately as you can. Good communications skills show professionalism and dependability.

4. Keep track of your own body language. First off, maintain eye contact – showing confidence and honesty. Avoid fiddling with your tie, shifting uncomfortably in your seat, slouching, and most of all biting your nails: all these shows signs of weakness, disinterest, and insincerity –traits that won’t snag you a job interview follow up.

5. A key to sealing the deal in any interview is ensuring that you are remembered. This can be done in a variety of ways. You can dress really nicely if it is appropriate, or accent your clothes with a distinct accessory that you can pull off.

Of the dozens of other applicants that might be applying for the same job you are, you should be unique and distinguishable from the pack. The way to get hired starts from being noticed. Don’t be afraid to be creative, but don’t go overboard either – nothing’s more annoying than an eager beaver who hasn’t even been hired yet.

Writing a job interview thank you letter is a simple and effective way to be remembered. Not only is it traditional in business, it shows gratefulness on your part and is yet another chance to reiterate that you are the best person for the job.

Acing a job interview needn’t be done with tricks or trade secrets. Sometimes, the simplest techniques are the most effective.

Simple Advice To Have Success In The Job Interview

In a job interview, especially if it’s the first job you’ve ever applied to, your own body turns against you. The heart races and sweat drops on the forehead, excitement slowly turns to a nervous streak that won’t go away. You’re likely to just look like an undependable amateur, too weak to snag that much needed job.

Common knowledge dictates that in order to ace an interview, you need to put your best foot forward in any way possible. Be the best you can be. Polish yourself up and try your hardest to be a strong, dependable, of course hirable person – even just for an hour, until the interview is over.

This is the wrong perspective to take in job interview preparation. This type of thinking just puts you in an awkward and uncomfortable position. While it is good to try your best to impress, that attitude should come with resolve and your natural personality.

Approaching an interviewer and thinking only about how you can sell yourself as the best candidate for the job will get you anywhere but hired.

Remember that despite your interviewer’s intimidating streak, he or she is still a person and people appreciate and remember sincerity. Talking honestly about who you are will be a breath of fresh air to a person who’s spent an entire day screening nervous wrecks and hard-selling eager beavers, and will likely get you a job interview follow up.

Another thing that people forget is that an interview is a conversation. Besides talking about yourself, your achievements and why they should hire you, try listening. Before you end up blabbing away the time with stories about your graduating with honors from some prestigious university (sounding like a total show-off in the process), try listening to what the interviewer really wants to hear from you.

You don’t need a killer line, or an impressive quote to make you sound patriotic and dependable, you just need to keep quite and listen. Silence is a normal part of any conversation; it’s the time when people in the conversation think of what to say. It’s okay to be silent if some job interview questions make you think.

Remember: think fast and speak slowly. Take fair enough time to think of good answers and speak as you would to a friend, calmly and surely.

The thing about these kinds of interviews is, in the first place, you’re already qualified for the job that’s why you’re being interviewed in the first place. You’ve hooked the fish, now just slowly but surely reel it in. You’re already right for the job, so you have nothing to be nervous about.

You just have to convince the interviewer that you’re up to speed, and you really are what you say in your resume. All the job interview skills you need are being yourself with a dash of confidence.

Acing a job interview is fairly easy. It’s a matter of convincing yourself, believing the fact that you deserve the job more than anyone else who’s applied.