Some of the most important aspects of the interviewing process are the physical features. You can control the interview and set the tone to a large degree if you observe these protocols from the beginning of the interview.
When you first meet the interviewer, give them a firm, hearty, handshake. None of this limp, wash rag, dead fish type of grip. A hearty, healthy handshake screams confidence and that is exactly the tone that you want to set.
Establish eye contact with the interviewer, looking them directly in the eye. Make a mental note as to what color their eyes are to ensure that you look them directly in the eye. While you have your eyes locked on theirs, make them break eye contact FIRST. If you break eye contact first, that action is the action of a person who is less than confident. By looking the interviewer directly in the eye, you are saying that you are not afraid of any of their questions and to bring it on. Once the interviewer breaks eye contact for the very first time, it is perfectly fine to break eye contact during the interview.
Lean in. For the first 10 minutes or so, do not let your back touch the back of where you are seated. Keep your back approximately one inch from the back of the seat. This tells the interviewer that you are intently focused on the task at hand. After a few minutes, you can relax and let your back touch the back of your seat, but you still want to maintain good posture throughout the interview.
Some people become nervous when answering questions, which is usually manifested in quicker speech as in you just want the interview to be over because you aren’t comfortable. We all know that you do less than your best when you are not comfortable. Your speech patterns are directly related to your breathing. To get a handle on how fast you are speaking and breathing, follow these very simple rules:
1) Keep both of your feet flat on the floor, no crossed legs.
2) Inhale deeply as the interviewer is speaking or asks you a question.
3) Exhale slowly as you answer the question.
This will help you control your breathing, which will help you control the speed of your answer.
When the interview first begins, the interviewer sometimes plays the role of host or hostess, offering you water or coffee. Accept or decline per your preference. I love coffee, but I usually decline a beverage because they can be distracting, you can spill it if you are not careful, or sometimes it may taste terrible. But if you tend to get dry mouth, a beverage or water can help you.
Tomorrow: Controlling the Interview
Arlen R. Crawford
arlenarcresumes@gmail.com
www.arcresumes.com
John 14:6 / Acts 4:12
“The waves and wind still know His name.”
