Personal experience and research-based tips for "rookies" on their first job interview.
We all have been in the same situation, sweat hands, shaky legs, our best suit (or jeans depending how relax the job we are applying for is going to be), but still with the same "poker face" trying to hide how nervous we are. Fortunately, science comes to our aid in this situations and in this post I'm going to show you ways to shine before, during and after your job interview:
BEFORE THE INTERVIEW
1. Pose for success
Do a power pose for a couple of minutes in the bathroom before your big interview. Power poses include arms raised all the way like a runner crossing the final line in a competition, the "wonder woman" with your arms in your hips. These type of poses reveal to have a great effect in the individuals that performed this positions before an stressing situation (a.k.a. a job interview)
DURING THE INTERVIEW
2. Use mirroring.
According to Forbes, mirroring is the practice of adopting another person’s behaviors, mannerisms, and ways of speaking. This technique helps you to develop a sense of trust with the interviewer. Here it's how it is done:
a. Observe your interviewer
b. Mimic your interviewer's position in a subtle way, waiting from 30 seconds to a minute after your interviewer changes positions. this applies also to language, if instead of "carbonated drink" s/he says "carbonated water" just use the same expression.
c. Don't overdo it.
AFTER YOUR JOB INTERVIEW
3. Follow up
Writing follow up email is always a good idea since it shows how interested you are in the job, also, a follow up letter can serve as a good opportunity to add any important experience you forgot to mention during the interview or make a clarification. According to Alison Doyle from thebalancecareers.com a follow up email is your last opportunity to show your possible employer your enthusiasm for the job and to work with them.
Happy interviews!
Sources:
Amy Cuddy. Your body language may shape the way you are.
https://www.ted.com/talks/amy_cuddy_your_body_language_shapes_who_you_are?language=en
Cuddy, A. J., Schultz, S. J., & Fosse, N. E. (2018). P-curving a more comprehensive body of research on postural feedback reveals clear evidential value for power-posing effects: Reply to Simmons and Simonsohn (2017). Psychological science, 29(4), 656-666.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/acton/2013/05/22/want-to-nail-an-interview-use-mirroring/#2e17b36a71a4
https://www.thebalancecareers.com/job-interview-follow-up-thank-you-letter-email-2063971