12 Tips for Connecting With Your Interviewer

12 Tips for Connecting With Your Interviewer 12 Tips for Connecting With Your Interviewer Theres a lot that determines your  success in an interview  -  from how you answer questions to the questions you ask,  and  from the quality of your resume and portfolio  to your timeliness and manners. Who Youll Interview With Who will you meet when you interview for a new job? There are a variety of  types of job interviews, and who youll be talking to depends on  both  the job and the organization. Your  interview  -  especially for a  screening interview, a  first-round  interview, or an interview with a large employer  -  may be with a human resources manager or recruiter,  to assess your qualifications for the job. In this case, it will be a  phone,  video (e.g.,  Skype), or in-person  one-on-one  interview. At smaller companies, your interviewer may be your prospective manager. In some cases, youll  meet with a panel  - a group of people who will ask you questions about your qualifications. If the employer holds  second interviews, youll most likely meet with the person youll be reporting to, and you may also meet with prospective co-workers and/or direct reports. How To Build Rapport During a Job Interview Though its always important to be polite and professional, establishing a rapport with your interviewer is also key to success. If an interviewer feels an affinity for you as a person, he or she  is  more  likely  to  feel positive about hiring you as an employee. After all, employers look for recruits who interact effectively with co-workers, clients, and supervisors, and of course, everyone wants to work in  a  pleasant  environment. If you fail to connect with your interviewer during the interview, he or she might assume that you  may  not  interact  well with  other  co-workers  if you were hired, so its important to make a good impression. Accordingly,  your interview preparation  should extend beyond what you  will  say during your meeting. You should also think about how youll relate to your interviewer on a personal level. The following suggestions will help you optimize the interpersonal component of your interview performance. 12 Tips for Connecting With Your Interviewer Start the interview the right way.  Greet your recruiter warmly,  as if he or she were a person you were looking forward to meeting. Say something like So glad to meet you as you exchange a firm,though  not crushing,Here’s  how to introduce yourself  at a job interview.Be friendly and personable.  Smile and exude personal warmth whenever appropriate during your meeting. Be genuine in your interactions and express positive emotions about the position and the company. Interviewers are more likely to view affable candidates favorably, so its important to be enthusiastic and optimistic. Show your interest in the person as well as the job. Show an interest in your interviewer during the warm-up phase of your interview by asking some questions about them. Making casual small talk before the  substantive questioning  begins can help to put both you and your interviewer at ease. Questions  such  as,  How long have you worked here?,  Have you had other roles at the firm?,  or How long is your commute? can help to  relax  your interviewer and  help  them  warm  to  you.Make it personal.  When appropriate, share some personal information about yourself. Revealing some of your outside interests or background information can help an interviewer relate to you as a person. Remember good posture.  Sit up straight and lean slightly forward towards your interviewers to engage them and show  that  youre  interested  in what they are saying.Eye contact is important.  Make frequent,  but not piercing,  eye contact with the interviewer to demonstrate that you are listening carefully to  what  theyre  saying.Show your interest.  Nod and actively  show that you are listening  by saying things like,  I see, I understand, Sounds good, and follow up with questions when appropriate.Pay attention to everyone.  In  multiple-interviewer  situations, make sure you pay  equal  attention to each person. It is important to establish a positive rapport with  all  of  the  interviewers,  and  not just those  with  whom you feel a natural chemistry. Here’s  how to handle a group interview. Show that you get it.  Paraphrase important or complex messages delivered by your interviewer to demonstrate that you understand  his/her point.Ask about company culture.  Demonstrate your interest in the  company culture, whether by asking a follow-up question or initiating the question on your own, so that your interviewer sees youre keen to become part of the team. For example, you might ask, Whats camaraderie like between employees?,  Do co-workers ever get together outside of the office?,  or Do you offer any team bonding opportunities or excursions?. Thank your interviewers.  Express your sincere gratitude for their time and the insight that they have provided as you complete the interview. Be sure to  close the interview on a positive note.Don’t wait to follow up. Follow up immediately  with a  thank you email  or note, or  even a phone call, and mention specific reasons why you found the interviewer helpful.  Dont  forget  to  also  say  that you enjoyed meeting with them and hope that you would have the opportunity to work together. If you have met with multiple interviewers,  personalize your communications  by adding something unique to each email.