The job interview is a process that’s designed to see if you, the interviewee, have the skills, qualities, and experience for the position you’re applying for. But why is it that, time after time, interviewers offer the position to someone with fewer skills, qualities, and experience than you? Why do weaker applicants receive more job offers?
This strange phenomenon happens because interviewers will often go with their gut feeling — and often, emotion wins over logic. Panel interviews and interview scorecards are designed to ensure the emotional interviewer picks applicants based on the criteria of the position rather than likeability alone, but interviewers all over the world in all job sectors still recruit applicants who, on paper, should never be offered the position.
How Sexy is Your Interview?
Like it or not, there are psychological factors that come into play in the job interview that dramatically influence the interviewer’s opinion. Interviewers are manipulated every day, but often the interviewer and the interviewee are not even aware of this unconscious manipulation.
Interview coaches often talk about the importance of making a great first impression. This is even more vital than many interview coaches realize. Everything you say to the interviewer is filtered through their first impression of you. If the interviewer initially likes you, your answers are filtered through this positive filter. If the interviewer dislikes you, then you should start to worry, as a negative filter can be seriously damaging to your chances of a job offer.
But why just work on getting the interviewer to like you, when you could create the most powerful of positive filters — the attraction filter? This post will teach you how to make the interviewer find you physically attractive in just five steps — increasing likeability and increasing your job offers..
1. Attractive by Association
When you arrive at the interview, you will often be asked to wait with other interviewees. Where you sit can make a big difference in the interviewer’s first impression of you. Our unconscious mind takes in four billion pieces of information every second. This information quickly forms our opinions, which is why humans make snap judgments and stereotypes.
Sit next to attractive people (but not too attractive, as you will be compared to them) because the human brain will group you with the attractive person, creating a generalization in the interviewer’s mind that “the good-looking side of the room is on my right.”
Whether or not it’s fair, we are emotionally aroused by good-looking people, and positive emotion increases likability on a whole new level.
2. The Youthful Walk
Generally, we are more attracted to the young and energetic. The way you walk has an impact on the impression you make; the younger you appear, the more attractive you seem. Something as simple as walking in a more “youthful” manner can take years off your age.
The young have a flexible and energetic walk. To model this walk, lift your head high and push your chin out. Keep your back straight and let your arms naturally flow with the rhythm of the walk. The youthful walk is about flexibility and confidence — each stride should the length of your shoulder width and, above all else, make sure to smile (see below). Note that being flexible and energetic in your walk doesn’t meaning rushing when you walk, as the speedy walk can come across as if you’re stressed.
3. A Winning Smile
We are all attracted to a warm, natural smile. A smile shows self-assurance and confidence.
When the interviewer comes to collect you, greet them with a big, natural smile. To accomplish this, think back to a time you felt really happy. Relive this moment in your mind’s eye; see the event as though you are actually there right now. When you remember a past event, you will automatically feel the same associated emotions — in this case, happiness. And when you’re happy, you will want to smile — and so will those around you.
4. Favorable Compliment
In all interviews, the interviewer will make small talk at the start to help to put you at ease. Use this moment to compliment the interviewer. People like people who like them — it’s as simple as that. If you make someone feel good about themselves, they will associate the positive feeling you create in them with you.
Don’t offer up ridicules compliments, and don’t come across as flirty. Instead, prior to the interview, research your interviewer (LinkedIn is a great tool for this) and find out some of their key achievements. In the interview, congratulate them on their career successes, highlighting how difficult it is to achieve such recognition/award. You will have them eating out of your hand in no time.
5. Look Deep Into My Eyes…
Outdated interview techniques would tell you to stare at the interviewer when answering questions to show interest and to convince them you’re not lying. This technique failed to catch on when interviewees looked like staring maniacs in the interview.
When we communicate with one another, we naturally let our eyes move from left to right, we naturally move our head and we naturally look at all parts of a person’s face. By gazing into the interviewer’s eyes for a short period of time, rather than staring, you can create strong emotional and attractive feelings.
Our Filters Change Our Perceptions, Which Alter Our Responses
These five simple techniques will increase your likability factor, creating a positive filter for the interviewer. These automatic filters, which we all have and use on a daily basis, are powerful and can change the interviewer’s emotional response to your answers.
Imagine we worked together, and one day you walk into the kitchen and catch me eating your last chocolate chip cookie. As I turn around, I smile and say apologetically, “I’m so sorry, they just look so irresistible!” If you like me, you may smile and think, “He’s so cheeky.” If you don’t like me, your negative filter may create a different response. (“How rude is he, thinking he can eat anyone’s food? I’ve a good mind to report him to the manager. This is outrageous!”) How many times have you received an email or text and took it to have a different meaning than was intended? This is due to your filters.
The key to the job interview is to make the interviewer like you from the start. (Tweet this thought.) A negative start can ruin your chances no matter how much experience you have, compelling the interviewer to offer the position to a nicer and more attractive (but less skilled) applicant.
Have you ever experienced the power of the attraction filter in your career? Share in the comments!
Image: Flickr
