12 Tips for Connecting With Your Interviewer

12 Tips for Connecting With Your einstellungsgesprcher12 Tips for Connecting With Your InterviewerTheres a lot that determines yoursuccess in an interview-from how you answer questions to the questions you ask,andfrom the quality of your resume and portfolioto your timeliness and manners. Who Youll Interview With Who will you meet when you interview for a new job? There are a variety oftypes of job interviews, and who youll be talking to depends onboththe job and the organization. Yourinterview-especially for ascreening interview, afirst-roundinterview, 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 aphone,video (e.g.,Skype), or in-personone-on-oneinterview. At smaller companies, your interviewer may be your prospective manager. In some cases, youllmeet with a panel- a group of people who will ask you questions about your qualifications. If the employer holdssecond interv iews, 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 sheismoralikelytofeel 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 inapleasantenvironment. If you fail to connect with your interviewer during the interview, he or she might assume that youmaynotinteractwell withotherco-workersif you were hired, so its important to make a good impression. Accordingly,your interview preparationshould extend beyond what youwillsay 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,thoughnot crushing,Hereshow to introduce yourselfat 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 thesubstantive questioningbegins can help to put both you and yo ur interviewer at ease. Questionssuchas,How long have you worked here?,Have you had other roles at the firm?,or How long is your commute? can help torelaxyour interviewer andhelpthemwarmtoyou.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 showthatyoureinterestedin 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 towhattheyresaying.Show your interest.Nod and activelyshow that you are listeningby saying things like,I see, I understand, Sounds good, and follow up with questions when appropriate.Pay attention to everyone.Inmultiple-interviewersituations, make sure you payequalattention to each person. It is important to e stablish a positive rapport withalloftheinterviewers,andnot just thosewithwhom you feel a natural chemistry. Hereshow to handle a group interview. Show that you get it.Paraphrase important or complex messages delivered by your interviewer to demonstrate that you understandhis/her point.Ask about company culture.Demonstrate your interest in thecompany 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 toclose the interview on a positive note.Dont wait to follow up. Follow up immediatelywith athank you emailor note, oreven a phone call, and mention s pecific reasons why you found the interviewer helpful.Dontforgettoalsosaythat 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 communicationsby adding something unique to each email.