Skip to content

11 psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview

  • by

“Job Interview for work”, these are words that can change your psychological peace to stress and anxiety, How do I eliminate stress and fear? How do I pass the interview successfully and with self-confidence? Here are 11 Psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview.

.

11 psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview
11 psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview

.
According to a study conducted by Glassdoor, the best time to have an interview is Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. This is a time when interviewers tend to be more relaxed, so can be more tolerant and pay full attention to job applicants. But most of us don’t get the privilege of setting interview times, so there has to be another way to impress the interviewer.

.

Here are some simple but important psychological tricks that can help you get a good impression during an interview.

.

11 Psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview

.

1. Warm up

.

Firstly, warm up. When you get there early, you can go to the bathroom and warm your hands well, either under hot water or under the hand dryer, because the warm hand suggests confidence, unlike a cold hand, and you should not think of anything that affects your nerves and keep yourself calm, and help you focus.

.

2. Dress Well

.

A survey conducted by recruitment personnel and human resources managers found evidence that the colour of clothing can create a certain impression in the interviewer’s eyes. Twenty-three per cent of interviewers recommended a blue colour indicating that the candidate could work with the team. While 15 per cent recommend black because the colour emphasizes leadership potential. Orange colour is said to be the least recommended because it gives the impression that the candidate is unprofessional. Grey gives a logical and analytical impression. White is a reflection of an organized person. Chocolate indicates a reliable character. While red colour show the strong impression on the wearer.

.

3. Make eye contact

.

As much as possible try to look into the eyes of the interviewer, when you first come face-to-face or shake hands with him. In addition, keep eye contact throughout the interview session. Generally, people who consistently make eye contact while speaking look smarter than those who don’t make eye contact.

.

4. Imitation of the interviewers body language

.

Ever heard of the psychological phenomenon of chameleon effects? This is a condition where people tend to like each other when they show similar body language. So if the interviewer leans forward, do the same. But don’t over-mimic every interviewer’s movements, yes.

Imitation of the interviewer’s body language gives the impression you’re really paying attention and interested in what he is saying. Conversely if you look passive, you seem less enthusiastic about being part of the team or even lying.

.

5. Keep your palms open or cross your fingers together

.

Hand gestures contribute a lot in creating an impression on the interviewer. Leaving your palms open indicates sincerity. While touching the fingertips of the hand until it forms a triangle shows confidence. As much as possible do not put the palm down as it will show a desire to dominate the interviewer. Also, don’t hide your hands as if there’s something you want to cover up.

Tapping fingers shows impatience. Folding hands indicates disapproval or defensive attitude. And over-using hand gestures can make the interviewer feel distraction. Breaking joints or so-called finger knocks, and playing with your pen, can give the wrong impression about you in the interview.

.

6. Adjust answers to the interviewer’s age

.

You can learn a lot about interviewers and what kind of answers they want to hear based on the age of their generation. In the book Crazy Good Interviewing, John B. Molidor, Ph.D., and Barbara Parus write that the interviewees should behave based on your interviewer’s generation.

Interviewers from Generation Y (between 20 and 30 years old) would rather see a visual example of your work than a series of descriptions in a portfolio sheet. They also tend to value the ability to multitasking more. Generation X (between 30 and 50 years old) tends to value creativity and candidates who can balance career and personal life.

Interviewers from the Baby Boomer generation (between 50 and 70 years old) prefer hard workers and people who can appreciate the interviewer’s achievements. While interviewers from Silent Generation (between 70 and 90 years old) will focus on aspects of loyalty and commitment to previous work.

.

7. Speak expressively


Avoid speaking in monotonous tones. Speak more slowly when trying to provide an explanation of concepts or information that the interviewer may not have known. Speak faster when trying to explain less important information. Try to use hand gestures, but don’t overdo it so that the interviewer’s attention doesn’t get distracted.

.

11 Psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview

.

8. Be friendly and assertive

.

Job seekers who show signs of anxiety tend to fail in interviews. Noticeable anxiety often makes the interviewer misunderstand, capturing the impression of being less warm and less assertive due to the very small volume of sound. It also indicates prospective employees have difficulty processing and answering questions asked by the interviewer.

.

9. Prepare to answer uncomfortable questions

.

The interviewer will definitely ask you a thing or two that makes you feel uncomfortable answering. For example why you resigned from your previous job, whether you are willing to be placed in a remote area, and whether you are willing to postpone a wedding plan if any.

Always be prepared to answer questions like these. There is no need to lie to please the interviewer. Just prepare an honest answer and solution if you object to the interviewer’s terms. Also avoid over-disclosing some of the negative details of past work.

.

10. Don’t smile too much

.

It is good to be polite and show hospitality during interviews. But you don’t have to smile all the time as that may look awkward. Some interviewers expect candidates to smile more if they want to apply for a position as a customer service or salesperson. So smile more and be sincere if you’re doing an interview for a job that demands interaction with customers. For jobs that require more expertise outside of communication, it is best to show less hospitality.

.

11. Don’t brag

.

When asked about weaknesses or disadvantages, most job seekers will provide answers to highlight their strengths. This can instead give the impression of dishonesty in the eyes of the interviewer. Answers like “I’m too hardworking” or “I’m a perfectionist” only sound convincing if supported by evidence and facts. It’s good to answer honestly with a solution that you’re working on or you’ll implement to fix it.

.

Today’s labour market is very competitive, and employers are looking for the simplest things to make it an argument for which they refuse to hire someone. Here we should note something important: you must be honest during the job interview, the lie is totally rejected, but you should also not be naïve and declare all your future plans to the employer.

.

These were the 11 psychological tricks that will help you ace a job interview. Good luck.

.

Read Also :

.