Positive Visualisation

The subconscious mind works on past experiences, hopes and fears. Being apprehensive before an interview makes it easier for your subconscious to focus on negative outcomes and magnify your concerns.

If you concentrate on your nervousness then you will be drawing this to the attention of the interviewer and the impact of your message will be weakened. And noticing the interviewer is aware of your nervous state can serve to heighten your self-consciousness.

Before the interview, you should try to visualise an engaged interviewer who is reacting positively to your responses. Picture yourself delivering a clear and interesting presentation; admit to yourself you may be nervous but that you’re going to use this to your advantage.

Remember, the interviewer is not your adversary and is not there to find fault with you. Their focus is your suitability for the vacancy. If you make measured responses and try to relax they’ll be better able to concentrate on what you have to say.

Dress code

Making the right first impression is vital to the success of your interview, so it’s important you decide on the image you want to present and dress accordingly. Even before you begin to speak, the interviewer is likely to have formed opinions about you based on the way you’re dressed, your personal grooming, posture and body language.

For most corporate interviews a low-key approach to dress is usually best, as it projects a professional image and doesn’t cause a distraction. For men, this will usually mean a well tailored but conservative suit in a basic colour such as navy, grey or black. The shirt and tie can add colour and individuality but you’ll need to judge how far to take this.

For women the choice of appropriate dress can be more complicated but normally it’s advisable to follow the basic rule that clothing shouldn’t draw attention to itself and colours shouldn’t distract the interviewer from focusing on your face.

Business casual is an increasingly common look in the corporate environment and can pose an even greater challenge to get right. The best advice is generally to err on the more formal side.

Dress to fit in

One of the key questions in the mind of the interviewer will almost certainly be: ‘Will this person fit in?’ So if you’re seen to complement the prevailing corporate style and culture you’ll be strengthening your case.

What you wear can have a disproportionate effect on the interviewer’s perception of you, so you might be wondering how you can decide what to wear in order to fit in.

It’s easy to find information about the accepted style of dress. If the company has a website, visit it to see if there any pictures of people at work. Alternatively, try getting hold of a copy of the company’s annual report which might includes images of employees. In each case, though, bear in mind some organisations use stock library images for their promotional material.

Another useful tactic can be to visit the site at the start, middle or end of the working day to see the prevailing dress code. You can then interpret a suitably smart version of that style for yourself.

Positive body language

Body language is a very important part of any communication – it will be analysed by the interviewer even if they’re unaware they’re doing so. A brilliantly prepared interview delivered in an interesting tone will fall well short of the mark if accompanied by negative, intrusive or hostile body language.

Mirror the interviewer’s body language

In any intimate communication there is a natural tendency to mirror the body position of the person you’re talking to, and this behaviour tends to result in a more relaxed and agreeable atmosphere. You can use this to your advantage during the interview by making a positive but subtle effort to mirror the interviewer’s body language.

The concept of mirroring is based on the well-known human trait of like attracting like. People generally like people who appear similar to them. So by your observing then reproducing the interviewer’s body language they are more likely to feel favourably disposed towards you.

Facial expression, tone of voice, body posture and movement often convey a wealth of detail about what a person’s thinking and feeling and how they’re reacting to what you’re saying.

Effective use and interpretation of body language will help you identify subtle aspects of the interviewer’s attitudes and reactions and is a key component of intelligent listening.

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