10 PSYCHOLOGICAL TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL INTERVIEW

1. 1. Maintain eye contact with the interviewer. People who look interviewers in the eye are more appreciated than those who look down or in other undefined directions. A lot of communication messages can be expressed with the eyes alone: agreement/disagreement, politeness, attention to the interlocutor, knowledge of the subject under discussion, vitality, emotions, etc.
   2. Control your emotions. It is advisable not to laugh too much, but also not to remain sober throughout the interview. As a rule, a discreet (natural) smile can convey a positive message of confidence and agreement.
   3. Be careful how you answer questions or make statements. To be successful in an interview, communication must be fluent, appropriate to the subject matter, clear and brief. Don’t eat up the interviewer’s time with useless and irrelevant issues for the purpose of the interview. Don’t complain. Don’t beg for mercy. It is very important to hear and understand exactly what the interviewer is asking. If you don’t understand, you can ask, ask for clarification, rephrase the question or repeat it if necessary. It is better to do this than to give an inadequate answer that has nothing to do with the question. But don’t abuse this technique.
   4. Listen actively. Be present in the communication, even if the interviewer talks more. Approve, make points, contradict if necessary, depending on the situation. In this way, the interviewer will find you a real dialogue partner.
   5. Practice “mirroring”. This is a psychological technique that aims to copy some of the interviewer’s gestures (body position, smile, facial expressions, etc.) in a discreet way. Research has shown that people who use this technique are more successful in interviews.
   6. Dress appropriately for the interview. Attire can say a lot about a candidate. A neat outfit versus a sloppy one, a clean outfit versus a dirty one, a sober outfit versus a summery one, etc. – these are just a few examples that could make the difference between success and failure. Hair and beard/beard care is part of the outfit. So do the smells emanating from your body. The latter should be pleasant but discreet. The colors you choose for your outfit can unconsciously send messages to the interviewer.
   7. Break the monotony. Interviewers may, at some point, become bored and develop a certain interview routine. When you have the opportunity, add interesting elements that would draw attention to your professional experience or skills/skills you possess. You can introduce these elements through verbal formulas such as: “I would like to add that…”, “I could illustrate this by…”, “In my experience, I have encountered situations like this at ….”. Such additions are strengths that you add to your evaluation and show that you are unique.
   8. Control your gestures. A person who repeatedly touches their hair or face, repeatedly kicks their feet or has some other tic, or who moves quickly from one emotional state to another without justification – clearly betrays nervousness, lack of self-control, emotional instability. All these elements are scored negatively by the interviewer. Try rehearsing in front of the mirror or camera how you would present yourself in the interview. Then study your posture, gestures, facial expressions and speech. If you like them, the interviewer is likely to like them too.
   9. Consider your weaknesses. The interviewer may emphasize your weaknesses. Be prepared for such an eventuality. Think of an approach that will lessen their negative impact on the interview panel’s decision.
   10. Prepare for the interview. Don’t leave things to chance or to divine discretion. Study the interview topic and the recommended bibliography, make a plan for how to approach the interview, think about your strengths, practice what you are going to say, etc. Although the architecture of the interview may be different from what you think about it, the “practice” at home will be very useful and can make the difference between success and failure. If you fail, don’t give up, keep going. At the next interview you will be much better prepared.