You want to make the best impression possible at a job interview. That goes without saying. So, you want to make sure you do everything right – arrive on time, dress appropriately, act confidently, watch body language.

These are the standard behaviors to watch. But you can also put psychology to use as well with other behaviors during the interview. Here are some ways.

1. Expansive poses.
Psychological research has shown that your body language influences your own feelings of confidence. If you strike a pose that exudes power, such as lifting your arms above your head, or putting your hands on your hips, it has the effect of making you feel more powerful and more confident, and this shows in your performance.

On the other hand, if you strike a more submissive pose, such as crossing your arms, or hunching over with your head down, this has the effect of making you feel more insecure and uncertain, and this too manifests itself in your performance.

So, to perform better during the interview, you need to strike a pose that shows power and confidence.

2. Smile sparingly
Smiling too often can give the impression that you are not serious enough for the job, especially for a higher level position. So, you should smile, just not too much.

3. Be direct
In other words, rather than trying to impress the hiring manager with some heavy-handed jargon in a long, rambling answer, speak clearly and simply, and try to make your answer as well organized as possible. Psychological research has shown that people who speak clearly and directly and logically tend to do better in interviews than people who try to be technical.

4. Show your passion.
Showing enthusiasm is important. Candidates who show a higher energy level, and greater modulation in their voice – loudness and softness, high and low – have more success than candidates who present a more Stoical demeanor. Those who show less enthusiasm are perceived to be more tense and less confident.

5. A mirror image
Research has also shown that when we mirror the actions of someone, we tend to form more of a bond with them, a feeling of cohesion. This is something you can use to your advantage during an interview if you mirror the actions of the hiring manager.

However, you need to be careful that you do it in a subtle manner and not too much, otherwise the hiring manager may catch on to what you are doing.

At Winston Resources, we know the psychology of putting people to work. We know what employers want and we know how to fit people to the right job. Give Winston a call today.