10 Smart Hacks to Ace Any Job Interview

Job interviewers aren’t from Mars! They are people like you and me with the same psychological intuitions and responses as us. So, apart from keeping yourself prepared for the interview, it’s good to own a few tricks up your sleeve on how to impress them.

Just simple changes in the way you speak, your body language and gestures is enough to make you more hireable and competent in their eyes. That’s why we’re here to help you.

Here are a few hacks on how to impress your interviewers.

Simple Hacks to Impress your Interviewers

1. Match your Outfits to the image you wish to portray

Surveys indicate that the color of your outfit often conveys a message to the interviewer. It’s not just outfits that reflect what you want to put across, but their colors as well. While reds indicate power, blues are considered the best choice since they indicate team spirit and adherence to the rules. Whites show that a person is organised, while browns are dependable.

So, play it safe with blues and blacks and avoid those oranges and neons.

2. Go with answers to suit your interviewer’s age and personality

Gauging your interviewers’ age is important as you need to conduct yourself accordingly. Younger interviewers could appreciate a sense of humour while older ones look for some respect from you at what they’ve achieved.

• If your interviewers are in their twenties or thirties, it’s best you show some sample of your work, your ability to multitask and some tech-savvy skills.
• Older interviewers need some demonstrations of respect and commitments to the job. SO make sure you stress how committed you are to your employer.

3. Try to gauge your interviewer’s body language and change your stance accordingly

An interviewer trying to stifle his yawn is a red flag that your job interview is not going as well as it should. If he/she is leaning forward, it means they are interested and you can continue with your current stance. Try to judge what they are conveying through their body language.

You could try to imitate things they do like putting your hand on the table while speaking. It creates a subconscious rapport with them which could work positively for you.

4. Show an equal mix of deference and self-confidence

As you explain something, make statements like “I admire what you did in this <area>, I did the same in my project too” and go on to explain how you achieved something on similar terms.

It’s a sign of deference on your interviewer’s work and a show of confidence of how you can steer the conversation to your achievements.

5. Speak expressively and with gestures

An expressive speaker is often considered a confident speaker. Never speak in monotones.

Try to add some modulation, simple hand gestures and noticeable pauses as you speak. This conveys a feeling that you are intelligent and an expert on the subject. Speak slowly when explaining new concepts so that the listener can grasp what you are trying to convey.

This would surely earn you some brownie points.

6. Think Out of the Box

This may seem like a skill but it can be acquired. Every major interview has the interviewer throwing some question at you which will catch you off-guard. Be prepared, take some time, and try to be calm as you answer it the best way you can – we’re sure you’ll score the job on those.

7.  Do not sell yourself too Hard

In an attempt to portray how good a fit you are, do not over-impose your own achievements. This is likely to put off the interviewer. Instead, praise the organisation and subtly convey how your sentiments and achievements align with the company’s goals to sell yourself better.

8. Eye Contact is important

Good eye contact with your interviewer indicates that you are interested, serious and wish to establish a working relationship. Studies show that people who maintained eye contact while speaking are likely to be perceived more intelligent than people who don’t.

9.Assertiveness is an important trait

If you are an introvert, make sure you sell your skills and speak your achievements and show ownership. Do not look anxious and try to please the interviewer at every chance. You could be assertive and friendly on points you do not agree with.

Most interviewers look for signs of assertiveness in their candidates.

10. Find common areas of interest with the interviewer

In the age of LinkedIn, it’s easy to research a bit about your potential interviewer and find some common areas of interest you share. An interviewer is likely to be interested when he finds you share things in common. For instance, if your interviewer loves to travel, and you do too, you could work on that topic a bit to show how you share his passion. It could make a big impact on his/her impression of you.

And remember to be insightful in the small chit-chats he has with you between interviews. It could be to get a glimpse of your personality so take it seriously.

That’s it, folks prepare yourself for the interview, remember these tips and ace that interview with your dream company. Do share more tips with us on how you managed to crack a difficult interview.