There are two goals to any employment interview: showing you do can do the job, and making a personal connection with the interviewer, because after all, people hire people they like.
Chris Perry, of Career Rocketeer and Launchpad fame, recently published an entry on BrandCamp University’s blog, “Are You Connecting with Your Interviewer?” that shared five great suggestions to help candidates click with their interviewer. It’s a great read (and I’m not just saying that because Chris was kind enough to include my own advice!)
I’ll include a bonus tip for my readers here: When it comes to making this connection, your non-verbal language is just as critical as what you’re saying. Lean forward, in towards your interviewer, to appear genuinely interested in the conversation and the position at hand. Mirror your interviewer’s mannerisms (generally speaking, of course) to show interest and create rapport. Similarly, tilt your head to one side to show interest in what’s being discussed, and occasionally nod your head to convey that you are in agreement and on the same page.
Utilizing these tips will help ensure you get called back for another round.