Mirroring Your Opponent
When sitting across from an interview table, it is easy to get a little hand-fidgety.
One of the best tricks that I have learned, whether for public speaking or sitting across from someone in any awkward situation is to hold a pen.
Holding a pen keeps your hands from wandering and appearing nervous. I find that it can be a subtle and non intrusive instrument to ease your nerves. If you tend to be a little bit fidgety during an interview (you might not even realize that you keep pushing the hair away from your face or pulling down your shirt) try this little trick. It might help. It always helps me.
Another trick of the interview trade is to mirror your interviewer. For example, if your interviewer is speaking in a relatively soft manner, you don’t want to shout your answers. Try to stay on the same vocal level. Let them set the pace. If they are speaking in an, I don’t care who hears voice, then by all means answer in the same manner.
By mirroring their tones, you don’t come off as being too meek to their high vocals or too overbearing to their soft vocals.
The same tricks would apply to body language. If the Interviewer sits back and puts their hands in their laps, mirror their body language. If they lean in a little close to the table, do a slight variation of the same just don’t get so close that they think that you want to make out with them.
If they appear to be laid back and humorous, try to find your chameleon gene and relate. If they are all business, stay on the serious side of your personality. Try not to clash if at all possible. The interview is as much about how two people get along as the importance of skill sets. Clicking is key.
The one time that I would suggest that you do not mirror their image is if the Interviewer crosses their arms across their chest. You never want to cross your arms during an interview. It is a bad body language move as it may appear as if you are putting up a combative front or look unapproachable. Definitely not O.K. from your side of the table, trust me.
You don’t want to look too relaxed either. For example, never sit back, hands hanging over the chair with your ankle crossing over your knee. This is not a fishing trip. There is a fine line between trying to look nonchalant and I don’t care.
By mirroring the Interviewers’ speech or body language, believe it or not, you are putting them at ease as well. Sitting ram rod straight at the edge of your chair with your hands folded tightly in front of you on the table kinda scares people. It looks like you are either waiting for an applicant treat or are completely desperate to start speaking. And either one scares me.
Let the interviewer set the pace. Follow their lead as much as possible. It is a very subliminal tactic to aid in creating tranquility during the interview process.
