How to Give Your Best Performance in an Interview, by Partners With You

The Handshake
Your handshake contributes to the impression that you make and can determine how the interviewer treats you. Limp or overly strong handshakes are the 2 extremes, but what does your handshake say about you?

Sitting Positively
Push your bottom into the back of the chair
Sit upright in your chair
Pull your head up so that you have a “level” gaze
Allow your legs to be relaxed or lightly crossed
Allow your arms to res in an “open” or lightly crossed position

Eye Contact
Eye contact is really important in communication. It helps you to focus and allows the interviewer to open up and therefore improves the flow of the conversation. When you are communicating well you have more eye contact as the listener than the speaker. When you are talking you naturally look away to think. When you are listening you have more eye contact, which shows you are interested.

Rapport
Build immediate rapport with your interviewer by subtly matching and mirroring. We do mean subtly – you do not want to mimic your interviewer’s action, but to mirror their style of behaviour.

Genuine Smiles
Bared teeth and dead eyes create the look of a snarling animal.
When you next meet your interviewer, think of something that makes you smile – your children, your partner, the interviewer in their underwear – anything so long as when you greet your interviewer you are thinking “Happy”
Smiling adds warmth and animation to the voice and to the face, stopping you look stiff and ridged

Conversation
Next time you are in an interview imagine you are talking to a friend in the pub, it can help you relax and be less fearful. This helps you to look and sound more natural, brings your personality into the conversation and can make you more accessible to the interviewer.

Energy
A great way to add variety and change the mood of your interview is to consider your energy level - what will be most effective and when? Changing the energy level changes your style vocally and physically. Having high energy portrays enthusiasm and vitality whereas low energy can give weight and gravitas to the message. Whatever you do DON’T stay at the same energy level throughout – it will be boring!

Use Humour
If your interviewer laughs it relaxes them and you. Use your natural wit and spontaneity however DON’T tell a joke unless you're a comedian!

The Pause
Use the pause! It's dramatic and powerful. It breaks up your speech patterns and makes you sound more interesting. It gives time for the interviewer to assimilate your message and it also gives you time to think about what on earth you're going to say next!

Less is More
You're better off saying less and having more impact than droning on with every fact available; potentially losing the interviewer so that they remember nothing. Keep your message clear and concise – it will have more impact!

Enthusiasm
Enthusiasm is infectious. If you've had a number of interviews and are therefore repeating your answers or questions it may no longer enthuse you, the interviewer will also become bored senseless too! You need to find something to be enthusiastic about. It could be changing your answer or asking a different question, how you will solve their problem by hiring you but above all be enthusiastic about something!

Answering Questions
How do you answer an easy question? You lean forward, smile, keep eye contact - appear confident. How do you answer a challenging question or one you don't know the answer to? You look away, physically pull back, grimace, cough - appear unconfident? No! You physically and vocally do the same as if you knew the answer and are comfortable with the question, thereby giving the impression of not being fazed, being confident and capable!

Partners With You are specialists in enabling professional individuals to feel more confident. They utilise the skills of professional actors who are able to pass on tips, techniques and skills gained from years of experience in their chosen field.

Partners With You have clients across all industry sectors. You will benefit from the interactive training which will help you to resolve your communication issues and enable you to feel more confident in interviews.

If you would like to know more about Partners With You please visit their website http://www.partnerswithyou.co.uk/ call Sally on 01923 842435 referencing Chilli Pepper Global