It is necessary to learn a few psychological interview tricks before one attempts to land their dream job, says Vikram Wadhawan

Whether you realise it or not, psychology impacts every aspect of your life. It doesn’t matter if you have ever taken a psychology course or if you have preexisting supreme knowledge and information about this topic. What’s necessary is that you learn to use a few psychological interview tricks before you attempt to land your dream job. After all, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.

Make sure time is on your side

If the hiring manager offers you some flexibility in choosing an interview time, be sure you choose it wisely. Psychological reasons, says, it’s wisest to look for an interview slot between 10 and 10:30 am on a Tuesday, Wednesday or Thursday. As your interviewer will be in a better head space to pay attention to your answers. Also, he/she will be more likely to be in a decent mood, which will make it convenient to build a rapport.

Avoid excessive smiling

There’s no need to scowl at your interviewer — but you’ll also want to avoid keeping a giant grin across your face And it’s not that you're mean, it’s purely psychological. A person that smiles too often is believed to be less serious and also too much smiling can look fake. Moreover, studies have also discovered that excessive smiling is not a good way to impress your interviewer and for certain professions, smiling too much can undermine your success in a job interview.

Address your interviewer by name

“Remember that a person's name is to that person the sweetest and most important sound in any language,” wrote Dale Carnegie in his book, How to Win Friends and Influence People.

The recruiter will instantly warm up to you once you will address them by their name. Subsequently, the interviewer probably has more interest in what you are saying. Moreover, Carnegie suggests using interviewer’s name a few times in an interview where appropriate, especially when you’re saying goodbye can make a lasting impression.

Mirror your recruiter’s body language

Let’s face it; your interviewer is going to base a major part of their decision on whether or not they like your personality. Therefore, it’s suggested to mimic the recruiter’s mannerisms as by reflecting their behaviour, the similarities establish a bond. This approach puts the interviewer at ease, promoting trust and likeability.

For example, note the interviewer’s communication style (whether formal or casual), and try to adapt the same. If they lean forward, likewise adjust your posture. Furthermore, echoing their voice tone and pitch is another great psychological trick that you can employ in your next job interview

Confidence is the key

Act confident, even if you don’t feel confident. This is because recruiters don’t only take your professionalism and experience into account, but also your confidence level. When you come off as authentic, passionate, confident, comfortable, and enthusiastic, recruiters are more likely to hire you and it increases your chances of getting selected.

Colour check is necessary

Did you know that colors portray certain traits? Base your color choice on the image you wish to project as the color of your clothes has a big impact on how other people see you. For example, if you’re wearing a blue or a brown suit, it means that you’re a serious candidate and grey signifies you’re logical, focused, and analytical. However, keep the point in consideration to not wear a lot of orange because it’s sometimes viewed as unprofessional.

Don’t forget to make eye contact

Don’t be bashful — when you first meet your interviewer or your interviewer comes to greet you, look them in the eye. Moreover, it’s also wise to make eye contact off and on throughout the entire interview.

In a study conducted at Northeastern University, researchers asked participants to watch videos of strangers talking to each other for the first time and then rate how knowledgeable each person seemed. Results showed that the people who consistently made eye contact while speaking were considered more intelligent than those who didn’t make eye contact.

Demonstrate reflective listening

Reflective listening means to repeat back your interviewer’s statement or question in your own words, while you are answering. Studies have shown that reflective listening can increase your chances of getting hired, as it does not make you look and sound interested and intelligent, but it also shows you have good listening skills.

Don’t interrupt

Interrupting someone elicits negative feelings. Never interrupt your recruiter, even when you think that your thoughts align with him/her and it shows that you're on the same page. Interruption can seem to be rude and also depicts a lack of listening skills.

It would be witty to consider the above-mentioned checks before landing for an interview. No interview is good or bad, successful or failed, but an experience in itself to understand the value of communication.

The writer is Founder & CEO, Vasitum