Nailing Your Next Interview: Some Psych Tips to Keep in Mind

Whether you’re on the hunt for a new job or looking for an internship, you’re going to be faced with an interview at some point. Some of us might cringe when we think back to our first interview; sweaty hands, loose hand shakes, avoidant eye contact, and stumbling over our words. Interviews can make even some of the most confident people momentarily forget their own names under the pressure. But here’s the good news: a lot of the barriers we face are usually in our own heads! By preparing yourself, you can walk with confidence, and boost your odds of making a great first impression. 

Scheduling the Interview 

If you have a say in the timing of your interview, vouch to go first, if possible. This advice is based on the primacy effect, the phenomenon in which our memory best recalls what is first in a sequence. After a long day of interviewing many strong applicants, going first gives you the advantage of being extra memorable in the interviewer’s mind. It can also feel good to know that you aren’t being compared to any of the other applicants just yet, as you’re the first one up, and setting the standard to compare the next applicant to. If it just so happens that the first spot is already taken, your next best option is to go last. The recency effect allows our memory to also easily recall the end of a sequence. However, if you don’t get the first or last spot, it doesn’t mean you’re out of the game. There’re still plenty of ways to set yourself up for success within the interview itself. 

Prepping for the Interview 

Practice interviewing with a friend or the FAU Career Center beforehand. One of the most common questions people struggle to answer on the spot is “what are your weaknesses?” By preemptively answering questions that can be uncomfortable when they’re fresh in the moment- and taking feedback from your mock interviewer into consideration-you can prepare some strong answers for yourself ahead of time. 

In addition to taking some stress off your shoulders during the interview, this can also help you combat some inner doubts you may have against yourself in being qualified for the position. For example, maybe your weakness is that you may be less experienced than other candidates in the particular field you’re trying to enter, and you don’t feel that you’ll stand out against them, thus you fear you are a poor candidate. Think of ways in which you would contribute a net positive overall; maybe you’re well disciplined, and earnestly seek feedback so you can make corrections to your methods. Those attributes would allow you to compensate for your inexperience because you learn quickly. These mental exercises tap into the concept of attitude inoculation, building resilience against a strong argument by overcoming weaker versions of it. Oftentimes we are our worst critics.

Acing the Interview 

You’ve dressed for success , you’ve brought your resume, you have letters of recommendation attached, and maybe you even got an internal reference too. You’re walking into the interview now, and have done everything you can leading up to it to prepare for a good first impression. 

You’re ready– don’t let yourself get into your head. But then your heart starts to pick up its pace as you sit down. Was wearing a red tie too bold? Did I over-gel my hair this morning? You start to feel like the interviewer notices. Except she doesn’t. The spotlight effect has caused you to feel as though you’re being more noticed than you actually are. You smile despite the butterflies swarming around in your stomach. You’re sure she knows just how nervous you are. Except she doesn’t. The illusion of transparency has caused you to think that your emotional state was a lot more obvious than it actually is. You remember the chameleon effect, and how mimicking another person's gestures and body language makes you appear more likable. When the interviewer crosses her legs, after a moment, you cross your own. When the interviewer leans back in her chair, after a moment, you do the same. You start to feel more comfortable, and you come out of your shell a little more. Both parties are engaged. The interview eventually wraps up. You thank the interviewer for her time and go home to celebrate the interview you just aced. 

Resources: 

Owl Professional Clothes Closet 

https://www.fau.edu/newsdesk/articles/OWLclothes-closet.php  

FAU Career Center (Reach out for a mock interview!) 

https://www.fau.edu/career/students/mockinterview.php  

Common Interview Questions 

https://www.fau.edu/career/images/interview-after.pdf