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11 ways to initiate a strong interviewer and interviewee conversation
11 min read | Chris Dottie MBE | Article | | Interview advice
Have previous job interviews felt more like an interrogation than a conversation? Learn how to make future interviews feel more relaxed with these 11 tips.
You are going to have job interviews. Maybe that won’t be for a while, maybe you are preparing for one right now. Your next interview might be for an external job, about a promotion, with a recruiter or in a new country. Whenever and however that interview happens, you might not be looking forward to it.
That feeling of being bombarded with questions, of being the suspect in a ruthless interrogation, can fill people with dread. To help, I decided to put together a few simple tips to improve the interviewer and interviewee conversation. Hopefully, you might even start to look forward to it.
When it comes down to it, both sides – you and the interviewer – will get the most out of a job interview when it feels more like a discussion, and less like an interrogation. As the one being interviewed, you may feel that this is out of your hands – but that simply isn’t true.
There are many things you can do to shift the conversation in a positive direction. These might include:
So, you have just one hour (or maybe less) to convince your interviewer that they like you, and can see you working alongside them. I believe that in this short period of time, it’s entirely possible to build rapport – here’s how.
1. Research the interviewer before the interview
If there’s one thing that’ll definitely help to make your interview feel less like a stiff interrogation, it’s being familiar with your interviewer. You’ll at least know a little bit about the person or people you will meet on the day, helping you feel more relaxed.
As a minimum, find out their name and address them by this in the interview. Complement this background knowledge by researching the company in general, including its culture, values and mission. With so many online resources that can be so easily done these days – including the company website, their social media pages and the LinkedIn profiles of their existing employees.
2. Relax and calm your interview nerves
Before the interview, take active steps to reduce any lingering pre-interview anxiety in readiness for the big day.
You might do this by picking up the phone and talking to your recruiter about anything specific about the job or interview. Practising likely interview questions, picturing positive outcomes and simply remembering that your interviewer is just another human being can also all help you to lessen your fears.
It’s easy for many of us to picture the interviewer as a mysterious, all-powerful decision-maker. In reality, they were once in the same position as you.
3. During the interview, be mindful of your non-verbal communication
According to one well-known study, our facial expressions and body language account for as much as 55 per cent of our communication. So, you can bet your interviewer will consciously or unconsciously make conclusions from yours.
Open and positive job interview body language can ease conversation, particularly when building rapport and that initial connection with your interviewer. Try:
4. Start the conversation by giving a strong introduction
Make a conscious effort to smile from the moment you are first introduced. Being ready and able to talk the interviewer through your CV can also make a huge difference. It sets the tone and flow for the rest of the interview.
So, make sure you have a positive and coherent story to tell about your career development. How have the skills and experience acquired in past roles helped make you the perfect candidate for this role?
5. Don’t interrupt the interviewer
Interrupting your interviewer is one of the biggest no-nos. It comes across as rude and can make a conversation feel jilted and awkward. If there’s anything you want to say, wait for the interviewer to finish speaking first.
Don’t butt in just because a brilliant answer has suddenly popped into your head, either. If you do blurt something out while the interviewer is speaking, apologise and wait for them to conclude whatever they’re saying. Remember, any good interviewer and interviewee conversation is a two-way process and needs to flow seamlessly.
6. Start your answers with a positive affirmation or agreement
Such as “great question” or something to that effect. It might seem subtle or even obvious, but it’s one more great way to humanise the interaction between you and the interviewer.
And of course, a little flattery of the interviewer’s canny questioning doesn’t hurt in helping you build rapport, either. Subtle job interview techniques like this can help make you more memorable than other candidates.
7. Ask follow-up questions after you’ve answered
Even if it’s simply the occasional clarifying comment like “I hope I’ve answered your question?” This can help prompt more questions, giving you an opportunity to build on your answers, if needed.
Throughout your answers, try to demonstrate and re-enforce the fact that you relate to the interviewer. Show that you can help solve their hiring problem.
8. Answer interview questions with more than one line
Answering each of the interviewer’s questions in full might seem obvious. But proactively answering each question with thought and detail helps to make the conversation feel less forced. You’ll avoid those awkward ‘tumbleweed’ moments when the interviewer is waiting for you to answer further.
Of course, you’ll need to have more than one line ready to give to each question. This is where genuine confidence and thorough interview preparation – including a good knowledge of the company and what drew you to apply to this position – will help. Your answers also need to demonstrate that you have actively listened to the question – another key job interview skill.
9. Use the STAR technique to help tell a story with your answers
One way you can ensure you give full, relevant and interesting answers, is to ensure you incorporate a degree of storytelling into them. Storytelling isn’t just something for kids – it’s what the most engaging communicators in the world do. It can help you to give a more compelling interview performance, too.
A great way to ensure you do this is to follow the STAR technique. This involves setting a situation (S), describing your task and involvement (T), detailing your action (A) and explaining the results (R). It is a great method for answering those questions that are based on how you handled a past work situation. For example, have you dealt with key people being unavailable for a particular project, or collaborated with other departments to complete an assignment?
This also gives you a chance to show that you can lead a conversation. Engage your interviewer with a fully-formed story – giving them the opportunity to comment and enquire further on what you’ve said.
10. Be genuine when answering the interviewer’s questions
Show humility and that you have a high EQ (emotional intelligence). Don’t just read off a script or recite previously prepared interview answers word-for-word – it’s obvious to an experienced interviewer when you’re answering according to a template or just trying too hard.
If you’re able to be yourself in an interview, it’s easier for the interviewer to warm to you. It’s then easier for you to build a natural rapport with them.
11. Ask your own questions
Don’t feel that you have to wait until the end of the interview to ask your own questions. To help the interview feel more like a conversation, you should ask them throughout – but only when they’re relevant and don’t interrupt the flow.
Research conducted by Harvard University has identified that people who ask questions are better liked. They’re your chance to keep the conversation going. Use them to get a more detailed idea of what the company has to offer you.
Make sure the questions you do ask are relevant, considered, and tell the interviewer that you have been actively listening. Obviously, experience also helps – the more times you try out these techniques, the more natural they will become.
I hope that this blog can help you become more successful in interviews. By fostering a meaningful connection with your interviewer, you will positively impact the outcome. After all, people recruit people they like.
Looking for a new challenge or want to discuss your current or future recruitment needs? Please contact your local Hays Education recruitment consultant.
A native of Liverpool, Chris joined Hays in 1996, working in the UK and Portugal before arriving in Spain in 2002. He is Managing Director for the Hays group in Spain, with offices located in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Bilbao and Seville.
He has a degree in International Business and Modern Languages from Aston University, including a year’s study at l’École Superieur de Sciences Commerciales d’Angers and has since completed Executive Education courses at Ashridge Business School and IMD. He is a regular public commentator on the world of work and international trade.
For the past four years Chris has served as President of the British Chamber of Commerce in Spain and currently serves as a Non Executive Director on the Board of the British Chambers of Commerce. Chris was awarded an MBE for services to British business on the New Years Honours List in 2020.
