Building rapport with the interviewer

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Building rapport with the interviewer is crucial during an interview. It helps you stand out and leaves a positive impression. Interviews are a two-way process where you sell your skills and expertise while positioning yourself as a good fit for the role, and the interviewer sells the organization to you. You're probably more nervous about your interview than the hiring manager, but that doesn't mean they should do all the work.

A successful job interview is an art and skill. Your chances rests on your ability to communicate how your skills and experiences have prepared you for success in the role. Whether or not you’re ultimately offered the job also depends a lot on the chemistry you have with the interviewers and whether or not they think you would be a good fit for their team and company culture. A good interview often comes down to “likeability” and if you’re able to establish a friendly rapport with the interviewer(s). Remember, they are evaluating you, not just as a walking set of skills or experiences, but as a potential future colleague, collaborator, team member, and friend. To establish a good connection with your interviewer and set yourself apart as a more memorable, likeable candidate, keep these highly effective rapport-building techniques in mind as you interview.

Make a good first impression. Greet the interviewer with a smile and a firm handshake. Maintain eye contact and be polite. Be mindful of mirroring when you’re in the job interview. Mirroring the behaviour of the people you’re in conversation with is a common human behaviour in social situations. If the interviewer seems to be setting a more serious, formal tone and is not engaging in small talk, you don’t want to make any overt gestures to be funny or over-the-top. Likewise, if your interviewer seems more relaxed and conversational, taking an opposite tone that is more formal may give them the impression that you are cold or perhaps even a little rude. Read your interviewer well and accordingly adjust your gestures, body language, and tone.

Show a genuine interest about the interviewer and check their experience with the organization by inquiring how they got their start. This will help you to establish a friendly rapport and show your interviewer you’re not just focused on yourself but interested in getting to know all the people who may end up being your future colleagues. Give some thought before and during the meeting to the interviewer’s priorities and goals. Put yourself in their shoes and see if you can figure out the most important topics or skills they seem to be looking for in your candidature. During the interview, actively listen to the interviewer as they discuss important details about the position and company. Show interest by paraphrasing, repeating their points, and taking notes.

Pay attention to your body language as it can convey a lot of information. Nonverbal communication is just as significant as verbal communication. Your body language can indicate your feelings about the job, the company, and the interview without you having to say anything. Lean in to show your interest when the interviewer discusses the position or their company. You don’t want to make such an effort to align your overall behaviour with the interviewer that you completely suppress your own personality. Don’t let your nerves or any underlying insecurities get the better of you and prevent you from being yourself. Interviewers can tell very quickly when job candidates don’t seem genuine or transparent, so it’s always in your best interest to, ultimately, just be yourself.

The best interviews are interactive exchanges, real back-and-forth conversations between yourself and the interviewer(s). One of the best ways to facilitate this is by asking right?questions to the interviewer. And you also don’t have to hold off until the end of the interview to ask all of your questions. Look for ways to naturally raise your questions throughout the meeting to create more of an authentic conversation.

Express your interest in the position to the interviewer, specifically highlighting the reasons why you are so attracted to the position and the team. Always remember to communicate how much you appreciate the opportunity to be considered for the role and express how much you enjoyed meeting them and the interview. ?A personalized email to each person you interviewed with thanking them for their time and attention and also reiterating your enthusiasm for the job and the organization. When looking for new hires, employers are not just interested in finding someone with the right skill set for the job. They also want an employee who?wants?to be there and who is excited and motivated to become a valuable member of their organization.

Building rapport during an interview is important as it leaves a positive impression and improves your chances of getting a job offer. A good connection can make you stand out as a better candidate and gives the interviewer confidence that you will fit well with their company's Remember, building rapport isn’t just about answering questions—it’s about creating a positive connection that makes you memorable and likable.

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