Feeling anxious about your upcoming job interview? You’re not alone! Many people find job interviews daunting and intimidating. But don’t worry, there are ways you can increase your chances of getting hired—one sure-fire way is by building rapport with your interviewer. Having a strong connection with your interviewer helps them remember you when it comes time to pick someone for the position. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some tips and tricks that will help you improve your interview skills and have an enjoyable interview experience—one where the interviewer wants to see you succeed and ultimately get hired!
What Is Rapport?
Rapport is an often used but sometimes poorly understood term in communication. It refers to the establishment of a positive connection between two people. In simple terms, it’s the feeling of mutual understanding and trust that exists between individuals who communicate well together.
Whether it’s an employee working with their boss, a mentor connecting with their trainee, or someone trying to close the deal with a client, developing rapport can greatly enhance the chances of success. Building rapport involves many factors, including effective communication, empathy, active listening, and a shared sense of purpose.
Why Is It Important to Build Rapport with Your Interviewer?
Establishing rapport with an interviewer can increase your chances of success in the hiring process. When the interviewer likes you, they are more likely to give you the benefit of the doubt when evaluating your answers and skills, making it so they’ll see you as more highly qualified and a better fit for the job. Here are some other reasons why it’s important to build rapport with your interviewer.
Establish a Positive Connection
Having a positive connection between you and the interviewer can help to create an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect, which can be beneficial throughout the interview process and support your credibility. Additionally, it can make the conversation more enjoyable for both parties, which can lead to a more successful interview overall.
Enhance Likability and Trust
Establishing trust during an interview is essential as it allows the interviewer to feel comfortable enough to ask questions they may not have asked otherwise and, in doing so, foster a stronger connection. Additionally, being likable can help with your job search by making you stand out from other candidates who may not have been able to make the same kind of connection with their interviewer.
Improve Communication
When there is strong rapport between two people, communication tends to flow more freely as both parties are more comfortable speaking openly with one another. This improved communication can help ensure that all of your answers are clear and concise, which can help you make a better impression on the interviewer.
Demonstrate a Cultural Fit
During an interview, many employers will look for signs that a candidate will be able to fit in well within their organization’s culture. Having strong rapport with your interviewer will naturally increase the sense of alignment, helping you to achieve better success in the job interview.
Overcome Interview Stress
Building rapport with your interviewer can also help alleviate some of the stress associated with interviewing for jobs. When there is an established connection between two people, it makes it easier for both parties involved to feel more relaxed during conversation.
How Can You Build Rapport with Your Interviewer?
There are many ways that you can build rapport with your interviewer and increase your success in a job interview.
- Research Beforehand: As part of your job interview preparation, take some time to research the company and the interviewer. This will help you to come up with questions that show you have done your homework and are genuinely interested in the organization.
- Establish a Positive First Impression: When meeting an interviewer for the first time, it is important to make a good first impression. Smile, make eye contact, and shake hands firmly. Be polite and friendly but professional at all times.
- Show Enthusiasm: Being enthusiastic during an interview shows your potential employer that you’re excited about joining their team. Using an energetic tone and engaged body language (e.g., leaning in) can help demonstrate this and gives the interviewer confidence in hiring you over other candidates who may not seem quite so passionate.
- Use Active Listening: Listen carefully to what the interviewer says without interrupting or trying to jump ahead of them in conversation. Show that you are engaged by asking follow-up questions or clarifying points if needed.
- Use Non-Verbal Communication: Make sure your posture is open and inviting, maintain eye contact throughout the conversation, nod occasionally to show understanding, and smile or otherwise mirror the interviews expressions when appropriate—all these things will help create a positive atmosphere.
- Find Common Ground: Look for topics to discuss such as shared interests, common experiences within the industry or other companies, and mutual connections—anything that could be used as a starting point for further discussion or exploration of each other’s backgrounds.
- Ask Engaging Questions: Asking engaging questions shows that you are genuinely interested in learning more about the company or position you’re interviewing for—and this is something your interviewer will appreciate! Ensuring your questions are specific to the role, the interviewer, or the organization will help to deepen your sense of connection.
- Be Adaptable & Flexible: Demonstrate how you handle change and other challenges by giving specific details on how you’ve responded to and effectively managed difficult situations in the past. This will prove invaluable when it comes time for them to decide whether they should hire someone like you by helping them to understand not just what you bring to the role but how you operate.
- Maintain Professionalism: Dress appropriately and keep conversations focused on why they should hire you specifically. Doing so demonstrates respect towards both parties involved which goes hand-in-hand with successful rapport building techniques!
How Can Interview Coaching Help You Build Rapport with the Interviewer?
Job interviews can be nerve-wracking and intimidating, especially if you’re not used to being in the hot seat. Here’s where interview coaching services can help:
- Expert advice and strategies
- Personalized feedback
- Role-playing and practice (mock interviews)
- Non-verbal communication guidance
- Tailored interview strategies
- Building confidence
- Interviewer perspective
- Ongoing support
Ready to Ace Your Interviews? Get Interview Coaching Today!
Are you feeling nervous about an upcoming job interview but unsure how to prepare effectively? Canada Career Counselling offers interview coaching services across Canada, either online through secure video conferencing or in person at one of our offices in Calgary, Toronto, and Halifax. Our team of experienced career counsellors has helped countless Canadians secure their dream jobs by providing personalized guidance on how to make a great impression during interviews.
We understand that building rapport with your interviewer is key to landing the job, which is why we work with you to develop strategies for building strong connections with potential employers. Don’t let pre-interview jitters hold you back from achieving your career goals—trust Canada Career Counselling to help you shine! Contact us today to learn more.
