Most people find job interviews highly stressful. Selling yourself is incredibly difficult, especially in a highly competitive market. By using these key NLP strategies, however, you can make the most of the existing market and help yourself stand out from the crowd. NLP, or neuro-linguistic programming, combines mind and body awareness with an understanding of how they impact emotions and feelings and the way you react to them. Your impression of the world is filtered through your five senses. Your language, however, gives meaning to each experience you have, filtering even your perception of the way things have occurred.
Become more aware of how you speak
What are your speech patterns saying about you? How are you portraying yourself, even unconsciously, to the individual conducting the interview? You want to portray an attitude of confidence and competence without appearing overconfident. Ideally, you want to display your capability within your field and your enthusiasm for the position. In many cases, this can be done without ever needing to come out and say the words. When you do speak, choose your words carefully to ensure that the interviewer or panel processes your meaning the way you intended.
Watch the nonverbal cues
What unconscious habits do you have that will influence your interviewer’s opinion? Pay attention to your nonverbal signals–and keep in mind that their impact begins when you walk into the office, not when you start the interview. Everything from how you sit in a chair as you wait for the interview to begin to your handshake when you’re introduced to the interviewer says something, even if the interviewer isn’t consciously analysing it. Take the time to analyse your behaviours before the interview so you can put your best foot forward.
Become comfortable talking about yourself
Many people become very uncomfortable when they’re asked to analyse themselves for an interviewer. Worse, they may have an easier time coming up with the things they do wrong than they do the things they do right. To turn yourself around, get in the habit of discussing your successes. Have a genuine conversation with someone you trust–a spouse or partner, a parent, a mentor–to help you better phrase your most shining attributes. Take the time to think them through before the interview so that you’ll be able to call them to mind more easily during the interview itself. This helps programme your mind to react calmly and professionally throughout the interview.
Prepare ahead of time
That isn’t just about doing your research or even about practising interview questions. It means mentally preparing yourself for the job that you’re applying for, although you’ll find that being well-prepared is a critical part of putting your best foot forward in the interview. Why do you really want this job? What about it speaks to you? What about the company interests you? If you’re desperate for any position, that’s going to show through during the interview. Instead, take the time to consider what it is that this company can offer you, whether it’s a ground-level position in your field, an exciting new career opportunity, or simply an open door you’d like to step through. Walk into the interview prepared to share that information alongside your research about the company and your personal skills. That preparation will shine through in your confidence, making you more comfortable with each stage of the interview.
Shut down the nerves
The way you think about the interview going in will impact your attitude and your behaviour throughout the process. Try reminding yourself that when the right position for you comes along, you’ll get it. A simple shift in perspective can be the difference between an interview filled with nerves and one in which you conduct yourself professionally and calmly. When you approach the interview as an opportunity to see whether or not you will be a fit for a particular company, rather than going after it like it’s the last interview you’ll ever have, you’ll discover that your nerves decrease.
The more competitive the market, the more necessary it is that you control each interview carefully. If you’re ready to make the most of your next interview, it’s time to start working on your NLP skills. As you enhance your communication capability, you’ll be better able to explain why you’d be a great fit for this potential new workplace–and that means that your interviewer will be more likely to see it.
