Here's how you can use emotional intelligence to navigate and adapt to different interview styles.
Emotional intelligence (EI) is your ability to recognize and understand emotions in yourself and others, and your ability to use this awareness to manage your behavior and relationships. In the context of interviewing, EI can be a powerful tool to help you navigate different interview styles, from traditional one-on-ones to group interviews or even the increasingly popular stress interviews. By understanding and adapting to the emotional dynamics of each situation, you can present yourself as a responsive and perceptive candidate, increasing your chances of making a positive impression.
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Emotional intelligence consists of four core skills: self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management. In interviews, self-awareness helps you understand your strengths and weaknesses, allowing you to present yourself authentically. Self-management enables you to stay calm and collected, even under pressure. Social awareness allows you to read the interviewer's cues and adapt your responses accordingly. Lastly, relationship management helps you build rapport and connect with your interviewer, making you a more memorable candidate.
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Self-awareness: Recognize your emotions and how they affect your behavior to remain calm and focused during interviews. Self-regulation: Adapt your responses to different interview styles, maintaining professionalism and composure. Empathy: Understand the interviewer’s perspective and respond appropriately, building rapport. Social skills: Communicate effectively and adapt your interaction style to match the interview format, whether it's formal, informal, or behavioral. Motivation: Stay positive and resilient, using feedback to improve your performance in various interview settings.
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Emotional intelligence involves understanding your own emotions, recognizing emotions in others, and using this information to guide your thinking and behavior. Demonstrating emotional intelligence during interviews can set you apart and enhance your chances of landing the job!
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Emotional intelligence is one of the most widely-applicable and helpful skills someone can develop. Interviews may feel long, but really they are a brief moment to showcase your skills, experience, and fit for a position. Work to understand your feelings and find healthy ways to manage negative emotions like stress and anxiety. Everyone feels anxious going into an interview, great candidates find ways to manage those feelings. Imagine you’re an athlete preparing for a big game: do you want to use music to pump yourself up? Do you do better with quiet moments to reflect and breathe? Whatever your process, do what you need to get in the zone and block out those negative emotions.
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Before every interview take a minute to think of why you want to go for this interview or any other. Why you want a new role, why you want to change your current situation. Ensure you are secure in your decisions. This should be your motivating and calming force. As soon as you enter the room physically or virtually read the room and surroundings. Facial expressions from both yourself and others are tells. Use it to your advantage.
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By imbedding thoughtful questions that align with the four core values previously referenced in this article. Ask the candidate to describe an experience where they realized that they should have been more self aware? How did they manage the situation? Ask the candidate to describe their communications style as how it shifts from in person opposed to communicating through technology. Ask the candidate to describe their approach in building relationships? If they were offered the job and had to outline their own on-boarding strategy what would it be. These inquiries should lead to meaningful conversations that should provide you with a preview into their emotional intelligence, giving you a good idea of your compatibility.
When you walk into an interview, take a moment to 'read the room.' Pay attention to the interviewer's body language and tone. Are they formal and business-like, or more relaxed and informal? This can give you valuable clues about the interview style and how to adjust your approach. For instance, if the interviewer seems more casual, you can mirror that style to some extent while still maintaining professionalism. Conversely, if they are more formal, you would want to respond in kind, showing that you can fit into a structured environment.
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- Become familiar with the art/science of "observational methods." - Arrive Early - Introduce yourself to the greeter and confirm the names and titles of those set to interview you. - Don't be overly concerned with the body language of the interviewers. Your relaxed professionalism will effect whatever "baggage" the interviewers brought with them. - Listen closely to every question, with direct eye contact. - Relax when there are pauses after your answers to questions. - Do not give into the need to fill the pause of the interviewers with "whatever comes to your mind." - Enjoy the process and learn what you can from it.
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Researching your interviewers can indeed provide valuable insights that can be used to tailor your approach during an interview. Understanding their professional background, interests, and interaction style through platforms like LinkedIn and Glassdoor can help you anticipate the kind of questions they might ask and the responses they are likely to appreciate. T The initial minutes of the interview are often telling; they can reveal if the interviewer prefers a formal or conversational tone, values concise answers or detailed explanations, and whether they are looking for technical expertise or cultural fit. Adapting your responses to align with these preferences can create a positive impression and significantly enhance the interaction.
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Look at your surroundings. Inspect the interviewers. How they hold themselves? Hands, Shoulders, arms, legs, Eyes, Forehead. Open or closed? Interested or engaged? Mirroring someone's body language slightly is a quick affirmation of interest. You will subconsciously do it when you relax.
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Practice the art of pausing. While it's great to be enthusiastic about sharing your experience, it's also helpful to take a pause, make eye contact, and smile when appropriate. This will help you gather your thoughts and make a connection to hold the interviewer's attention. It also allows you to gauge whether you need to adjust your tone or narrative by adding more relevant information.
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Interviewers will always have different personalities, styles and approaches. By paying attention to verbal and nonverbal cues, you can use your emotional intelligence to adapt your approach. However, never forget that you are in an interview - so regardless of how formal or informal the conversation feels, maintain your professionalism. You may have a good rapport with the interviewer, but don't think this makes it OK to include bad language, inappropriate comments, criticism of previous employers, etc. At the end of the day, you are still being assessed for a job and unprofessional behaviour will be a red flag - even if the interview feels friendly or casual.
It's natural to feel nervous or anxious before an interview, but with high emotional intelligence, you can manage these emotions. Practice deep breathing or positive visualization techniques before the interview to calm your nerves. During the interview, if you're thrown a curveball question, use your self-management skills to stay composed. Take a moment to think before you speak, ensuring that your response is measured and thoughtful rather than reactive.
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Practice the questions of " Why did you apply for this job" over and over again. This can be a heartwrenching or simple question to answer but know it and use it. Know your strengths and weaknesses. Be honest with yourself. Don't be afraid to use them to your advantage. It will display maturity, development and humility. Be proud of yourself.
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Practicing emotional management is indeed a journey of self-discovery and continuous improvement. Identifying triggers and understanding emotional responses can lead to better control and resilience. In the context of interviews, thorough preparation, including anticipating questions and aligning one's strengths and weaknesses with the job requirements, can significantly alleviate anxiety. Positive affirmations serve as a powerful tool to reinforce self-confidence and address potential weaknesses in a constructive manner. This holistic approach to self-awareness and preparation can be transformative both personally and professionally.
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Staying in control of your emotions during an interview is highly important, especially if you're feeling emotionally charged about your reasons for leaving your last position. It's easy to go into too much detail about why things went south or why you were "wronged" but in an interview, it's always best to keep it positive. This is a huge red flag to employers. Instead, discuss how you're looking to expand your skillset or ready to tackle a new challenge. Practice in advance.
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Feeling nervous before an interview is normal, but emotional intelligence can help you manage these feelings. Use techniques like deep breathing or visualization to calm nerves. In the interview, maintain composure, even with tough questions, by thinking before responding. Demonstrate engagement by reading non-verbal cues, matching the interviewer’s enthusiasm, asking insightful questions, and actively listening to show your interest and interpersonal skills.
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To Control Emotions focus on your strengths try always to get the interviewer attention by mentioning what you are good at to let him ask you about it then you can elaborate as much as possible.
Active engagement in an interview demonstrates your interest in the position and your inter-personal skills. Use social awareness to pick up on non-verbal signals from your interviewer. If they lean in or nod as you speak, it's a sign they're interested in what you're saying. Match their enthusiasm and show that you're fully present in the conversation. Ask thoughtful questions and listen actively to their responses, which shows that you value their input and are keen to learn more about the role and company.
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Prep for the interview by thinking of relevant stories for questions you think may be asked, but don't over prep. Don't try to memorize your responses. Interview responses have to be conversational. Talk WITH the interviewers, not AT them. You will get a lot of information during the interview that will help you discover pain points, priorities, goals and concerns. Listen to the questions, pay attention to non-verbal cues, and adapt your responses to the people in the room and everything you learn along the way.
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Use terms like "We" instead of "me"...Understand the questions, tasks, and goals the interviewer is asking and telling you about, and then speak carefully to exactly what they are looking for. Give examples of prior work you may have done that is similar...Even if it's completely different, there might be crossover. Don't divert and ramble. Keep answers specific, or relay and show how they are pertinent.
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Practice active listening to understand the interviewer's communication preferences and adapt your responses accordingly. Demonstrate empathy by considering the interviewer's perspective and adjusting your demeanor to build rapport. Maintain self-awareness to manage stress and anxiety during challenging interview scenarios, ensuring clarity and composure in your responses. Lastly, leverage social skills to convey confidence, engage with the interviewer, and leave a positive impression. Emotional intelligence enhances your ability to navigate various interview styles with adaptability and professionalism.
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É tão bom quando a entrevista vira uma conversa e não um monólogo. Nós Entrevistadores, adoramos quando o candidato também faz seus questionamentos, isso demonstra interesse de fato, curiosidade, e com certeza o candidato ganha um pontinho a mais por isso em sua avaliação.
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Always be the real one while getting interviewed at any place, continuous responses on questions without taking a pause is something which always helps you.
Every interview is an opportunity to tell your story, but how you tell it should vary based on the interview style. If you're in a behavioral interview, focus on past experiences and how they've shaped your professional journey. For case interviews, emphasize your analytical and problem-solving skills. With emotional intelligence, you can tailor your anecdotes and examples to resonate with the interviewer's style, whether it's data-driven or more personal.
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If you don't ask any questions at the end, you've lost points! ALWAYS bring 3 great questions for end of interview that are thoughtful’: 1) What are the top 3 challenges of the role? 2) What does success look like? and the BEST question to demonstrate courage and self awareness is to ask 3) Do you have any hesitation in me performing in this role? You'll get instant feedback!
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One of my successful tricks is aligning your experiences and strengths with the interviewer’s expectations and the company’s values. Self-awareness enables you to choose stories that highlight relevant skills and achievements. Social awareness helps you gauge the interviewer's reactions, allowing you to tweak your narrative in real-time. Incorporate elements of empathy to reflect understanding and commitment. Finally, you've got to ask questions and reflections that demonstrate mutual interest and fit, making your story more compelling and relatable.
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Every interview lets you share your story, but adapt it to the interview type. For behavioral interviews, discuss past experiences. In case interviews, highlight analytical skills. Use emotional intelligence to adjust your responses and craft a personalized follow-up message that matches the interview's tone, expressing thanks and reiterating interest in the role.
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Beim erzählen meiner Beispiele und Geschichten hat sich als Eselsbrücke die STAR-Methode bewährt: Situation -Task-Action-Result. In der Vorbereitung sollte man seine Geschichte anhand dieser Aspekte vorbereiten: Wie waren die Umstände? (Situation)? Was war der Auftrag (Task)? Was habe ich unternommen (Action)? Wie sah das Ergebnis aus (Result)?
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Every interview is a chance to share your story, but the way you tell it should match the interview style. In a behavioral interview, highlight past experiences and how they’ve influenced your career. In case interviews, focus on your analytical and problem-solving skills. Use emotional intelligence to adapt your stories and examples to fit the interviewer's approach, whether they prefer data-driven details or more personal insights.
After the interview, use your understanding of emotional intelligence to craft a personalized follow-up message. Reflect on the tone of the interview and the personality of the interviewer to decide how formal or informal your message should be. Express gratitude for the opportunity and reiterate your interest in the position. A thoughtful follow-up can reinforce the positive impression you made during the interview and keep you top of mind for the interviewer.
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Thanking the interviewer afterwards and reinforcing what you like about the role and how you can add value can speak volumes about your emotional intelligence, ability to pick things up and apply your skills to their needs.
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Hacer seguimiento es una buena técnica, tal vez no quedaste para el puesto de trabajo, pero te ayuda a construir tu red de contactos. Recuerda que más allá de que buscas trabajo, estas vendiendo tu servicio.
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Après l'entretien, utilisez votre intelligence émotionnelle pour rédiger un message de suivi personnalisé. Tenez compte du ton de l'entretien et de la personnalité de l'intervieweur pour décider du caractère formel ou informel de votre message. Exprimez votre gratitude pour l'opportunité et réaffirmez votre intérêt pour le poste. Un suivi réfléchi peut renforcer l'impression positive que vous avez laissée et vous garder à l'esprit de l'intervieweur.
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As a Recruiter very few people send a follow up email. Sending a follow up will help you stand out but also gives you the opportunity to expand upon or clarifying anything that came up in the interview that you felt you left out in your original response.
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Take some time to reflect on how the interview went - were there opportunities to ask questions or probe the interviewer about aspects of the role you weren’t able to take? Is there something you wanted to know about the business and/or the working environment? If there were it’s a good thing!! This gives the perfect excuse to follow up, ask these questions and remind the prospective employer who you are and that you ask good questions. Turn the negative into a positive and stay in their thoughts!
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Be prepared for having 2 to 3 interviewers in front of you. Especially when you’re there for a coveted role. When you understand that it’s human nature to want to be respected and acknowledged, you’ll instinctively ‘know’ what to do. Speak to the one asking the question, but remember to briefly look at the other(s).. to indicate you acknowledge their presence, inputs, thoughts, considerations as well. Because you’ll never know who amongst the 2 or 3 is the real decision maker (or deal breaker). It could very well be the one who stays quiet or looks like having the least power. Stay calm, smile and I wish you all the best in your interview! 💪🏻💝 xoxo Mona Behaviour Analyst Emotional Intelligence Specialist Mental Health Advocate
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Michele Darley
Recruiting Leader | LinkedIn Top Voice - hiring SAEs with UCaaS/CCaaS and MS Teams!!!
As an interviewer, I see a lot of people who are nervous. I try to make my interviews as conversational as possible and always start with an icebreaker and an introduction, so they get to know me as a person, so it feels less intimidating. If I see/hear someone stumbling over words, or visibly anxious, I slow things down. Give them time to pause, think things through and ask the question a different way. Interviews are scary if the person doing the interviewing makes it scary. We don't have to do it that way.
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Be aware of and understand your own emotions to better manage stress and anxiety during interviews. Recognize and empathize with the interviewer's emotions. This will help you establish rapport and build a positive connection. Adapt -- adjust your communication style and responses to align with the interviewer's preferences, which can be a structured format or a more casual conversation. Being emotionally sound and prepared will enable you to navigate interviews with confidence, authenticity and empathy.
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Of late, post pandemic a lot of Interviews do take place virtually. Some pointers about virtual interviews are that gauging body language becomes that much more difficult, one needs to focus consciously on facial cues of the interviewer. In person interviews are relatively easier to gauge. Be it in person or virtual, I think prepping for the conversation helps. Not just going through one's experience in the head,but also noting some challenging times, what worked what did not will certainly make it easier. STAR is a known model. Situation Task Action Results Place the incident in the above framework.
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La IE juega un papel fundamental en la capacidad de adaptarse a diferentes estilos de entrevista. Al comprender y gestionar nuestras propias emociones, así como las de los demás, podemos ajustar nuestra comunicación y comportamiento para responder de manera efectiva a las necesidades y expectativas de cada entrevistador. Esto implica ser conscientes de nuestras propias fortalezas y áreas de mejora ( no puntos débiles), así como de la dinámica durante la entrevista y crear una comunicación fluida y productiva. Por último, la inteligencia emocional nos capacita para adaptarnos con agilidad y empatía a diversos contextos de entrevista, maximizando nuestras oportunidades de éxito en el proceso de selección.
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