HYPNOSIS FOR A SUCCESSFUL JOB INTERVIEW

     If you have a job interview on your calendar.  It's highly likely you have tried to prepare to do a good job. You've read the books. You have an excellent resume.  You've researched the prospective employer.  When you go to the interview you are well-groomed, on time and have thought through how you intend to present yourself and how you could be of value to your company. 

     Yet too often, people are sabotauged by their nonverbal communication.  Psychologists believe that between 60% and 80% of all communication is nonverbal.  So when you go into an interview, know you're not only being listened to - you are being watched.  Your facial expressions and body language will be sending messages just as much as what you say.

    In this hiring market, there can be many qualified applicants for every job.  You want to present yourself as calm and relaxed.  Get to the apppointment early, so you do not feel rushed and anxious.  Check where your resume and any other papers are in your briefcase before the interview so you can retrieve them quickly during the interview at the appropriate time.  As you are waiting, do a deep breathing exercise.  I tell my clients, "Breathe deeply.  Exhale completely."  Deep breathing can be very calming.  

     When you enter the interviewer's office, be aware of your posture.  Enter without hesitation.  This is your chance to make that important first impression.   Behave the way you want to be perceived - as calm and collected. Handshakes are important.  Match handshakes and hand movements to the other person.  If an interviewer is a hardy handshaker, he will respect the same from the person he is interviewing.  On the other hand, if the interviewer uses moderate pressure, he may think you are trying to dominate if you shake hands in a hard way.

     When you are seated sit forward on the chair.  Keep both feet on the floor.  Cross your legs only if the interviewer does.  Once you are seated, keep your eyes on the interviewer's face.  A wandering gaze can show lack of interest or even disrespect.  Even if the interviewer's eyes' wander, your gaze should be on his/her face.  Keep your hands in view and use slow, calm hand movements.  Speak slowly to convey your calmness to the interviewer.

     The job interview process is hard.  There are a lot of things to remember.  A session with a hypnotherapist can be a wonderful tool to facilitate a calm, productive and successful job interview.