RE: Using Personal Style to win over Interviewers

["Lauren" <lt34 -at- csus -dot- edu>]

Sounds great.  But most of my interviews lately have been phone interviews.
Actually, it's a phone interview first and, if I don't blow it, an in-person
interview.  I sound young over the phone and I can't follow a conversation
if I don't see the person's face or read the discussion.  So I wind up
sounding too youthful and inexperienced over the phone.  How do I convey
body language and sound "energized, bright, and excited" when I am
experiencing phone stress?  Actually, the "energized, bright, and excited"
part might be hard to pull off when I feel apathetic, annoyed, and jaded.

Lauren

> -----Original Message-----
> From: techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com 
> [mailto:techwr-l-bounces+lt34=csus -dot- edu -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com] On 
> Behalf Of James Barrow
> Sent: Tuesday, February 06, 2007 6:23 AM
> To: techwr-l -at- lists -dot- techwr-l -dot- com
> Subject: Using Personal Style to win over Interviewers
> 
> Psychologist Albert Mehrabian estimated that 93% of all 
> communication is non-verbal.  So while many people worry 
> about saying the right thing in interviews, what wins 
> interviewers over is more often not what someone said, but 
> their overall presentation.  Personal style and non-verbal 
> communication are especially important for people who might 
> be perceived as being at a disadvantage in interviewing 
> situations, such as older people who have been in the 
> workforce for a while.  It's especially important for older 
> job candidates to come across as energized, bright and 
> excited in order to counter the misconception that only 
> younger candidates are motivated and eager to learn.
> 
> Examples of People with Great Personal Style
> 
> Staying with this theme of older workers, it might help to 
> get a visual in your mind about a particular style that you'd 
> do well to imitate.  The following celebrities are all older 
> Americans, but they would come across great in interviews 
> because of their attitudes and personal style: Donald 
> Sutherland; Lauren Hutton; Martin Sheen; Colin Powell and 
> Jimmy Carter.  We sort of came up with these names from a 
> random brainstorming session so it's by no means a complete 
> list.  But hopefully you'll find at least one of these 
> examples inspiring and educational.  
> 
> All these people are dapper, stylish dressers.  In an 
> interview situation, it's important to come in looking well 
> put-together.  Dressing well demonstrates personal discipline 
> and attention to details.  It can also demonstrate that 
> you're knowledgeable about current fashion, aware of 
> tradition and social ritual, etc.  How you look is the first 
> impression you make in an interview.  These people all have 
> deep moral convictions, keep themselves healthy and in good 
> shape, and have a positive outlook on life.
> They are also tactful, have a good sense of humor, are very 
> bright, and demonstrate enthusiasm and energy but in an 
> understated way.  They are also very smart and knowledgeable 
> about current issues.  When they talk about something, they 
> usually know it inside and out, and come across as very 
> professional and astute.
> 
> Contrast these people with some other examples: the men in 
> the classic movie from 1993, "Grumpy Old Men," especially the 
> lead character Max played by Walter Matthau.  These 
> characters came across as tired, disconnected from the 
> current times, and lacking style.  Or even worse, Jerry 
> Stiller's character as George Castanza's dad on Seinfeld, who 
> was always grumpy and seemed worn out by life.  These 
> characters would do terribly in interviews because they'd 
> confirm interviewers' fears about older candidates.
> 
> Researcher Warren Lamb has studied non-verbal communication 
> and believes someone who tends to straighten their posture 
> during a handshake to be a "presenter," and someone who is 
> good at selling themselves or the company they represent.  He 
> also found people who tend to lean forward during an 
> interview to be an "operator," or someone with lots of energy 
> who isn't afraid to get their hands dirty.  This doesn't need 
> to be dramatic; but leaning back in your chair during an 
> interview could give the interviewer a sense that you're not 
> interested, or that you don't have a lot of energy.
> 
> So while there is research to back up that certain elements 
> of personal style do communicate positive messages, it seems 
> that it's more a matter of someone's overall philosophy that 
> make up their style.  If you're excited about your own 
> personal development, coming across well, being really good 
> at what you do, but also being humble about it, you'll make a 
> great impression on anyone you talk to, including interviewers.
> 
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Mehrabian
> 
> - Jim
> 
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