Rapport is the connection between two people; the spoken and unspoken words that say ‘we are on the same page’. It is the art of making
someone feel comfortable and accepted; of connecting with others regardless of age, gender, ethnic background, their mood or the situation. Rapport is an essential basis
for successful communication – where there is no rapport there
Nailing the interview
is no (real) communication. This skill is never more
important than in an interview, where someone’s immediate impression of you is critical. Creating a connection with your interviewer is likely to have a huge impact on whether or not they wish to do business with you, so learning the skill of creating good rapport should be one of your priorities. We tend to be attracted to
people we consider similar to ourselves. When rapport is good, these similarities are emphasised and differences are minimised. We naturally experience
rapport with close friends or those with whom we share a common interest. However, we can learn to create rapport and use it to facilitate our relationship with anybody, even with those with whom we profoundly disagree.
In an interview situation, try employing these techniques to maximise the rapport between yourself and your interviewer...
First impressions count
Whether we like it or not, judgements are made about the way we look: our clothes, our hair, facial expressions and posture. These decisions are usually made in the first
Take a genuine interest
If you focus on the interviewer as a person, your overall attitude is likely to become more genuine. When you first meet a prospective employer, visualise that person as an important guest in your home. You will then be naturally glad to see them and will want to make them feel welcome and at ease. Your goal should be to understand them, rather than expect them to understand you. However, don’t be too friendly too quickly or you may appear false.
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few seconds of a meeting, so even before you speak, your interviewer will be absorbing non-verbal clues about the way you stand, walk, shake hands, smile and sit. And that’s why it’s important to plan everything about your appearance before your interview. The way you present yourself can help influence a person’s impression of you. For example, dark clothing suggests authority, and lighter colours suggest friendliness or a sense of humour; lots of jewellery suggests power or wealth. Your hairstyle might suggest sensible, cutting-edge, formal or friendly; your make-up can be glamorous or professional. It’s up to you to decide what sort of impression you want to make.
Develop the skill
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