| If you have started to read any job interviewing | | | | to think and breathe. You can't pause for too many |
| books, they inevitably mention the concept of | | | | breaks, but the goal is to keep up the overall tempo |
| "mirroring." This is described as the interviewee | | | | of the conversation. |
| mirroring or copying such things as how the | | | | On the flip side, if they are a slow talker, and you |
| interviewer is sitting (legs crossed, slouching, or sitting | | | | speak very quickly, the interviewer may have the |
| up straight), where they place their hands (on the | | | | impression that you are nervous, excitable, and would |
| desk, in their lap), and their pattern of speech. Every | | | | not pay attention to detail. However, unlike the |
| time I think about doing this, I laugh out loud. If I | | | | situation above where it's primarily a negative |
| was conducting an interview and noticed that an | | | | impression, it is possible that they will appreciate your |
| interviewee was doing this, things would quickly | | | | energy and can see it as a plus for the organization. |
| deteriorate into a physical Simon Says game where I | | | | If you notice that they have a genuine smile and nod |
| would change my position every 10 seconds to see if | | | | in agreement to what you are saying, then you are |
| they could keep up. | | | | on the right track. But if they look physically |
| Plus I think the whole mirroring concept is kind of | | | | uncomfortable, or have a pained expression on their |
| creepy. | | | | face, take a breath and make a lighthearted |
| What I advise people to do is to pay attention to | | | | comment that maybe 3 espressos is your limit, then |
| the interviewer's pattern of speech. People who tend | | | | make every effort to slow the rhythm of your |
| to speak quickly notice when others do not, and | | | | answers to match theirs. Try to enunciate your |
| tend to think of them as more methodical, boring, | | | | words as a way to slow down. If your friends have |
| and might not see them as being a good fit with the | | | | ever accused you of speaking too quickly or even |
| organization. Remember, interviewers hire people | | | | mumbling, then you need to be aware that this could |
| whom they are comfortable with and can see | | | | be a problem. |
| themselves working with on a day-to-day basis. If | | | | Above all, be aware of the physical non-verbal clues |
| they are the impatient type and can only see a | | | | the interviewer is giving you. Remember that in many |
| future where you are the employee and they are | | | | cases when faced with two equally qualified |
| left waiting for what seems like an eternity to them | | | | candidates, they will give the job to the person they |
| for you to answer a question, any question, you will | | | | like more, and can see themselves getting along with |
| not get the job. Qualified or not. To remedy this | | | | day-to-day. Keep in mind though that if you're |
| situation in the interview, try to match the pace of | | | | interviewing with the hiring manager their pattern of |
| your speech to your interviewers', even if it means | | | | speech is what you will have to deal with, and if you |
| you have to say "that's a good question, let me think | | | | are not comfortable with them then the job is |
| about it for a minute," one time to give you a chance | | | | probably not a good fit. |