Small talk, big talk, and everything in-between: How to break the ice and relate to your interviewer

Interacting with an interviewer is tricky. You want to present the best version of yourself, but at the same time, you don’t want to appear like you’re bragging. It’s also important to get along well with an interviewer, because interviews are chances to test for a cultural fit as well as for qualifications and knowledge. First impressions are everything, and the first impression you make during an interview can help determine how well the rest of an interview goes.

Build rapport with your interviewer

Even though an interview doesn’t technically start until you begin answering questions, you should still take advantage of every second you’re interacting with the interviewer. Staring sullenly at the floor won’t make a good impression no matter what. Additionally, if you start off your interview on the right foot, you’ll establish a positive rapport with the interviewer, which will make both of you comfortable, and will help the rest of the interview go smoothly.

Whether you’re interviewing virtually or in-person, the first thing you say to your interviewer should be “It’s nice to meet you!” Remember to keep a smile on your face throughout the interview, and be friendly, positive and personable.

If you know anything about your interviewer—for example, you’re familiar with their research—ask them a question about their work. Don’t be overly personal, controversial, or negative, and definitely don’t try to debate them.

Navigate small talk effectively

If you’re not familiar with your interviewer, there are plenty of other ways to break the ice. This simply comes down to being friendly when the time calls for it. Small talk is standard practice in the workplace, and the secret to being successful at it is actually listening. You can tell a difference between someone who says, “How are you?” and doesn’t mean it (say, the cashier at the grocery store) vs. someone who does (an old friend you haven’t seen in a long time). So, when you ask your interviewer how they are, put some feeling behind it. And when they return the question, give a positive answer. You could say something like, “I’m great! The weather has been beautiful this week!” or, “I’m doing well! I went on a hike yesterday!” or even “I’m good! I’m really excited to be here!”

If your interviewer mentions something fun they did recently, or something they enjoy about their work, ask them about it. This is your chance to have a pressure-free conversation before the interview actually starts, so simply go with the flow. And your interviewer is likely to know that you’re nervous about the interview itself—that’s only natural, because interviews are nerve-wracking! They’ll most likely be doing their best to put you at ease.

However, if you find that your interviewer isn’t opening up to you once you’ve gone through the initial pleasantries, it’s best to keep things short and sweet. Remember that the interviewer is always in control of the interview, and you shouldn’t ever try to lead it. If they don’t feel like making small talk, that’s up to them.

Hopefully, opening up to your interviewer will help the rest of the interview go smoothly. You should always follow-up with a thank-you note afterwards, and you may be able to include some of the things you talked about beforehand in the note: “That trip you took over the weekend sounds great! I’ll have to go there sometime.” Good luck as you look for your next opportunity!

Source: www.interviewgenie.com/blog/interview-prep-practice-your-small-talk-in-english