The Secret Weapon to Win at Job Interviews

You think I’m going to tell you that the “secret weapon” is something like targeting . . . or personal branding . . . or proactive networking . . . or interview preparation . . . or even hiring a professional job search strategist.

All of those are critical, but that’s not the secret weapon I want you to embrace.

It’s as simple as this – a warm smile

Even if you’re not feeling it, plaster a good smile on your face whenever you’re face-to-face with people . . . as you network and interview for good-fit jobs.

“The shortest distance between two people is a smile.”

I mean the kind of smile that shows in your eyes, too.

Try this too – up the ante by combining your winning smile with attentive listening.

If you’ve landed the interview the best way – by targeting certain employers and networking your way into their “hidden” jobs, preferably through a referral by an internal employee – you’ll already be a person of particular interest . . . above those who came to the employer through HR or an executive recruiter.

Something as simple as a great smile can tip the scales in your favor. A genuine smile can help you win at job interviews. I think you know why that is, but I’ll lay it out for you.

7 Reasons a Great Smile Helps you Nail the Interview

1. Many interviewers are not experienced, are not good at it, and/or are nervous doing it. Break the ice with your sonic beam.

2. An inviting smile indicates that you’ll be a pleasant person to work with. Personality matters to people tasked with hiring.

3. Smiling happifies you and everyone around you, and puts others at ease. Everyone benefits.

4. A smile indicates openness, leading people to feel that you’re truthful and trustworthy.

5. Smiles are infectious. They resonate. If the person (or people) interviewing you is in a bad mood, or having a bad day, your smile may lift their spirits. When you make them feel good, they’ll be more inclined to view you as a good hire.

6. Smiling is empowering and plays into the “fake it til you make it” strategy. Smiling even if you’re not feeling it somehow turns things around for you, and helps you perform better.

7. A smiling face is more appealing than a sour puss. Interviewers know that teams are more inclined to listen to, and follow the directives, of leaders who have a sunny disposition.

More Reasons Why Smiling Can Help You Win at Job Interviews

An article on Recruiter.com describes further why smiling is so important:

“A ‘good smile’ doesn’t even necessarily mean an attractive one — rather, it means one that is sincere. A sincere smile can make a tense room calm, and it can add levity or brilliance to anything from a funeral to a job interview. This is why it is such a powerful tool to have in your job-hunting toolbox.
At a job interview, a genuine smile can put you ahead of the pack and give you an edge on the competition, even if the competition has better credentials or more experience. You see, a smile is actually worth more than either of those things.
Being genuine is critical to this element of the interview equation. If your smile isn’t genuine, your interviewer will be able to tell, and this could do more harm than good.”

So, before you enter that room with one or more interviewers, take a deep breath and plant a sparkling, genuine smile on your mug that illuminates your entire face.