Podcast Summary
Leverage Interview Boss's playlists for job-related advice: Interview Boss offers playlists for various job stages, from applying to resigning, and shares practical tips and success stories.
Interview Boss, a podcast with over 90 episodes, offers playlists to help job seekers find relevant content based on their specific needs. From applying for jobs to resigning, there's an episode for every stage. Additionally, the podcast shared a success story from a listener named Jason, who used their advice on resigning effectively. Looking ahead, Interview Boss will discuss psychology hacks for job seekers, drawing from scientific studies in various fields. These hacks, which include the impact of clothing on perception, aim to increase productivity and success. Stay tuned for more practical tips and insights from the Interview Boss team.
Wearing certain clothes can impact performance and mindset: Dressing in a way that makes us feel competent and confident can positively influence our performance and mindset
The clothing we wear and the symbolic meaning attached to it can significantly impact our performance and mindset. A study showed that people wearing lab coats, when told it was a doctor's coat, performed better on an attention task compared to those told it was a painter's coat or when they simply passed by a doctor's coat. This effect is not limited to lab coats, as our everyday experiences also demonstrate. For instance, wearing joggers can make us feel more active and productive. This research highlights the importance of considering not only the clothes we wear but also the psychological associations they bring. While it doesn't necessarily mean we should all wear lab coats everywhere, it does suggest that dressing in a way that makes us feel competent and confident can positively influence our performance and mindset.
Preparing mentally and emotionally boosts interview performance: Reflecting on past powerful experiences and smiling during interviews can increase persuasiveness and make a positive impression
Our mindset and emotions significantly impact our performance during job interviews. In a 2013 study, researchers Galinski, Dubois, Rucker, and Lamas found that reflecting on past experiences where we felt powerful increased our persuasiveness and made us more likely to be considered for a job. This is likely due to the fact that our brain processes our thoughts and emotions subconsciously, leading us to exude confidence and conviction during the interview. Another study from 2015 by Rubin Hall and Schmidmast emphasized the importance of nonverbal communication, specifically smiling, during interviews. While smiling too much may come across as insincere, a genuine smile can make us appear more friendly and approachable, increasing our chances of making a positive impression on interviewers. Overall, these studies highlight the importance of preparing mentally and emotionally before an interview to maximize our chances of success.
Smiling less in job interviews makes a better impression: In job interviews, smiling less can make a better impression, especially for serious roles, but smiling before exams or in high-stress situations can improve mood and reduce anxiety.
While smiling can be beneficial, it's important to consider the context of the situation, particularly when applying for jobs where a serious demeanor is required. The study found that applicants who smiled less during the middle of an interview were perceived as more suitable for the job, especially when the job was serious in nature. Smiling too much could give the impression of being too perky or unprofessional. However, smiling and positive body language before an exam or in other high-stress situations can help improve mood and reduce nervous energy. Overall, the research highlights the importance of being aware of the appropriate facial expressions and body language for different situations.
The Power of Our Words and Actions: Using others' traits in our descriptions can unconsciously influence how people perceive us, demonstrating the complexity of brain processing and the power of language.
Our brain has the ability to be influenced in unexpected ways. Smiling, even if it's fake, can trigger happiness in the brain. Similarly, the words we use to describe others can unconsciously influence how people perceive us. This phenomenon, called spontaneous trait transference, shows that people will associate the traits we use to describe others with our own personality. Even if they know it's not true, the automatic association can stick. This research highlights the power of our words and actions, reminding us to be mindful of how we talk about ourselves and others. It's a fascinating reminder of the complex ways our brains process information and the impact our words can have on those around us.
The Power of Language in Perception: Be mindful of negative self-descriptions and aim for gracious, honest language. Simple mistakes can increase likability, especially for competent individuals. Describe difficult situations or people in a gracious, honest way to come across as professional and respectful.
The words we use to describe ourselves and others can have a significant impact on how we are perceived. Using negative adjectives to describe difficult situations or people can unconsciously reflect poorly on us. Instead, aim for a gracious and honest approach when discussing challenging experiences. Another interesting phenomenon is the Pratfall Effect, discovered by researcher Elliot Aronson. This effect shows that simple mistakes can actually increase our likability, especially for competent individuals. The idea is that when someone is perceived as perfect, they can seem out of reach and unrelatable. However, making a mistake can humanize them and make them more endearing. So, in an actionable way, if you're going for a role where you may be seen as overqualified, consider sharing a mistake or error you've made in the past and how you overcame it. This can help demonstrate your competence while also making you more relatable and human to potential employers. Additionally, be mindful of the language you use when describing others, as it can also reflect on you. Instead of using negative adjectives, try to describe difficult situations or people in a gracious and honest way. By doing so, you'll come across as professional, respectful, and likable.
The power of being relatable and humanizing yourself: Sharing imperfections and mistakes can make you more likable and approachable, creating positive associations and stronger relationships.
Being relatable and humanizing yourself in professional settings can make a significant difference in how others perceive you. Sharing your imperfections and mistakes can help break down the barrier between you and potential employers or colleagues, making you more likable and approachable. This concept is known as the Ben Franklin Effect, named after the founding father who discovered that doing someone a favor can make them like you more. This seems counterintuitive, but it's based on cognitive dissonance, a psychological phenomenon where people experience discomfort when holding two contradictory beliefs or emotions. By doing someone a favor, you create a positive association with them, which can lead to increased liking and respect, even if it's on a subconscious level. So, don't be afraid to show your human side and consider doing a favor for someone as a way to build stronger relationships.
The Ben Franklin Effect: Showing Kindness Increases Likability: Acts of kindness and praise can make people like us more, creating a positive impression in professional settings. Asking for a small favor is an effective way to apply this principle.
Our actions can influence how others perceive us, and showing kindness and praise can make people like us more. This was demonstrated in a study where teachers were asked to either criticize or praise their students, and they all ended up preferring the students they praised. A simple way to apply this in a job interview setting is to ask for a small favor, like a glass of water, which can subtly make the interviewer like you more. This phenomenon is known as the Ben Franklin effect and is a result of cognitive dissonance, where our brains decide how we feel based on our actions rather than the other way around. So, if you want to make a good impression in a professional setting, consider asking for a small favor to subtly increase your likability.
Asking for favors from a new colleague builds stronger relationships: Asking for a small favor from a new colleague can create a sense of obligation and reciprocity, increasing likability and building a stronger relationship.
Asking for favors from a new colleague can help build a stronger relationship and increase likability in the workplace. According to the discussion on Interview Boss, a simple request for assistance, such as proofreading an email or collecting prints, can create a sense of obligation and reciprocity, making the other person more inclined to view you favorably. So, if you're trying to make a good impression on a new colleague, consider asking for a small favor. It's a win-win situation: you get the help you need, and your colleague gains a positive impression of you. Don't forget to listen to Interview Boss for more job search advice and support. And if you find our content helpful, consider buying us a virtual coffee to keep us caffeinated and continue producing valuable content.
