Breaking the Ice

When you enter the interview room, there will be a period to allow you to sit down and make yourself comfortable. If you are not directed to a particular chair when you are invited to sit down, indicate your choice and ask "Will this be OK?"

When you are seated, make sure that you are not facing direct sunlight, as any frown caused by the bright light may be misinterpreted by the interviewer. Ask politely if it would be OK for you to move your chair slightly and explain the reason. The interviewers want you to be as relaxed and comfortable as possible. You may then be asked whether you would like a drink; a glass of water is always a good idea, especially if you have to talk for a long period of time.

You should then be introduced to all the interviewers on the panel; saying "I'm pleased to meet you" will give you the chance to talk and loosen up your voice. The interviewer or chair of the panel may check whether you are comfortable before starting on the interview; a brief "Yes, thanks" is sufficient to let them know that you are ready to begin.

You may then be asked some simple questions designed to relax you and break the ice, such as "How was your journey?" or "Did you manage to find us alright?". Keep your answers short and friendly; now is not the time to embark on a rant about the state of public transport or the absurdity of the city's one-way system. Don't mention that the map they supplied was hopeless or that the security guard wouldn't let you into the car park. Make any comment positive: "Fine thank you. The roads were clear and your map was a great help." or "The train only took 35 minutes which gave me time to go over some notes".

At this point, concentrate on relaxing and getting your voice loosened up. Settle yourself into the interview and try to get into the rhythm of the person with whom you are speaking. Notice the pace at which they speak and try to speed up or slow down to match. Research suggests that people are more inclined to like individuals who are similar to them, and so if you make an effort to emulate your interviewer to a certain degree they will feel more comfortable in their dealings with you.

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