“If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin” ~Ivan Turgenev

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7 Psychological Techniques to Get the Hiring Manager To Like You

Researchers studying speed dating discovered that how and when words were said during a four-minute speed date made a huge difference in how daters felt about each other when deciding whether or not they were compatible.

If words matter in dating, then how you use them in an interview can help you win over a hiring manager.

#1: It starts with projecting confidence

We all know being on time and dressed well will help you in an interview, but letting your confidence come through is a foolproof way to set yourself apart from your competition. You have several chances to demonstrate your confidence on display from the moment you walk into the interview room, start the phone interview, or video interview.

The way you handle yourself during the first minutes of an interview, whether that interview is online, by phone, or in-person, can make or break whether you get the job. Here are some suggestions for demonstrating your self-confidence:

Put a smile on your face. A big, sincere smile exudes trust and people skills.

If the interview is in-person, don’t walk too quickly. With a steady stride that is neither too quick nor too sluggish, approach the interviewer’s desk.

Maintain a slightly higher chin and back shoulders. Actors know their appearance and demeanor are crucial to their performances. Knowing this, they employ a technique in which they hold their shoulders down, chest slightly down, and chin slightly higher than usual. Your body language will improve as a result of this!

Maintain eye contact. The ability to maintain eye contact is a classic sign of self-confidence.

#2: Match their demeanor.

Body language and tone are thought to account for 80% of contact. Don’t be so obvious as to play “Simon Says” with the interviewer; instead, match their body language during the interview.

Make sure you’re sitting tall, smiling, and that your hands are comfortable. Feel free to speak with your hands at times, but don’t go overboard. When they nod, nod back, and pay attention to their body language. Matching your body language is a vital way to connect with someone.

#3: Pay close attention to what’s being said.

During an interview, listening intently is crucial, similar to #2 above. A hiring manager appreciates it when you acknowledge their concerns with a slight nod. and it also helps if you use their periodically when addressing them.

Don’t look around and fidget because it communicates you’re anxious, preoccupied, or not paying attention. Remember, you can listen effectively by paraphrasing their questions, smiling, nodding, and maintaining your concentration.

It may sound corny, but there’s a reason you have two ears and one mouth! Listening is an essential aspect of successful interviewing!

#4: Be complimentary to them.

A sincere compliment delivered can go a long way. If you praise the hiring manager, the organization, or both, your flattery may connect with them beyond the professional and lower the wall between the two of you.

I remember reading something years ago that flattery not only releases oxytocin, the feel-good hormone in your body, but it also releases it in the hiring manager, too.

#5: Create a common ground

Creating common ground is one of the most effective psychological techniques s you can use. A quick back-and-forth with anyone of three or more exchanges , often known as “expanding the ladder” in sales, helps to establish common ground.

If it seems appropriate, you can always fall back on college, sports, mutual friends, family — whatever you want. Just try to find common ground with the interviewer early on. Don’t bombard them with questions, but if they say anything like, “I heard you went to X University,” you might respond, “I did! Class of 1971. Did you go to school there?”

You can then use this common ground to form a relationship that will help you advance your career!

Tip #6: Dress appropriately.

What you wear and the colors you choose are essential. You wouldn’t wear all orange to work. Don’t wear the wrong outfit and colors to an interview.

A business suit (male or female) is appropriate for certain organizations, and business casual for others. But what colors can you pair it with?

Do some research to determine which colors to wear to please the hiring manager. But wear what you want!

#7: Ask the question in a different way.

If they ask a difficult question, in almost every interview, a hiring manager is looking for a few things. The sole aim of interview questions is to determine if you are a good match for the company’s culture, what makes you unique, and whether you can perform the requirements of the position.

Knowing this, you can use it to your advantage and rephrase and expand the question or statement. For instance, you might say something like:

“I know you care a lot about company culture; I have a lot of experience with [insert example of experience]”

“As the hiring manager, your role is to see how well I can do my job, and have done my job. I can assure you that one of the projects we spearheaded while I was with X company…”

I released new content this past week that included:

On Loyalty https://wp.me/p4aIk1-2zR

Stupid Job Search Mistakes: Taking Advice from the Wrong People https://wp.me/p4aIk1-eiX

For a Video Interview on a Laptop https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lrR

The Most Important Thing to Prep for on a Final Interview https://wp.me/p4aIk1-epa

Job Interviews Should Be Conversations https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lsk

Deciding to Leave https://wp.me/p4aIk1-eqL

Email or Text May Not Be the Best Way to Respond https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lsH

Why Your Interview Skills Suck https://youtu.be/WfsBZMACfPk

What Are the Most Important Things A Recruiter Looks for in a Resume/LinkedIn Profile? https://wp.me/p4aIk1-mRL

Proven Ways to Find Hidden Jobs in 2025 https://wp.me/p4aIk1-mS6

Don’t Tip Off How Old You Are on Your LinkedIn Profile https://wp.me/p4aIk1-mS8

The Preferred Application Process https://wp.me/p4aIk1-8Zj

The Top 10 Hiring Mistakes Managers Make https://wp.me/p4aIk1-fSp

Editing the Résumé That Is Too Long https://youtu.be/iLq9kofnV_w

Applying for a Job https://wp.me/p4aIk1-e4z

We Buy Brands https://wp.me/p4aIk1-exJ

How to Use Your LinkedIn Feed The Right Way! https://wp.me/p4aIk1-efh

Networking When a You Leave the Military https://wp.me/p4aIk1-AB

Interview Red Flags: Sometimes You Need to Listen https://wp.me/p4aIk1-lqp

Extraordinary Things https://wp.me/p4aIk1-eqL

Another Stupid Resume Mistake https://wp.me/p4aIk1-3fH

The Costly Mistake Job Hunters Make https://youtu.be/muTaBkLGSHY

The Second Best Place to Build Your Personal Brand https://wp.me/p4aIk1-ezO

No BS Career Advice: April 27, 2025 https://wp.me/p4aIk1-mRO

Very Little Has Changed in Job Search https://wp.me/p4aIk1-mRg

The Second Most Important Place on Your LinkedIn Profile https://wp.me/p4aIk1-eL8

Giving Yourself Permission To Get Off The Conveyor Belt https://wp.me/p4aIk1-foS

You Are a “Manager,” Not a “Manger” https://youtu.be/ipoO97Yszl0

The skills needed to find a job are different from those needed to do a job. You may be great at what you do, but job hunting, especially during difficult times is very different than being a good employee.

Become an Insider at JobSearch.Community at any level and you’ll receive access to all my video courses, books and guides plus the ability to ask me questions and/or be coached by me so that you don ‘t have to figure out what to do and how to respond.

Join me as an Insider at JobSearch.Community for advice about your job search and coaching from me (on Insider+, Insider Premium, Insider 30, Insider 60 or The Insider Bundle). You can alsoschedule a free discovery call with me to evaluate me as a coach.