You’ve gotten that all-important interview, next week, oh my gawd, it’s so important to ace it. A salary, benefits, pay the bills, stop the bleeding.  Geez you need to get that job.  But… what if you don’t ace it? What if you give a bad answer? “I better study,” you say to yourself.  But what? So many possible questions, what’r the interviews going to be like? The first bead of sweat appears on your top lip.

Here’s a little bromide for that stress building……….

Ever hear of tonality? The arrangement of all the tones and chords of a composition. Yep.  It’s the same in how we speak: the composition of words, inflection, tone, body language, confidence, pitch, and so on. Studies have shown that a higher percentage of decision making is built on the tonality of the candidate’s presentation. Even more so than the words spoken by the candidate. In the interview it’s important to remember this, chemistry wins out over 95% of the time. And chemistry is the fitting-in with a group. The way a candidate connects with his/her potential company.

So, the need to try and memorize all the possible answers to all those possible tricky questions outlined in that “1,001 Interview Questions” is useless. Staying calm, professional and in control is much more powerful than a correct answer in most cases. It’s not always the “right answer” the hiring managers are looking for. Instead, the way  you answer the question lights up the room.

So, if you get that impossible question, “why are manhole covers round,” don’t let your stress transform your shirt into a dripping sponge. Don’t  let it send you into a blossom of rambling  diatribe. Ever heard the term, “grace under fire?” That’s what it’s all about. Give your best answer and show your strength of character with your chin up, a straight back and not a hint of panic in your reply.

Have you had an experience where tonality has proven difficult for you in an interview? Have you labored over answers, seeking to give a response that met the expectations of the interviewer but only stumbled with poise and confidence in the reply?  Do you agree with this assessment?

Love to hear your thoughts.

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