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drm604

(16,230 posts)
Tue Mar 26, 2013, 02:08 PM Mar 2013

Scientific American: How to ace an interview.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=how-to-ace-an-interview-feel-powerful&WT.mc_id=SA_Facebook
if you are trying to secure a spot in the American business world, new research suggests that priming your powerful side is the way to go. A sense of power, it seems, increases your appeal both on paper and in person to those making hiring decisions.

In one study, participants were primed for high or low power and then read a job ad for a sales analyst position. They were asked to assume that they possessed the necessary training and experience for the position, and to write an application letter. In a second study, participants were primed for high or low power, and then engaged in a 15 minute face-to-face mock interview for entrance into business school. This study also included a baseline group that received no prime manipulation before the interview.

In both studies, the candidates were evaluated by individuals who did not know about the power manipulation. In the first experiment, the raters had no interaction whatsoever with the participants, other than reading their applications. In that study, raters were significantly more inclined to offer the position to power-primed candidates than to those primed to feel powerless.
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jtuck004

(15,882 posts)
1. The last paragraphs are most interesting.
Wed Mar 27, 2013, 01:19 AM
Mar 2013

"In some cases, power can really go to your head. Empowered people are not only more confident that those with less power, they in fact exhibit hubristic overconfidence, both about events within their control and about events that are clearly outside their control. Individuals with a high sense of power, for example, are not only more likely to believe that their achievements will be celebrated by the press, they are also less likely to believe that they will experience turbulence on a plane or encounter a venomous snake. This overconfidence creates a sense of invulnerability, which in turn can result in a willingness to engage in risky behaviors, like having sex without a condom or taking bigger risks at the black jack table. In negotiations, this risk-tolerance leads empowered individuals to reveal more about their preferences and priorities, potentially leaving them vulnerable to their opponent's tactics."

Thank you for that.

oysterbay

(15 posts)
2. uh-oh i hope stockbrokers don't read that
Sat Apr 6, 2013, 03:01 PM
Apr 2013

Imagine stockbrokers priming their clients to hubristic overconfidence, leading to irrational exuberance.

 

WilliamTuckness

(41 posts)
3. What to say if you're very early or very late for an interview.
Mon Jun 23, 2014, 06:13 PM
Jun 2014

If you're asked about why you're early for that interview, then just tell that person you wanted to avoid being late due to roadwork and detours.

If you're late for that interview, then just tell that person there's been roadwork or an accident and if possible to have that interview rescheduled.

Nay

(12,051 posts)
4. A long while back I read that if you wear clothing that matches your eye color,
Sat Sep 6, 2014, 10:51 PM
Sep 2014

it truly boosts you in the interview. I thought that was pretty odd, but EVERY job I interviewed for after reading that, I got. I wore dresses/suits in my eye color.

Obviously, you can't be a total idiot in an interview -- wearing the color is supposed to just give you a boost.

 

NewDeal_Dem

(1,049 posts)
5. what's your eye color? mine's brown, and i think wearing brown dresses and suits would look
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 01:26 AM
Dec 2014

blah.

Nay

(12,051 posts)
6. Mine are dark green, so I wore any sort of green, usually olive, med spring green, dusty
Sun Dec 28, 2014, 09:42 AM
Dec 2014

green, not Kelly green or bright green.

If your eyes are brown, you could wear any of the browns from tan to dark brown tweed and stay in your color range.

As far as looking blah, that depends more on the style than the color, don't you think? I've seen beautiful outfits in every color that would be perfectly suited for interviews. And unless you are going for a quirky job in the arts or advertising (where you might want to wear something really "out there&quot , you're gonna want to go for a fairly muted presentation. If you're worried about looking bland, just get a blouse in your eye color since it's the closest clothing to your face. But really, in an interview, bland colors aren't bad.

In your case, what about a deep coppery brown silk blouse with gold-and-amber jewelry, and a black suit? Smashing! You're hired!

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