How to Become an Intuitive Interviewee to Be in the Top 1%

An Intuitive Interviewee excels at reading verbal and non-verbal cues. Here is how you can become one.

Hey, Prasad here 👋 I'm the voice behind the weekly newsletter "Behavioural OS for Techies."

Welcome to this week's article, in which I explain how to read verbal and non-verbal clues in an interview to stand out.

Also, registration for the next BeSA (Become a Solutions Architect) batch is open. It starts on Oct-05, will run for 8 weeks, and as always, it’s completely FREE!

If you like the article, click the ❤️ icon. That helps me know you enjoy reading my content.

---

Last week, I shared how to showcase your behavioral skills in an technical interview by extending your answer with your experience or talking about how you would approach it.

One of my LinkedIn connection, asked:

As per your suggestion, if we elaborate all the technical questions asked to us, will the interviewer take it as overdoing?

It’s a great question that brings us to today’s topic!

Welcome to the art of being an intuitive interviewee – a skill that can significantly increase your chances of landing that dream job.

Let’s start by understanding makes an interviewee intuitive.

Who is an Intuitive Interviewee?

An Intuitive Interviewee is a person who has a natural ability to understand and respond to questions effectively, often by relying on their instincts and quick insights rather than solely on prepared answers or extensive deliberation.

The person excels at reading and interpreting both verbal and non-verbal cues from the interviewer, allowing them to adapt their approach in real-time. This skill enhances their ability to navigate the interview successfully.

They are great at reading the room. They pay close attention to how the interviewer talks, moves, and acts. They notice things like facial expressions and tone of voice. This helps them figure out what the interviewer is thinking or feeling.

Using these cues, intuitive interviewees can change how they talk or what they focus on during the interview. It's their ability to read between the lines that sets them apart as a top candidate.

How to become an Intuitive Interviewee?

You are an intuitive interviewee if you are able to engage in a silent conversation that runs parallel to the verbal one, interpreting body language, tone, and the changes in facial expression.

Let's dive into the key areas where your intuition can make a world of difference, and how you can hone this invaluable skill.

1. The Interviewer's Body Language

🔆 Scenario: You're explaining your approach to a technical problem, and you notice the interviewer's posture change.

🚫 Mistake: Continuing with your explanation without acknowledging the change in the interviewer's demeanor.

🔥 Why it matters: Body language often speaks louder than words. An interviewer's physical cues can indicate whether they're engaged, confused, or losing interest.

👉 How to read the clue and course-correct:

• If the interviewer leans forward: They're interested! Dive deeper into your explanation.

• If they lean back or cross their arms: You might be losing them. Pause and ask, "Would you like me to clarify any part of my explanation?"

• If they start looking at their notes or watch: You might be rambling. Wrap up your point concisely.

2. The Follow-up Question

🔆 Scenario: You've just finished describing a project you worked on, and the interviewer asks, "What was your role?"

🚫 Mistake: Repeating the same general description of the project without specifying your individual contributions.

🔥 Why it matters: This type of follow-up often indicates that your initial answer didn't clearly communicate your specific role or contributions.

👉 How to read the clue and course-correct:

• Recognize that the interviewer is looking for clarity on your personal involvement.

• Respond with something like, "I apologize if I wasn't clear earlier. In this project, I was the lead backend developer. My specific responsibilities included designing the database schema, implementing the API endpoints, and coordinating with the frontend team to ensure smooth integration."

• Use this opportunity to highlight your key contributions and the impact of your work.

3. The Interviewer's Note-Taking

🔆 Scenario: You notice the interviewer writing extensively during certain parts of your answers but not others.

🚫 Mistake: Ignoring this behavior and continuing with your standard responses.

🔥 Why it matters: When interviewers take notes, they're often marking down information they find particularly relevant or impressive.

👉 How to read the clue and course-correct:

• If you see increased note-taking: Take a pause. Let the interviewer finish writing. And then expand on that topic. A good way to gauge interest is to ask the interviewer directly. For example "Would you like me to elaborate further on this aspect?"

• If there's a lack of note-taking: Consider shifting gears. You might say, "I have other relevant experiences in this area. Would you be interested in hearing about those?"

4. The Interrupted Answer

🔆 Scenario: You're describing your experience with a particular technology, and the interviewer interrupts to ask, "Were you a developer on the team?"

🚫 Mistake: Simply answering "Yes" or "No" without recognizing the underlying question.

🔥 Why it matters: This type of interruption often means the interviewer is trying to understand your exact role and level of responsibility, which might be crucial for the position you're applying for.

👉 How to read the clue and course-correct:

• Recognize that the interviewer is trying to understand your level of involvement and leadership.

• If you were more than just a developer, this is your chance to clarify. You might respond, "Actually, I started as a developer on the team, but after six months, I was promoted to lead developer. In this role, I was responsible for not only coding but also mentoring junior developers and making key architectural decisions."

• Use this opportunity to align your experience with the role you're interviewing for. If it's a senior or leadership position, emphasize your management and decision-making responsibilities.

5. The Repeated Question

🔆 Scenario: Earlier in the interview, you discussed a challenging project. Now, the interviewer asks, "Can you tell me about a time when you faced a significant technical challenge?"

🚫 Mistake: Giving the exact same answer or saying, "As I mentioned before..."

🔥 Why it matters: Repeated questions often indicate that your previous answer didn't fully satisfy what the interviewer was looking for.

👉 How to read the clue and course-correct:

• Recognize this as an opportunity to provide a different perspective or highlight another aspect of your experience.

• You might respond, "I'd be happy to share another experience. While the project I mentioned earlier was challenging, I faced a different type of technical hurdle when..." Then proceed to describe a new scenario that showcases different skills or problem-solving approaches.

• Use this chance to demonstrate the breadth of your experience and your ability to handle various types of challenges.

6. The Pace and Depth of Questions

🔆 Scenario: You're answering technical questions, and you're unsure whether to provide brief answers or elaborate with examples from your experience.

🚫 Mistake: Either consistently giving short, surface-level answers or always elaborating extensively without gauging the interviewer's interest.

🔥 Why it matters: The depth of your answers can significantly impact the interviewer's perception of your expertise and communication skills. However, the right balance depends on the interviewer's reactions and the time constraints of the interview.

👉 How to read the clue and course-correct:

• Start with a concise answer to the technical question.

• Then, quickly assess the interviewer's reaction:

  • If they maintain eye contact and seem engaged, it's often a good sign to elaborate.

  • If they start to look at their watch or shuffle papers, it might be time to wrap up your answer.

• Pay attention to the interviewer's body language and verbal cues:

  • If they lean in, nod, or say "interesting," continue with your elaboration.

  • If they start to interrupt or shift in their seat, it might be time to conclude your answer.

🔆 Example Scenario:

Interviewer: "Can you explain how database indexing works?"

You: "Certainly. Database indexing is a data structure technique to quickly locate and access the data in a database. Indexes are created using one or more columns of a database table, providing the basis for both rapid random lookups and efficient access of ordered records."

[Pause briefly to gauge the interviewer's reaction]

If the interviewer seems engaged, you might continue:

"In my previous role at XYZ Corp, we had a performance issue with our customer lookup system. I implemented a composite index on the frequently queried columns, which reduced our query time by 70%. Would you like me to elaborate on the specific steps I took?"

If the interviewer seems satisfied or pressed for time, you might conclude:

"I'd be happy to go into more detail about my experience with indexing if you're interested."

By mastering this balance, you demonstrate not only your technical knowledge but also your ability to read social cues and communicate effectively – crucial skills in any professional role.

Final Thoughts

Becoming an intuitive interviewee is not about mind-reading or manipulation. It's about heightening your awareness, adapting your communication style, and demonstrating your emotional intelligence – all valuable skills in any workplace.

To develop this intuition:

1. Practice active listening in your daily conversations, paying attention to non-verbal cues.

2. Conduct mock interviews with friends or mentors, asking for feedback on how well you pick up on and respond to subtle cues.

3. Record yourself in practice interviews to become more aware of your own non-verbal communication.

Interviews are not just about answering questions correctly—they're about engaging in a meaningful dialogue. By paying attention to these clues, you're not just responding to questions; you're actively participating in a two-way conversation.

As you master these skills, you'll find that interviews become more about genuine, insightful conversation. And that's when you'll truly shine as an intuitive interviewee, excelling at reading non-verbal clues and adapting your responses accordingly. That’s your secret recipe to be in the top1%.

Happy interviewing, and may your newfound intuitive skills lead you to your dream role!

---

Become an Intuitive Interviewee by Booking a Mock Interview Session with Me

There are two ways you can book a mock interview session with me:

1. Share the newsletter with your friends and colleagues to spread the word. Check all referral awards!

2. Connect with me on LinkedIn and send me a DM with details of what you would like to achieve in a mock interview.

---

📝 Other articles you might enjoy

• You're Doing STAR Format Answers Wrong. Here's How to Do It the Right Way

• Behavioral Interview Question Bank Categorized into 8 Themes

• How Failing Multiple Interviews Helped Me Create My Elevator Pitch For AWS Interview

---

---