Using Your Natural Skills to Get the Job

I am a big fan of utilizing the skills that we were born with, and I have rarely found a situation when you can’t use my methods.

The truth is, no matter what you read, no matter what you try, you will never truly learn to get anything until you learn to master your body.

Let’s think about some skills that just about everyone are born with.

*Sight *Sound

*Touch *Smell

*Thought *Intuition.

Let’s briefly talk about these skills.

Sight is an obvious skill, that most of us take for granted. It helps make this article available to you, it helps you look toward the horizon. What you might not be thinking about, is that Sight can also be a vital part to helping you go smoothly through your job interview, and to get the job.

Employer’s are ten times less likely to hire a person who stares at their shoes through out the interview, and they also try to stay away from anyone with wondering eyes.

Touch is another thing that I find very many people consider when it comes to their “skills” list. We all know what touch is, but how you think about touch can make a huge difference to your perspective in a job interview.

When you touch something, that can be considered using your “motor skills”. It can be lifting a box, petting an animal, or writing something down. It can be intimate or non-personal, and it can be positive or negative. Touch is such an amazing skill that few human beings are left without.

Touch is something employer’s and interviewers will watch very auspiciously, and with in their every right, they should be watching. They want to see how you hold yourself, where you keep your hands during the interview, and how you react to their actions. Touch is a major part of body language and you can learn a lot from a person from their body language. The touch of a nose, the tapping of fingers, the scratch of an ear, they all means different things.

Thought is more of a complex issue, and not something most would expect to be considered a “skill”. I have to change your mind about it though, and I say this because your thoughts can increase or decrease your odds of getting the job, over just about any other skill you have.

With positive thoughts, and positive mind frames, there are very view boundaries that you can’t easily over come. In the same token, your thoughts can drag you down into worlds unseen, and keep you there. The most challenging part is remembering that you have to MAINTAIN that positive mind frame and positive outlook, because it won’t maintain itself!

Have you ever thought about the way it Sounds in an interview? Are there computers in the back round, “tap” “tap” “tapping” away on their keyboards? Did your interviewer bring you into a quite closed of closet room to hold the interview, where the only thing you can hear is your anxious thoughts? Maybe its not so quiet in the room, if you listen carefully, maybe you can hear the interviewer breathing heavily? Or the clock on the wall ticking slowly?

Sound might widely be considered a “sense” rather than a skill, but I see no reason to consider it both, myself. It is a very intriguing part of the human skill set and something that will help you greatly in any situation, whether it be for a job, loan or promotion.

Smell is another skill that is also a “sense”, it is something that you are born with. But have you ever stopped to think that it is also something you can “develop”, “train” or “educate”?

Your sense of smell is not just that thing hanging off the front of your face! It is a powerful tool that is there for you to use it, if you learn to utilize what it offers.

Your interviewer or employer will also be using their sense of smell, or at least they should be. Whether you smell like a cigarette or a bar of soap can make a HUGE difference to them, not only on a business level, but on a personal level.

Intuition. Ok, this is my favorite skill! Truly it is. Now, you might get after me for going a little occult on you, but there are still maybe studies that are considered in-exact sciences that can be of use to you, if you choose to understand them.

I want you to focus on that, intuition is a skill that you have to CHOOSE to use. It is not widely considered something that everyone naturally knows how to use, but it is something you are born with. Every human being has the select ability to use intuition.

Intuition is something that could even be considered instinctual or animalistic because it is a skill that relies almost completely on estimated guesses using your other skills. It is very important to remember that intuition is not just something you will one day “understand” how to do. It is something that you have to jump into and learn from, grow from and develop. It is however, something you are already capable of doing, you just have to learn to hone it and control it.

Ok, now that we have spent some time discussing some skills that you are born with, and how they might be able to help you get through your interview, let’s talk about how you can use them.

Some thing’s to Look out for:

We’ve already gone over a few reasons that your sight is vitally important in an interview. Now I want to show you some things to look for on your job interview. Than we will go over some things you will want to make sure not to do, so that your interviewer won’t see them.

*How is your Interviewer sitting?

-Are they crossing their arms across their chest? Signaling that they are “guarding” this job.

- Are they checking over their computer or fussing with papers in a drawer? Signaling they have too many things on their mind.

*What expression’s do you see on your Interviewers face?

-Are they smiling at you? Telling you that they welcome your presence.

-Are they looking at you intently, as if they are wondering what your next move is?

-Do they “look” like they are interested in you and what you have to say?

These things are very important, and once you learn to “look” for certain cues from your interviewer, than you can learn to use them to move forward in your interview.

From your first step into the interview room, there is plenty of time for “looking” around, and it is the best time to do it. Over whelming your interviewer with chit chat in the first few moments is not the best idea, and it is much more to your benefit to enter the interview in a quite and polite manner. That will “look” better to your interviewer and will give you a moment to survey your surrounding.

If your interviewer is standing next to you smiling and asking questions, that shows that they consider you to be of an equal level or intelligence, and it shows interest in you. I have noticed to often than people will shy away from an interviewer who tries to get “close” to them, and it is something we need to overcome. It can be scary when a strange hand pops your personal bubble, but it is no cause for alarm. Remember, if they are standing or sitting very close to you, it is a GOOD thing. It does not necessarily mean they want to become romantic with you, but it is something that could be considered an “intimate” situation.

If they are fusing over the computer or a bunch of paper work in a drawer, it could say that they have been over worked and are having a hard time, making time to interview you. That does not necessarily mean that you should give up on the interview, but it does signal a change of tactics. It is a time when you will want to set aside your goal of attaining the job, and try to attain the goal of “getting to know” your interviewer.

Even just a moment or two of peering into their world can make a big difference in this situation. It really depends on how much you can get them to stop focusing on what they should be doing. If they are over worked, it will be apparent to you from the moment the interview starts. Checking the clock, checking interviews, on and off the phone, or rushing you through the interview questions.

Try to get them to stop for a moment, or when they pause between questions, ask them how things have been for them at this company. Whether they are in the same field as you are applying for, or in a completely different one, this can be a useful tactic. The trick is that you truly have to have a sincere interest into what is bugging them.

Of course your main interest is saving your job interview and being hired on the spot, but you have to actually want to know about them and their issues, otherwise they will see through it and send you packing for trying to bread their butter. After they tell you how busy things have been in their work load, ask them what the hardest part is, and then what the most stressful part is, and then you can catch them off guard and ask them what their favorite part is.

These questions might get them to loosen up a bit more, and because everyone likes to feel like they’ve been heard and understood by another person, they will view you as a more likeable person. This is GOOD for you.

As the interview starts and goes by, make sure to keep watch for what your interviewer does. When they smile, you should smile too. When they laugh, don’t be afraid to giggle a little and share a little wit of your own. If they look lost or busy, take control of the interview and get them interested.

It takes some time to truly learn these skills, but you’ll never learn if you don’t start now!

Some things you don’t want your Interviewer to See:

*Make sure to keep good eye contact with them, when you look away, try to keep it local to the conversation. The desk in front of you, their computer, or a picture on the wall. You want to try and maintain eye contact through out your conversation, but not to stare them down.

*Keep your hands to yourself. Meaning; if you have your hands folded nicely in your lap and not tapping, clenching or hiding anything, you will be seen as a better candidate.

*Appear to be open. Which means, keep your hands out of your pocket, sit comfortably but confidently, and lean in just a little towards your interviewer. You don’t want to look too relaxed, because it will make you look lazy, but you do want to look like your comfortable in the room. You also want to make sure that they know you are genuinely interested in the job, but you don’t want to push them away because you are too close.

* Look confident. Seriously, it’s about walking the walk, and talking the talk. The better you get at this skill, the easier a time you will have with anything. The best advice I can give you in this situation is to find someone to whom you would consider to be “confident” and copy what they do.

How your Touch can help you:

*A Firm hand shake is better than a sloppy one, but your not in an arm match! Go easy on them, but make sure your not afraid to shake their hand confidently.

*If they touch your shoulder or sit near you, don’t shy away! They are not trying to “make” a move on you, it means they feel you are of equal to them. You don’t want to appear to be afraid of them, or all that interest will be whisked away.

*Talk with your hands. Its weird, but a useful technique. It is almost a visual art when you hold a conversation with your hands. In fact, quite a few people have published YouTube video’s about talking with your hands. It is something that some people do naturally and some have to learn, but learning to use it appropriately can help you a lot. Learning to use your hands to enhance what you are saying is one thing, but make sure you are not out of control to where you are knocking things over or overwhelming your interviewer with your karate fast hands. Be subtle, but make sure to use them.

*Sight can help you use Touch to your advantage. If you watch your interviewer while you are together, you will observe some things that could benefit you. How was their handshake? Firm? Sloppy? Shy? How did they approach you? Did they come in close and touch your shoulder, or did they stay a length away at all times? It really can make a difference, and it is wise to pay attention.

Be careful not to Think to much, your Thoughts can get in the way!

Its true! If you over think the situation, you can “think” your way right out of a job or promotion. Remember, although it is important to take this interview seriously, you don’t have to treat it like the end of the world. Its just an interview.

Also, you don’t want to over think, because it can lead to bad communication with your interviewer. While they are asking you about one thing, and your thoughts are in 6 different places, your answers will become scattered and off topic, which will not help you.

Instead, keep your thoughts focused on getting the job and enjoying the job. Be okay with not getting the job, so that you are not banking on walking away with it, but focus on the positive feelings you would have if you got the job. Thinking about these things will keep you in a good mood, which will work to your advantage.

Try not to day dream into those thoughts, and make sure that you are actively listening to what your interviewer is saying or asking. Don’t interrupt them or try to answer a question before they have finished asking it. Also, make sure focus entirely on what they are saying before you try to think of an answer. You want to answer naturally and not like you are trying to remember a script.

When it comes to thoughts, I always like to refer to the “Law of Attraction”, which is a scientific theory that says; “If you want something bad enough, and you focus on it, it will manifest itself around you…”

The trick to the theory is that you have to desire something Truly Enough that is becomes real. You have to change your own reality into the one you want it to be and you have to belief entirely that it CAN and WILL happen as soon as you desire it to.

Sound’s are Every Where….

And since they are Every Where, you want to use them! If it is a busy place, then you will have to focus on listening to your interviewer and not getting distracted. If it is a small room where the two of you are alone, then you will want to focus on more than just what your interviewer is saying .

Try and see if you can focus on their breath. Does it sound heavy and labored, as if they have a cold? Or does it sound calm and smooth, as if they are comfortable in their position?

Listen to the “tone” of their voice. Is it really high pitched and fast? Or maybe it’s low and drags? Or maybe it is an even level that sound natural and fluent?

Learning to pay attention to the sounds around you is something that I urge you to try doing now, it will help you develop your other skills and to develop new ones. You can try doing it on your way to the interview, or even before it. Turn of the TV or Music in your home and go into a quite room by yourself. Close your eyes while you are in there and focus on what you can HEAR.

A clock on the wall? “Tick” “Tock”

A cat’s foot thumping on the floor from scratching? “thump” “thump” “thump”

A Television in another room? Reporting the daily news…

‘whoosh!’ did you hear that car speeding down the road by your house?

Or that ambulance a few streets away?

The longer you sit in the quite, the more you will notice, and the range at which you will be able to hear and define different things will be amazing. It is especially amazing with your eyes closed because your brain focuses completely on what you are hearing.

Just remember to keep your eyes open in the interview! It will look like your sleeping on the jump if you have your eye’s closed!

Smell your way to Success!

Seriously, use your Smell Skill to get to your goal.

*Wear a subtle fragrance of some sort that is masculine and noticeable, but not over powering. (Aqua Velva, Old Spice, Old English Leather, etc…)

*Make sure to shower right before you leave for your interview, so you look and Smell fresh.

*Don’t eat anything with Beans or other gas producing products, in fact, try to make sure not to eat to much the night before for you interview, to prevent any unwanted smells from taking over your interview.

*Take notice to the room your interview is in, does it smell good or bad? If you could describe the smell, is it one that makes your comfortable or uncomfortable? If it makes you comfortable, it is probably also a soothing smell to your interviewer. If it is a stingy or strange smell that makes you uncomfortable, it might also do the same for your interviewer, but just take note of it and don’t say anything.

Intuition is something that has to be learned, not earned.

I don’t care what anyone tells you, there has never been a person who was just “born” with this gift, or who was endowed with an extra ability to use their intuition than anyone else. That’s one of the tricky part of intuition, you have to study it, use it and learn from it. Even the most skilled Intuit can be thrown off and get their wrong answer from time to time, and if you have never really tried to use your intuition, it will take some time to get used to it.

Now, everyone has intuition. It often acts in accordance with your conscience, although it is not always the same as your conscience. It is a little voice in the back of your thoughts that tell you little things as you go through your daily life. Sometime it might seem like you are talking to yourself, but actually, your conscious mind is having a conversation with your subconscious mind.

Most of the time it is hard to recognize your intuition when it speaks to you, but you will notice it the most in a time of panic.

…..Something told you to leave your friends house right away, and when you got home you found out that a fire started because someone let their cigarette burn on the couch….

…..You had this strange feeling that your friend lied to you when they said they were to busy to come and see you, and when you went out later with a different friend, you noticed that your first friend was at the same place having a great time without you…..

…..When everything got quiet in your house, some weird feeling told you that something was wrong. When you got up to check, you noticed that your toddler had found the finger paints and re-painted the bathroom for you in silence…..

I know what your thinking, how could any toddler paint in quiet? Right?

No! You should be imaging all the times that your intuition has told you to do or say something. It might take a few moments, but I am sure you have had some times when you did something strange or out of character because a little voice told you to do it.

Intuition is a powerful tool, and when you learn to hone it and control it, you will be able to use all your skills with ease and comfort.

Every new adventure can be a little scary, but you truly have to think about how much you desire to be successful. Your intuition is there, and it is always talking to you, guiding you toward what you should do next, but you have to learn to listen to it.

It is amazing to think that children actually have the best intuitive skills. Which would mean that at one time you were a master of your intuition, but that you forgot how to use it. Children are better able use their intuition because they have not yet learned to ignore the little feelings that tell them to do something. I am not trying to suggest that intuition is the same things as curiosity, but I do feel they go hand in hand. Children are very curious creatures and love to explore their worlds. I believe that from about the age of 4 and 10, when they have the ability to do a few things on their own, and when they have learned a few do’s and don’ts about the world, children are highly intuitive.

Once you learn to regain your intuition and use what it offers, you will be able to breeze through interviews and promotions and dash off to greener pastures.

Intuition is not just about following your gut, it is about being very alert to your surroundings and using your brain, senses and skills to learn things about your environment and make calculations on the right move to make next.

With intuition will come some degree of “mind reading” skills in which you will no longer need to focus on the face of your interviewer or their body language, you will already have noted those things in the back of your mind and your subconscious will tell you what to do next.

With intuition you will know when it is the right time to ask for a promotion, or to ask for more wages, or even to take a risk and move to a different company. It can also tell you when it is the right time to walk away from an opportunity, or when to avoid asking for a promotion. It will tell you what mood your interviewer is in, and if they are going to give you the position.

Intuition is very powerful and it is something that takes some time to gain control over. I have a few exercises you can try to increase you intuitive skills, but you will need to practice them often before you will understand exactly what power intuition will give to you.

Exercise 1: Your phone rings. Who is it? Take a moment to listen to the ringing phone, check what time of day it is, and think about it. Don’t take so long that the phone goes to voice mail, but take at least a second. Once you have decided who you think is calling you, answer the phone.

Who was it? Was it the person you guessed was calling you?

Now, this exercise doesn’t work if you check your caller I.D. so make sure to have it off, or at least don’t look at it. If you guessed right about who was calling, you just used your intuition to do so, because there is no other possible way you could know who was calling, unless you planned to have someone call.

Exercise 2: You get in your car and are just getting to leave for work. You have a decision to make, which road to do you take to work? Let’s say for this exercises purpose that you have the choice between a freeway or a main street that both lead to your work.

Your goal is generally to take the road that will get you to work early and not have very much traffic. Both roads have an even chance of being clear or being packed with traffic, which do you choose?

Focus on a road with no traffic. Make it clear in your head, which one is less likely to have traffic at the time you are leaving? Which one do you “feel” will take you to work smoothly and early?

Now leave.

While your on the road heading in which ever direction you choose to take, focus on how you are feeling. Do you feel nervous or anxious? Or do you feel like your in a good mood? Do you feel anxious, but your sure that the path you have chosen is the right one?

If you just feel nervous and anxious, I want you to turn around and go to the other road, even if it means wasting a little time. If you feel confident and good, I want you to keep going in the direction that you are going. If you are anxious but sure about the direction you are going, I want you to turn around and go the other way.

This exercise is meant to help you figure out when you can trust that gut feeling, and when you should listen to what your brain is telling you.

If you stayed on your route, feeling confident and found that the road was clear, than you know your intuition was right. At least, its right as long as you didn’t listen to the news first.

If you turned around because you were nervous, anxious or felt “weird” about taking that route and found that the road you took was the clear one, than you know when to turn around and go against what your logical brain tells you.

If you were confident that you choose the right road and it was the wrong road, filled with traffic, than you need to spend more time trying to listen to your intuition. It is apparent that you didn’t let it guide you in the right direction and need to pay attention to it more carefully.

If you were anxious and turned around, but still ran into the road with traffic, then you know when to ignore that gut feeling and steam through it to your original goal.

It is important to take that moment before you leave for work and truly focus on choosing the road less traveled, as it will make a big difference in your ability to notice if your intuition needs to be honed a little.

Not everyone has the same intuitive abilities and you will have to learn how yours works for you. It is not generally something you can change, but you can learn to turn it “ON” so that you use it power to benefit your life.

I implore you to seek out more information on the things that we have discussed today, and do your best to take note of some positive things that others have tried.

If you truly desire to learn these skills, then they will come easily to you. You only have to want it truly enough.