If Your Interviewer Is Negative, Don’t Copy Him.
In business and in life, copying someone’s behavior can build rapport . In an interview setting, this can work against you if the interviewer is annoyed.
The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology explains how an interviewer’s mood can change a job seeker’s mood:
The interviewer’s tone had a significant indirect impact on the applicant’s work through its influence on the applicant’s tone. Unconscious behavioral imitation of negative behavior occurs in social interactions, not always associated with positive results.
This study was small – only 54 participants – but the results suggest a little common sense, although you can forget about it in the midst of it. The key is to be aware that the interviewer can change your tone or behavior. If they don’t like the interview, don’t let that change your attitude. Stay upbeat and positive even if the person on the other side of the table has things to do on Mondays.
Tongue-Tongue Chameleon: The Role of Unconscious Mimicry in Behavior Confirmation | Journal of Experimental Social Psychology Through the Science of Us