A subtle psychological tactic is to give someone a positive label you want them to embody. For example, saying to a recruiter, "I appreciate you being an advocate for me," makes it psychologically harder for them to act against your interests.

The best way to get noticed by hiring managers is to demonstrate your expertise in a real-world setting, like a webinar or a public project. This acts as a powerful, unsolicited interview, proving your value and legitimacy before a formal process even begins.

Exit 5's Head of Community secured his job by sending a YouTube video outlining his top five ideas for the role before his interview. This pre-interview effort demonstrated his value and initiative, making him a standout candidate despite lacking direct experience.

Instead of just preparing answers, identify the top reasons you might be rejected (e.g., age, inexperience, culture fit). Then, develop creative, tangible solutions to address each risk before it's raised, turning potential weaknesses into demonstrations of strategic thinking.

To build mental confidence before an interview, feed your resume and the job description into an AI tool like ChatGPT. Ask it to convince you why you're a great fit. This modern technique provides a custom pep talk to help you internalize your strengths.

When interviewing, SmithRx CEO Jake Friends asks candidates to tell a story about "why"—personal or professional. He looks for their ability to articulate the contemplated pieces and inputs to their decisions, and to be precise and proud of their narrative. This reveals depth of thought beyond a resume summary.

Use the maxim, "How someone does anything tells you how they do everything." Assess a candidate's preparation for the interview itself. Their research, note-taking, and follow-up are direct predictors of their future diligence and performance in the role.

Instead of only asking questions, leaders should begin interviews by explaining their personal values. This gives candidates a clear picture of what it's like to work with you on good and bad days, fostering a deeper connection and allowing both parties to assess the fit more honestly.

For high-stakes situations like interviews, your emotional state is more critical than your prepared strategy. Top performers use pre-game routines to get into a peak state. Develop your own pre-interview ritual—involving breath work, music, or visualization—to ensure you show up calm, clear, and confident.