Breaking the Ice in Interviews

Nailing an interview takes preparation, but studying and practicing beforehand doesn’t always yield perfect results. 

Interviews can be awkward or have uncomfortable moments, so going into each with a strategy to overcome them can be helpful. 

Something as small as asking about an interviewer’s weekend can be a good conversation starter.

Asking about the weather can also be helpful.

Researching the company and interviewers can help your interviewing skills and provide something worthy of conversation.

Also, check the company’s website for information about the company and the person interviewing you.

‘Do You Have Any Questions’ – How to answer?

Nearly every interview ends with: “Do you have any questions?” It can become a little uncomfortable when you don’t have one or can’t think of anything to ask. 

Don’t ask questions just for the sake of looking good, but instead ask questions you genuinely want to know the answer to. Preferred questions are: “What do you want to know about the company? What do you wanna know about the culture and the team? What do you want to know about the role?”. That will result in a really great conversation at the end. 

If you have questions about the company’s stance on mental health, ask how the company is supporting employees’ mental health during the pandemic, Elliott said. If you have experience or expertise in mental health, share that too.

Include Anecdotal Stories in Your Interview to Help Break the Ice 

Try to share professional-related stories, examples, and results throughout the interview. It can help keep the conversation interesting and fluid. 

When the interviewer is going back and deliberating after your interview, rarely will they remember facts, rarely will they remember numbers, but they are going to remember stories.

How to Break the Ice During an Interview if You Become Nervous or Anxious

Practicing your interviews ahead of time is a good strategy, but if you become nervous or anxious during them, it is essential. 

Taking deep breaths will help you stay centered too. 

You can also summarize the interview question back to the person. A lot of people say they feel silly doing this, but it actually shows you’re an active listener. You can summarize the question back to them and then launch into your answer. 

Preparing before you go into an interview can help you break the ice when awkward moments arise. Research the company and the interviewer(s) ahead of time to help develop talking points. Take deep breaths and pace yourself to help with anxiety and nervousness during the interview.