Subscribe now

Humans

How to bring out your best to beat narcissistic jobseekers

In a world where everyone is self-promoting, you need to show that you are the best person for that job or contract. These are the proven methods

By Emma Young

6 July 2016

Row of feet with one person wearing bright socks

Best foot forward

Monalyn Gracia/Corbis/VCG/Getty

• Take 10 minutes before a meeting or job interview to write about a time you felt powerful. People who did this went on to fare better in a mock business-school interview organised by psychologists at the University of Cologne, Germany.

Sit up straight … In a study led by Richard Petty of Ohio State University in Columbus, people who wrote down why they were qualified for a job while sitting up straight went on to believe more of these reasons than people who wrote while slumped over their desks.

• … And stand tall. Amy Cuddy at Harvard University has shown the power of “power posing”. Volunteers who stood with their hands on their hips and shoulders back, or who sat with an open, expansive posture for just a few minutes before delivering a speech as part of a mock job interview performed better and were more likely to be selected.

• Wear your lucky socks. People who brought in a “lucky charm” to help them in a memory test run by Lysann Damisch at the University of Cologne did better than those without charms. They also set higher goals for themselves. This was because they felt more confident, Damisch says.

Why a little vanity can get you a long way

Find out why a little vanity can get you a long way in our cover feature

Find out why a little vanity can get you a long way in our cover feature:
All about me: How to be a successful narcissist

This article appeared in print under the headline “How to be your best”

Topics:

Sign up to our weekly newsletter

Receive a weekly dose of discovery in your inbox! We'll also keep you up to date with New Scientist events and special offers.

Sign up