You may think of the small talk before a job interview as idle chitchat at best, and perhaps you even find the whole experience excruciating.
But recent research suggests that building rapport with your interviewers before getting into the nitty gritty details can give you an edge over other candidates.
For those to whom small talk doesn't come naturally, we asked some career experts to weigh in on some of the best icebreakers you could use to get the conversation going.
"The secret is to have one to two good open-ended questions that require the person to talk — it lets you show you are a good listener," says J.T. O'Donnell, founder of career-advice siteCareerealism.comand author of "Careerealism: The Smart Approach to a Satisfying Career."
She suggests paying attention to your body language and eye contact to better show the interviewer that they have your undivided attention.
Here are nine brilliant conversation starters to use in your next job interview:
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'It's a pleasure to meet you. How was your weekend?'
"While this isn't necessarily the most creative opener, it demonstrates to the interviewer that you're confident, proactive, and friendly," Amanda Augustine, career advice expert for TopResume, tells Business Insider. "Also, it allows you to segue into a little chit-chat without getting too personal."
'What was the most pleasantly surprising thing about working here that you learned once you were on the job?'
O'Donnell says it's a good idea to keep the conversation focused on the interviewee and their positive experiences with working at the company.
'Congratulations on winning that big award! How did your team come up with the concept?'
Sincere compliments are always welcome, Augustine says, and not only will you start off your interview on the right foot, but you'll also demonstrate you've done your homework and get to ask valuable follow-up questions.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider