Mastering the Art of Connection: The Importance of Interpersonal Skills in Corporate Interviews

Your ability to connect and communicate effectively can make or break your chances of standing out in corporate interviews. That's right—I said it. Forget the laundry list of internships, insight days, vacation schemes, spring weeks, and society memberships you’ve curated on your LinkedIn profile. While those experiences certainly add value, what will truly set you apart in the corporate world is your interpersonal skills and the ability to master the art of connection.

But don’t just take my word for it. TikTok—specifically the “CareerTok” community—has become Gen Z’s go-to platform for career advice (though clearly, they haven’t heard of us yet at City Careers Coach). The consensus? Soft skills and communication abilities aren’t just nice-to-haves; they’re the secret weapons for climbing the corporate ladder. Being easy to work with is THE most underrated skills in any career, from corporate law to venture capital.

Whether you’re interviewing at a magic circle law firm or for a spring week placement at Deutsche Bank, corporate interviewers will want to picture how you will settle in with colleagues, the company’s culture, and clients. This is especially the case in careers like venture capital, where your ability to network with founders, investors, and team-members will determine your success in that role.

This may seem as obvious to you as when your parents told you to “mind your manners” before heading out somewhere, but it goes much further than that. Personality is now the most ‘sustainable asset for business success’, and developing the kind of personality where you can blend into the world you want to succeed in is crucial to ensuring you get the future you deserve.

I’m making out that developing these interpersonal skills is a tremendous difficulty and a daunting task, let me assure you that they can also make a corporate interview feel less formal and more like a conversation: remember, interviews are a chance for the hiring team to get to know you, and while they are an assessment of character, it is an opportunity for the real you – not the LinkedIn you – to shine.

To that end I have listed my top tips for mastering interpersonal connection in corporate interviews and beyond.

Storytelling

Storytelling highlights your ability to communicate, connect, and present information clearly. It's one of the first things you'll be asked to do in a corporate interview—explaining your decisions and experiences that led you to pursue your chosen career path.

Keeping it light is essential to maintaining a conversational tone in the interview. Avoid going into too much detail; focus on what’s interesting and important.

Active Listening

While active listening is important in any interaction, demonstrating it in interviews positions you as a respectful and easy-to-work-with candidate that interviewers will remember.

Active listening and expressing agreement go beyond being a good conversationalist. They showcase empathy, attentiveness, and a willingness to understand others—all crucial qualities for effective collaboration and building strong relationships with colleagues and clients alike.

Thoughtful Questioning

Many candidates quickly dismiss the question, “Do you have any questions for us?” with a polite “No, thank you.” But this is a missed opportunity to showcase who you are and what you value.

Instead of turning down this chance, consider asking a question that helps you envision success in the role: “Looking back on this hire in 6 or 12 months, what would you say they've done to exceed expectations?” Questions like these demonstrate critical thinking and a proactive mindset.

Mental Rolodex

David Rockefeller had a distinctive approach to business: he prioritized getting to know people. His Rolodex contained over 100,000 contacts, where he recorded not just their contact information but also details like their children's names, birthdays, and family achievements. When he met these associates again, he would mention these specifics from their previous encounters, demonstrating that he was a caring individual and a trustworthy partner in business.

Maintaining a mental file on those interviewing you—by researching their backgrounds, such as where they graduated, any organizations they were part of, and their current roles—can help you build rapport and stand out from other candidates. This is particularly beneficial if you're going through multiple rounds of interviews; you can start the next one with a compliment or a question about something you’ve learned about them.

Adding these to your interview arsenal can dramatically improve your confidence in communicating – a key skill that all employers look for and appreciate. Above all, however, it is important to remember that interviews are about interviewers getting to know you behind your application. Yes, they’re professional interviews, but remember, you’re still human, and a great one at that.

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