Use This Interview Hack to Get Into PA School and Land Your First Job

There is a ton of scientific evidence that proves the importance of NONVERBAL CUES that govern how we think and feel about ourselves.

We tend to ignore the importance of these nonverbal cues in favor of other, more conventional ideas.

But this research has broad implications for everyone, especially people who suffer from feelings of powerlessness and low self-esteem due to their hierarchical rank or lack of resources.

The Psychology of Power

Feeling powerful is important!

When we feel powerful, we are more likely to get hired for a job, receive a much-needed promotion, even attract our soul mate. It is a feeling many of us experience from time to time but live without the majority of the time.

The interesting thing is that our feeling of power at this present moment is not necessarily determined by our current life situation. It is a psychological state that can be manipulated (hacked) to provide a rapid biochemical and psychological response.

As you are about to see, this can be achieved in as little as 2 minutes and can have a profound influence on the outcome of our lives.

Watch this 15-minute video by Harvard Business School assistant professor Amy J.C. Cuddy:

What do the minds of the powerful versus the powerless look like?

Powerful people tend to be more assertive, more confident and more optimistic.

They feel like they are going to win even at games of chance.
They tend to be able to think more abstractly.
They take more risks.

The Physiology of Power

The physiological differences between high and low power people involve two essential hormones:

Testosterone: The dominance hormone.
Cortisol: The stress hormone.

HIGH POWER PEOPLE HAVE HIGH TESTOSTERONE AND LOW CORTISOL.

When we think about power, people tended only to think about testosterone which is related to dominance. But you also want the person who is dominant to be calm and not very stress reactive. You want an individual who is “laid back.”

The Hack

Simply holding one's body in expansive, "high-power" poses for as little as two minutes stimulates higher levels of testosterone (the hormone linked to power and dominance) and lower levels of cortisol (the "stress" hormone that can, over time, cause impaired immune functioning, hypertension, and memory loss).

In addition to causing the desired hormonal shift, the power poses lead to increased feelings of power and a greater tolerance for risk.

Download the HIGH POWER POSE cheat sheet.

The 5 High Power Poses

The 5 Low Power Poses

FINDING MY POWER - "Don't fake it till you make it. Fake it till you become it."

Over the past two weeks I have been testing out these power poses in my daily life.

I try lifting my neck up a little while driving, I kick my feet up from time to time while sitting at my desk at work, I throw my arm behind the person I am sitting next to (you’ve got to be careful with this one) and I will toss my arms up in exultation whenever I can find a good enough reason. Maybe when I push publish on this blog post, I will thrust my arms upward… I am doing it right now!!!

At first, I felt extremely foolish, then I felt the air entering my lungs as I lifted my chin and opened up my chest. And I kid you not, after a few days I started to feel more powerful.

I should seriously check my testosterone levels.

Start Today

“Our bodies change our minds, our minds can change our behavior, and our behavior can change our outcomes.” This is a crucial concept to grasp.
In addition to causing hormonal shifts, power poses lead to increased feelings of power and a greater tolerance for risk.
People are often more influenced by HOW THEY FEEL ABOUT YOU THAN BY WHAT YOU ARE SAYING (For proof of this just take a look at the United States Congress).

As Amy Cuddy proves, there is a lot more to success than meets the eye. Minutes often hold more power than hours of spinning your wheels in preparation. If 90% of people in Amy Cuddy’s study group were given job offers after just 2 minutes of power posing, imagine how 2 minutes in the bathroom before your next job or PA school interview could change your life.

I think it is definitely worth the effort. What do you think? Is this just wishful thinking?

Useful Tools:

Body Language Cheat Sheet

Useful Links:

10 Nonverbal Cues that Convey Confidence at Work
The Power Pose Cheat Sheet: Post it in your office and boost your testosterone in your free time!
Power Posing: Fake it Until You Make It

View all posts in this series

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Stephen Pasquini PA-C Physician Assistant

Stephen has been a family practice PA since 2004 and is the creator of The PA Life, Smarty PANCE Board Review, and PASchoolfinder websites. A National Health Service Corps Scholar and a graduate of The University of Medicine and Dentistry of NJ (Rutgers) PA Program and the University of Washington in Seattle, WA. Stephen's goal is to provide one-of-a-kind online resources for those interested in or practicing in the PA profession, to promote better access to healthcare for all, and to foster universal recognition/awareness of the PA profession. Read more about Stephen.

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Webinar: Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement

Hosted by Stephen Pasquini PA-C, Deanna Matzen

About this webinar Are you applying to PA school but worried about writing a compelling personal statement that will grab the admissions committee’s attention? Do you want to learn the secrets of crafting a PA school essay that stands out from the crowd and showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for PA school? If so, then you don’t want to miss our webinar on Crafting Your Best PA School Personal Statement. In this webinar, you will learn the following: What a personal statement is and how schools use them. You will understand the purpose and expectations of writing a personal statement and how schools use this information during the admission process. What to do before you start writing. You will learn how to prepare and organize your thoughts, research, and brainstorm your strengths and achievements. A successful structure for your personal statement. You will learn how to craft a clear, coherent, and compelling narrative that showcases your personality, motivation, and fit for their program. Common mistakes to avoid. You will learn how to polish your personal statement and avoid errors that could undermine your credibility or impact. By joining this webinar, you will gain valuable insights and tips on how to write a personal statement that increases your chances of admission to your desired PA school. You will also have the opportunity to ask questions and get feedback from our experienced PA school coaches. Don’t miss this chance to learn how to write your best PA school personal statement. Register now and secure your spot for this webinar. You won’t regret it!