As she steps through the front door, I give her a big smile, a warm hug and a sincere compliment on her dress.

Now, at this point, most folks would say “Thank you.”

But not this gal.

She’s that one “special” family member (or person in your social circle) who always seems to have a problem for every solution. True to form, she launched straight into a never-ending sob story – something about crawling over broken glass, enduring a traffic jam, and almost dying – just so she could buy the dress.

I have to say, her dress was positively spectacular. But her attitude, as usual, was purified social repellant.

It reminds me of that Saturday Night Live character from a few years back called “Debbie Downer.” Remember her? In every skit, Debbie infects an otherwise pleasant social setting with non-stop, mood-murdering one-liners. And every time she does her thing, the show plays a hilarious “wah wahhh” trombone sound effect.

To be fair, I’d love to say that I’m never a “Debbie Downer,” but we all let negativity slip from time to time. That’s okay – as long as it isn’t a habit that keeps showing up when it really counts.

One of the worst places to let it slip?

An interview.

Because when you’re answering questions in an interview, you need to demonstrate your value and influence the interviewer positively. So bringing any “Debbie Downer” comments or behaviors to the table might not be the best plan of action.

The key is responding in a way that fosters good-will and builds a solid case for why you – and you alone – deserve to win the job.

If you answer interview questions the way I teach in my Interview Success Formula program, this will be much easier for you.

With a little practice, it will become second nature.

On the other hand, if you’re “freestyling” (without a proven framework for answering questions correctly), then habitual behaviors might slip into your answers and perhaps even make you come across as a “Debbie Downer” without even realizing it.

Like I said, we all do it from time to time.

But how do we prevent it from happening in high-stakes social situations?

The solution is simple:

Practice.

Craft and rehearse your answers to the 20 questions all interviewers ask until they flow smoothly and comfortably.

Of course, there’s a specific technique for crafting impressive answers, but just thinking ahead and practicing will put you miles ahead of any competitors who arrive unprepared.

If you’d like help with doing this correctly, so you can fine-tune your answers and set yourself up to ace your next interview, my Interview Success Formula program supplies you with everything you need.

Even if you have an interview coming up in the next 24-hours, you can join now, and you’ll feel a LOT more prepared by tomorrow.

It’s sure to improve your performance and help you create a powerful first impression. Plus, you’ll walk into the room feeling much more confident and relaxed – and that confidence is magnetic to interviewers.