How to Shine in a Job Interview
Does the idea of interviewing for a new job put you on edge or scare the living daylights out of you? Does it make you want to stay under the duvet and hide?
You’re not alone. There’s a lot riding on landing that job whether you’re currently unemployed or not, particularly in the current climate. Here are 9 ways to give a naturally confident interview that really allows you to shine.
1. Don’t Over-Prepare
You certainly need to know your stuff before heading into that interview room, but whatever you do, don’t over-prepare. You need to know your onions (so to speak) as well as having some knowledge about the company’s products, services, market position, opportunities, etc, but preparing answers for every possible question and memorising every fact will drive you crazy and make you ultra-nervous.
Knowing your subject isn’t a case of simply repeating information verbatim, and if you go to an interview planning on spouting facts and figures there’s a risk that you’ll sound too rehearsed or stilted.
Interviewers want to see how well you think on your feet as well as how knowledgeable you are, so leave room to move. You don’t have to be word perfect, you don’t need to know everything or have a slick answer for every question. Trust yourself to shoot from the hip.
2. Don’t sweat it
Focusing on the things that make you nervous will only ever give you more drama, and that’s exactly what you don’t need.
Yes, interviews can be nerve-wracking, but it’s okay to be nervous. If you weren’t nervous it would mean you didn’t care, so how about finding a better way for you to care about this? How about directing that energy in a more useful way to up your game? How about using that nervous energy to demonstrate your enthusiasm and energy?
Remember, the simple fact that you’ve been invited to interview means that they’re interested in talking to you and think you might be right for the job. That’s a good thing, right?
What difference would it make if you knew that whatever decision they make is just fine, that no matter what happens it’s no reflection on you or your ability? Shifting how you perceive the risks of the interview can feel pretty liberating, allowing you to shine.
3. Blow Your Own Trumpet
You have to blow your own trumpet to show how much you can add to an organization. Fail to do that effectively and it’s game over.
So get clear on what your strengths are – the skills, talents and experience you’ve applied in the past to get great results. Get clear on what you’ve achieved and your role in those achievements. Get clear on how capable you are, and how you want to continue to develop your capability.
That’s the information and evidence they’re looking for.
4. Don’t jump into the first chair you see.
Don’t rush into the room and grab the first chair you see – it’s not a competition. Let the interviewer find their place first. If you’re in a meeting room don’t sit next to them on the same side of the table, and don’t automatically sit directly opposite them. If you can, try to sit diagonally from them – it provides a good space between you but doesn’t act like a wall.