Interviews are the most nerve-wracking part of the job search experience. The idea of being confident during them might feel like an impossible task from where you are. But confidence isn’t just about building yourself up to a challenge. It’s about reframing the situation so that your objective becomes something you’re confident about. Here’s how you take that mind-altering approach to your next interview.
Have a great start to the day
How we go about our days is very much influenced by how we start them. If you’re rolling out of bed and getting hastily dressed to go to the interview, you’re putting a constraint of time on yourself that you don’t need. Wake up early. Have a little workout to get your blood pumping and endorphins rushing. Have a refreshing, healthy breakfast. Give yourself a little Zen time before the interview.
Dress and act confident before
Dressing with confidence not only displays confidence, it helps you feel it. Spend the day in the sharp suit or dress you plan on wearing to the interview. Go even further. Spend those hours with the same kind of body language and power postures you’re going to use, as well. Body language has real effects on improving your self-esteem. Doing them before and during helps you psyche up, rather than having to build yourself up in the moment.
Develop a mantra
Words have an innate power. We all know it. We have the power to hurt people, heal them and enthuse them. We have the same power with ourselves. By using words mindfully and repeatedly to ourselves, we can feel the effects of them. Your mantra should be self-affirming and self-assured. It should be your motivational tool to dispel doubts no matter where you are. A mantra can come from anywhere, but you’ll find some great ones looking at motivational speakers.
Prepare a few stories
There are a few questions that all interviewers are going to ask some variation of. Those common questions boil down to things like your strengths, weaknesses or when you’ve displayed certain characteristics. They don’t just want to hear arbitrary personality traits as an answer. They want a connection to you. So, prepare a few stories that you think display the personality traits and skills you have to offer.
Aim to connect
Like we said, they want a connection to you. So, the wrong way to go into an interview is trying to impress them. You’re not trying to reach up. You’re trying to reach across. Make that connection instead of making an impression. Ask questions during the interview, not just at the end. Talk not only about your answers to their questions but about addressing their questions as well. Make it a conversation, not a Q&A.
These tips aren’t just going to make you feel more confident. They’re going to make you look more confident, too. Which means you’re even more likely to get the job. Remember that it’s not the end of the world if you don’t. Let the be a reassurance to you in all future interviews.
How confident are you in the interview situation? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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