Landing a job interview is incredibly exciting –- and often
terrifying. But fear not. There are clever ways to transform your angst
into nerves of steel. After all, a good interview should feel like a
conversation, not an interrogation. Here are five essential key tips
from the world of public speaking that’ll help you look just as awesome
in person as you do on paper.
1. Know Yourself
Most people dread the moment when their interviewer utters the words -
“So, tell me about yourself.” But it’s actually the simplest question
to navigate once you get down to the root of what’s being asked. "Tell
me about yourself" really translates to: “What can you tell me about how
your personality, interests, work habits and background will help you
rock this position?”
Before you answer, rewind back to when you applied for the job -– the
moment you decided that you and the position would be a solid match.
Usually, the reasons that ran through your mind before you chose to
apply are the answers the interviewer is looking for. Since you’re the
most well-versed on the subject of you, this is your moment to paint the
picture of what you bring to the table and why you’re the most dynamic
and capable person for the job.
2. Bridge the Gap Between Confidence and Enthusiasm (Then Marry the Two)
How many times have you been confident in your ability to perform a
task but not necessarily enthused about doing it (or vice versa)?
Confidence speaks to the way you perceive you, while enthusiasm is more
indicative of your feelings about something or someone other than
yourself — in this case, the gig.
To make sure there’s a healthy balance between the two, draft a list
of reasons you’re confident about your ability to perform the job, and
pair each one with a reason why you’re enthusiastic about showing up.
You should be able to clearly communicate these reasons during your
interview.
Example: "In over 15 years as a graphic designer, I’ve mastered a
number of software programs and techniques. Those skills have helped me
contribute to some great work, but the best part of the experience, for
me, is collaborating with a team to build something that clients can
fall in love with."
3. Use Your LinkedIn Profile to Practice
The last thing you want to do in an interview is regurgitate your
resume or Linkedin profile. Instead, take a look at how you described
your role at previous jobs and practice how you might integrate these
into an actual conversation. In other words: if your resume bullet
points were complete sentences describing how your experience is
relevant to the new job, what would they sound like?
To prepare like the pros, do a mock interview with a friend and video
record your answers. Ask yourself, “Can I really see myself saying
this?" to gauge the authenticity of your delivery.
4. Know When to Wrap It Up
Big audiences don’t like a Chatty Cathy -– and neither do busy
interviewers. To avoid coming across as a rambler or bad listener,
always be mindful of the length of your answers. Even if the interviewer
doesn’t give you validation in the form of a nod, smile or laugh, don’t
be afraid to simply stop talking once you’ve answered the question.
If you can effectively communicate a point in five words, don’t use 25. Trust that if they want to know more, they’ll ask.
Need a little practice on this? Do a search for the “most asked
interview questions” relevant to the position you’re applying for, jot
down the ones you struggle with and practice answering them. Open-ended
questions sometimes require lengthier responses, but typically, you
should be able to provide a thoughtful answer to most interview
questions in under 60 seconds.
5. Be a Team Player
The letter "I" stands alone. Unless you’re applying for a position
that requires you to work independently, the reality is that stellar
results (no matter the industry) require team effort. Be sure to
incorporate "we" language to show your ability to work well with others.
This doesn’t mean refrain from sharing your individual responsibilities
and accomplishments, but be clear about how those things benefitted
your team.
When in doubt, stick to this equation: What my team does + How I do my part to make sure we get to the finish line = Victory
Of course, no two interviews are the same, but if you apply these
tips, you’re guaranteed to boost your odds of getting a call back. Knock
‘em dead!
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