Ace Your Interview: Transform Nerves into Confidence and Shine!
09.18.2024 | Blog
Do you get nervous when you have a job interview, and cannot show your best? This blog might be able to help you make that situation better.
When you want to get a job, interviews are unavoidable, unless you have a great connection or something. I happen to have had many more interviews than other recent graduates. I was not sure if I wanted to go back to Japan or stay in the US after graduation, so I job hunted in both countries.
I enjoyed most of the interviews that I had and received about 9 offers as a result. However, as I spoke with my friends, I realized how some people get so nervous, which makes it difficult to show one’s best self.
So today, I want to share how I approach interviews and some advice I have from my experience. Hopefully, this will help others feel more confident during their interviews, especially those people who get too nervous to show their potential.
Section1: Approaching interviews
First, consider the purpose of interviews. Some feel like they are taking an entrance exam in which mistakes are not allowed. Inherently, I think they are more for avoiding misunderstandings and mismatches for both sides.
I have developed 3 tips that I think might make the interview experience a bit easier for those who are nervous.
Point 1: Don’t try to fake yourself
- Don’t try to make another personality. Just relax and be yourself because you are already awesome just the way you are.
- Interviewers are human, too. When there are multiple people with similar qualifications, they’ll choose the candidates that make the best impression.
- Think as if you are just talking to an acquaintance, someone you know but not too well. You would want to let them know what you are doing now and show your personality.
Point 2: Interviewing is two-sided
- It's not just the company interviewing you; you are interviewing the company as well. It is important that YOU feel like you want to work for them just as much as THEY want you to work for them.
- It is a good opportunity to learn about the company, so do not just try to tell about yourself. Try to learn about them by asking questions and having some more casual conversation about the interviewers and the company.
Point 3: Smile
- There is no need to be smiling the whole time because that is kind of creepy. It is better to try smiling a little at key moments: when finishing up a sentence, when the interviewer is speaking, or when you’re saying ‘Yes’. I think that makes a big difference.
- It might be hard to smile when the interviewer is not smiling back, but I believe it will make you stand out better in the end.
To illustrate the above tip, let me share my experience.
Most of the interviewers were very friendly and kind, but one time I had a very ‘traditional Japanese style’ final stage interview with the CEO. He was so much older than me, and he did not smile at all at first (even when I laughed). I felt nervous for the first time, but I kept trying to be friendly, smile, ask questions and show interest in him and the company. As a result, he became friendly and started smiling during the interview. I actually got an offer from him during the interview.
The lesson I learned from this experience was this: just keep smiling and be friendly even when your interviewer is strict and does not smile at all. Try to find a topic they like or something you have in common with them.. You can be both friendly and professional. I believe that this strategy can create a way for you.
Section2: Preparing for an interview
Lastly, I will briefly share how I prepare for my interviews. I think the most important part of the preparation is self-analysis.
Analyze about myself a lot: “What’s my way of thinking?”; “What are important factors when I make decisions?”; “What have I gained previous experiences and how does it connect with my future?” etc. It is important to ask such questions and learn about yourself.
Then, I read the job description and researched the company. This helps me think about the similarities and make connections between the company and myself.
In this way, I think you can answer any questions because the core of the answer does not change. You can speak logically and make points that can convince your interviewers and strengthen what you are saying. You can speak in your words in this way, so I believe it is easier to show your passion as well.
Overall, I think the most important thing is to understand that an interview is a human-to-human conversation. Your experience and qualifications are of course important factors to get a job, but those are not the only things. Be genuine, sincere, unique, and create meaningful connections.
Check out this related article that could be helpful!
S.W.O.T. About Yourself: Gaining Perspective Before Your Next Career Step.
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References
Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko: https://www.pexels.com/photo/candidate-having-an-interview-5439148/