There is nothing quite like the feeling of an upcoming job interview for a position you really want.
Imagine, there are just two people applying for the same position. One of the candidates feels confident they will get the job, because they have a wealth of knowledge and great communication skills. The other candidate also has a high level of knowledge and determination to get the job, but has no idea how to behave during an interview, so they feel nervous, and struggle to say the right things. Who do you predict would get the job?
Employers need to feel confident in the staff they hire, and they will look for that confidence in you. You can rapidly increase your interview confidence by preparing well for the interview and practicing soft skills including:
-
Eye contact. Maintaining good eye contact throughout an interview creates a trust in your non-verbal communication. It shows you are interested and focused on what the recruiter is saying.
-
Speech rate. Talking too fast or too slow can be very distracting for recruiters. Find a good pace, so you can get your answers heard in the best way.
-
Engagement level. There are numerous ways to show you are engaged, but what really stands out during an interview is holding good posture with your head up. Slouching with your chin down won’t help you look focused or confident, even if you make eye contact.
What if I feel confident but don’t know the answer to a question they ask?
Firstly, take your time, breathe and be honest. If you are not familiar with the concept the recruiter is asking about, tell them how you are interested in it and if you have been actively learning more.
If they ask you a tricky question that has you stumped, try not to keep your thoughts to yourself and never fill the silence with things like ‘errrm’. Instead, you can say, “that’s a good question, now let me see…” Then think aloud, about the answer to the question. Like a math teacher likes to see the working out of your answers, employers also sometimes ask tough questions to see how you will work things out and respond, as it shows problem-solving skills and on-the-spot thinking.
To prepare in the best ways possible and maximize your chances of landing your dream job, the most useful thing you could do is take a mock interview to gain professional feedback before the real thing!
Start preparing yourself now by scheduling your industry-specific mock interview with InterviewFocus and you will see the results of your eye contact, speech rate and engagement level right after! The professional feedback session is booked at a time to suit you with one of our certified career coaches. Click here to get prepared for your important job interview.
