How to Boost Your Confidence for Your Next Job Interview

Few of us actively look forward to a job interview and, for many, even the thought of attending one is filled with dread. Whether it’s a panel interview or a one-on-one, having to talk about yourself to strangers - and convince them that you’re right for the job - can be a nerve-wracking experience.



Sadly, lots of talented and experienced candidates fail to get the job simply through a lack of confidence.  Well, as unfair as this is, it’s more common than you might think.  And in many cases, confidence is the only thing that separates two equally qualified candidates; something that, ironically, further erodes the confidence of the one who didn’t make the cut.

Gaining and building confidence is key to your success when it comes to job interviews so, in this article, we’re sharing strategies on how to enhance your confidence and breeze through your next job interview.

Preparing for Success

You know what they say - failing to prepare is preparing to fail.  And this is never more true than during a job interview. It’s common sense that being prepared will make you feel more confident during your interview.  Obviously, if you're not able to answer questions or be informed about the company is a great way of ratcheting up those anxiety levels!

So it's essential to put in the legwork and do your prep well ahead of your interview by finding out what you’re letting yourself in for!

The research review

Your preparation starts with tweaking your CV and getting to know the company and you do this by:

• Reviewing CV examples - As with many things, CVs are subject to trends and failing to update your CV can quickly make it come across as outdated. Check out some online CV examples to get an idea of how to effectively present your professional story, rather than just listing your previous jobs. You should also tweak your CV for each application to ensure that it’s relevant and tailored to the role you’re applying for
• Finding out who’s who - Ahead of your interview, comprehensively research the company’s values, achievements and recent developments along with the role and the company culture. You should also familiarize yourself with the hierarchy of the business. These days, it’s simply not enough to turn up armed with a vague idea of what the company actually does, you need to dive much deeper in order to impress
• Getting the inside info - Sites like Glassdoor can give you some great insights into the business including sneaky info on the type of interview techniques the company uses so always take a look at these

Being fully informed about the business and the role being offered will demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment and set you up for any questions that the interviewer may throw at you. It will also help you during that tricky “do you have any questions for me?” phase of the interview.

The practical prep

Your preparation for the interview itself should also include practical exercises including:

• Covering common questions - Whatever type of company or role you’re interviewing for, there will usually be some common questions which are universal. Make a list of these questions and then prepare thoughtful responses that showcase your skills, experience and achievements.
• Be the STAR - When answering questions, think about the STAR technique - Situation, Task, Action, Result. This helps you to structure your responses and present them in a coherent and compelling way
• Naturally does it - Rehearse your responses (it can often help to record yourself here) until you’re able to make them sound natural and conversational rather than like you’re reading from a script
• Rocking the role play - Conducting mock interviews are a great way of bolstering your confidence and identifying your weak spots. Grab a friend or family member to play the role of the interviewer and simulate the interview process. This may feel a bit weird or silly at first but it can really help in gaining an insight into your responses and body language. This in turn will allow you to make adjustments and improvements which will boost your confidence in becoming a composed and self-assured candidate

Mindset Matters

Your mindset plays a significant role in the way you approach a job interview. Adopting a positive attitude right from the offset can be a complete game-changer as it allows you to turn a dreaded high-stakes test into a conversation between equals. This small but important shift in perspective can help to alleviate pressure and promote a more authentic interaction. It helps to remember that while the interviewer will be gauging your suitability for the job, you will also be finding out - and weighing up - what they have to offer.

Visualize for a picture perfect interview

Visualization techniques can also be really beneficial ahead of your interview. Take some time to picture yourself within the process - walking into the room and greeting the interviewer warmly and confidently and articulating your thoughts in a friendly and natural manner. Then visualize a positive outcome such as a compliment from the interviewer or receiving an offer. This type of mental rehearsal is a really good way of reminding yourself of your abilities and reinforcing your self-belief to reduce interview anxiety.

Remember why you’re there!

In an interview situation we often feel that we’re being judged (because we are) and this can lead to over-thinking and second guessing. Focus your mind on why you’re right for the job by practicing self-affirmations. This can be as simple as listing and repeating the strengths, success and unique qualities that you bring to the table.

From childhood, we’re taught that “bigging ourselves up” is boastful and wrong and, for many, this can be a sticking point during an interview. Rather than being boastful, developing a positive internal dialogue is essential for boosting your self-esteem and presenting yourself confidently - not just in an interview but in your everyday life. Finally, remember that you’ve been invited for interview because of your skills and experience.

The Importance of Body Language

Non-verbal communication is a critical component of any job interview. Experts say that a whopping 55% of our communication is non-verbal, so working on your body language is of paramount importance.

The thing about body language is that it is constantly sending out messages without us even being aware of it - and the message isn’t always good. Things like slouching, crossing your arms and avoiding eye contact all signal apathy and a lack of engagement.

During a job interview, the image that you want to project is one of competence and self-assurance and so you need to remain mindful of your gestures and facial expressions. Stand tall and offer a firm handshake while smiling and maintaining eye contact (but don’t overdo it to the point that you become starey and weird!) Sit up straight with your hands relaxed and avoid excessive gesturing.

Purposeful but relaxed body language is key to fostering a rapport with the interviewer and coming across as poised and confident.

Anticipating Questions

As we’ve mentioned, practicing responses to common questions can be really helpful in preparing for that big interview. It’s also a good idea to prepare a couple of anecdotes or stories that highlight your skills and experience such as problem solving or leadership. By doing this, you can respond to the dreaded “tell me about your strengths and weaknesses” with insightful and relevant answers.

Of course, not every question the interviewer asks will be one that you’ve rehearsed - and this is where anticipating questions comes in. If the interviewer throws you a curveball question, try to figure out where this is leading as this will allow you to think ahead to the questions that may follow. This can be tough and so practicing will stand you in good stead.

If a question is complicated, don’t be afraid to take your time in formulating your response. We have a tendency to dislike silence and therefore often rush to fill it which can sometimes lead to an incoherent answer. Similarly, if a question is unclear, feel free to ask for clarification - as well as giving you a moment to gather your thoughts, this demonstrates that the question is important to you as well as showcasing your communication skills.

Practice makes perfect

While rehearsing the answers to certain questions by yourself can be helpful, it can also fuel self-doubt and have you second guessing yourself as you have nobody to bounce ideas off or to provide feedback.

Instead, you’ll find that conducting role play interviews with friends or family will be a much more dynamic way of practicing your interview techniques. As we’ve said, this is likely to feel odd and even a little embarrassing to begin with, however, doing this is a really good way of figuring out the areas in which you need a little work.



Prepare a list of questions for your “interviewer” and then ask him or her to add in some unexpected questions of their own. This is vital for properly mimicking the interview process as you’ll be forced to think on your feet (or in the hot seat) rather than just reciting the responses that you’ve already prepared. Be sure to conduct at least three or four practice interviews; tweaking as you go in order to improve fluency and confidence when conveying your strengths and aspirations.

Many people find it helpful to video these sessions so that they can examine their performance at their leisure and also measure their progress as more interviews are conducted.

The Importance of Follow-Up

So, you’ve survived the interview and you can breathe a sigh of relief (and maybe pour yourself a stiff drink) because it’s now over, right? Nope. When it comes to nailing that job, your follow-up is almost as important as the interview itself. Be sure to email the interviewer thanking him or her for their time and confirming your enthusiasm for the opportunity. In your email, you can also reiterate your key strengths and clarify any unclear points - although, do keep your email short and concise. A follow up message is good manners, demonstrates your interest and keeps you at the front of the interviewer’s mind.

This is also a time to conduct a personal debrief of the interview and identify areas in which you can make improvements. This will ensure that you keep growing in confidence and become a pro at nailing those job interviews.

Conclusion

Rather than a super-scary encounter on which your professional future depends, think of your interview in terms of a first date where yourself and the interviewer are figuring out if you’ll be a good match. A good interviewer will be skilled at drawing you out and encouraging you to be your best self during your interview - after all, they are working toward the same goal that you are.

And anyway, if the interviewer is disinterested or even aggressive, this will usually tell you everything you need to know about working for that company - in which case, you can move on to one that will deserve and appreciate you.
Because, after all, it's not one way: they need to impress you, too...